October 14, 1999

Seattle's Sorrento Hotel: 90 years of elegance

By MATT BROWN
Journal Weekend Editor

Sitting in our room at Seattle's Sorrento Hotel, sipping complimentary wine and relaxing on the couch while listening to soft music, my wife Amy looked over at me and said, "Isn't it amazing that you can feel this relaxed and so far away from home, when we're only in Seattle."

The lady's right. No yard work, no solicitors, no dinner to cook, no dishes to clean. We both felt like we were thousands of miles away, when really I was only a few minutes from my office.

Seattle's Sorrento Hotel is located on First Hill, at 900 Madison St.

Billed as the oldest luxury hotel in Seattle, the Sorrento is celebrating its 90th anniversary this fall. Located on First Hill, the Sorrento has a rich and colorful history that parallels Seattle's. Steeped in tradition and renowned for its service, the Sorrento makes a lasting impression on all who enter its canopied carriage entrance.

Designed in 1908 and opened the following year to coincide with the Alaska Yukon Exposition, the Sorrento was created by Harlan Thomas, the first dean of architecture at the University of Washington. Thomas was inspired by the Italian Renaissance-era and wanted to create the most prominent hotel in the city.

Today, it gleams, thanks to the efforts of current co-owner and local businessman Michael Malone. Malone purchased the hotel in 1980 at a time when developers considered turning the Sorrento into condos.

Malone vowed to restore the hotel to its original grandeur, which he did with a $4.5 million renovation in 1981. In 1995, another $1.2 million renovation to its rooms and suites was completed. It was recently named one of the top 25 hotels in the U.S. by Conde Nast Traveler.

The Sorrento originally had 150 rooms and they housed past presidents and some of America's social elite including the Vanderbilts and Guggenheims. Some of Seattle's prominent families lived at the hotel, as did World War II servicemen in the 1940's.

"The hotel has certainly come of age over the last 90 years and will continue to make its mark in the industry well into the millennium," said General Manager Jim Treadway.

Today, the Sorrento is a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

Visitors are greeted by a circular, palm-tree lined garden with an Italianate fountain. Once inside, the hotel's old world charm radiates, with rich Honduran mahogany in the lobby and restaurant areas.

Visitors will also note the staff's attention to service. No request is too large or too small.

Joe Figone, director of sales and marketing, said, "The Sorrento separates itself from other high end and boutique style hotels in the Seattle area with excellent service and a commitment to quality."

During our stay, my wife and I had just settled in our room when a man opened our door. He immediately apologized and figured he'd been given the wrong room key. Within minutes the manager called to apologize. He explained that we both had the same last names and had checked in almost simultaneously. Within minutes, the manager showed up with fresh fruit, chocolates and bottled water. He again apologized and asked if there was anything else the hotel could do. I told him no, but that I appreciated the offer.

The Hunt Club is one of Seattle's finest restaurants.

Attention to detail is also evident in each of the 76 guest rooms and suites. No two rooms are alike, with custom furnishings, original artwork, goose down pillows, bathrobes and honor bars.

For business guests, rooms come equipped with private a fax machine, two-line telephone with voice mail and data ports.

Those looking for something beyond the norm can stay in the penthouse suite, which features panoramic views of snowcapped mountains, an outdoor deck with a spa, baby grand piano and marble fireplace.

The hotel also features the award-winning Hunt Club restaurant and the relaxing Fireside Lounge. Chef Brian Scheehser's latest menu, part of a new direction at the Hunt Club, is heavily influenced by Northwest and Mediterranean cuisines.

"The Hunt Club has always taken advantage of the bounty of Northwest ingredients. With all the ingredients available to us, we chose to expand Hunt Club's cuisine foundation to include a Mediterranean touch and to experiment and have fun with the food," said Scheehser.

IF YOU GO Sorrento Hotel, 900 Madison St., Seattle, WA 98104-1297, (206) 622-6400, (800) 426-1265. Room rates range from $190 to $1,500, depending on day and season.

Scheehser is very focused on product. He brings in fresh vegetables, beef, seafood and poultry six days a week from local, national and international vendors. "For example we get spices and herbs from all over the world and all natural beef and pork products from a ranch in California," Scheehser said.

Specialties of the house include: Dungeness crabcake, saffron mussel bisque, USDA Prime New York steak, pan-roasted sea scallops and, for a limited time, Alaskan halibut.

For a little more relaxed atmosphere slip into the hotel's Fireside Lounge. Here you can simply relax with afternoon tea, cocktails or hors d'oeuvres. Live entertainment is featured on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.