Walla Walla is a premier destination in Washington for its rich history and famous Washington wine. With 130 wineries, 3,000 acres of grapes, an array of incredible restaurants and tasting rooms, gorgeous vistas, historical landmarks, and a wealth of outdoor opportunities, there is truly something for everyone in Walla Walla. Whether you’re looking to sip and savor your way through wine country, hit the hiking trails, or escape the big city, you’ll have a wonderful time in this special city. When you’re done exploring the town and tasting wine, retreat to a luxurious guest room at The Marcus Whitman, kick up your feet, and sink into bed.

Why you need to stay in this beautiful and historic 1920s hotel in Walla Walla

Everyone needs to stay in this 1920s historic hotel built in 1928. The Marcus Whitman Hotel is a premier luxury hotel that blends rich history, exemplary service, and contemporary comfort to provide its guests with the most memorable time.

What are the rooms like at Marcus Whitman?

From the moment you walk into the lobby, your senses are enriched with chic modern style meets mid-century lounge. This quite possibly could be my favorite interior decor of a hotel room I’ve ever stayed in. From the abstract painted wall behind the bed to the unique headboard, to the pictures hanging on the walls, the rooms just scratched an itch in my brain and made me love everything about its design. Have you ever visited somewhere where the decor and design are just so aesthetically pleasing? That’s exactly how I felt.

This boutique hotel offers well-appointed guest rooms in two different locations to suit guest’s preferences. The first option is in the luxurious Historic Hotel Tower, directly above the lobby, where convenience meets sophistication. The tower features a mix of newly renovated rooms and classic rooms, catering to a range of tastes. The second option is in the newly renovated West Wing, which offers classic comfort just a short stroll from the main areas. Both options blend classic charm with modern amenities to create a sophisticated and comfortable stay. We stayed in the historic tower which is part of making The Marcus Whitman Hotel the tallest building in Walla Walla. Fun fact: the city of Walla Walla passed an ordinance that no other structure could be built taller than The Marcus Whitman Hotel.

The hotel rooms were extremely comfortable as were the beds. Oh my gosh, I woke up drooling in the bed from a wonderful night’s sleep. I really felt as though this specific room had it all — a desk to work at, coffee in the room, a fridge for my snacks, a full body mirror, and a large bathroom. I’m a sucker for a big vanity and this bathroom’s vanity was HUGE with plenty of counter space.

What is The Marc Restaurant and Bar like?

From the moment you walk into The Marc Restaurant, you’re greeted by the kindest individuals there to guide you on a culinary journey in one of the most beautifully styled dining room, I might add. From the carpets being a beautiful merlot color to the light fixtures looking like bushels of grapes, the designers paid homage to Walla Walla being in the wine region of Washington. The Marc Restaurant is a dining experience for those seeking culinary excellence in unexpected places that’s for sure. I never would have thought that one of the best meals I’ve ever had would be in Walla Walla, Washington but I kind of love that too. Our server Lisa, was absolutely lovely from the get-go offering suggestions for drinks, starters, and recommending entrees. When eating at a nice restaurant, I always love asking for recommendations and love it when the server gives specifics vs. “oh everything is good.” Now, I’m sure everything was good at The Marc Restaurant, but we went with the recommendations Lisa offered and they were all absolutely delicious!

We started with the Tapenade Focaccia which is marcona almond & picholine olive tapenade, roasted tomato, olive oil, and cabernet vinegar. I didn’t realize I LOVED an olive tapenade until I had it for the first time on this appetizer and wow, I probably had some of the best at my first. Ooops! Next, we had two of their salads, the Hayshaker Greens and the Beetroot & Citrus. The Hayshaker is Rogue Creamery Oregon Blue cheese, Holquist hazelnut, brioche croutons, and L'Ecole N° 41 vinaigrette. For entrees, we went with the Seared Scallops Lisa recommended which included puree of fennel, breakfast radish, citrus beurre blanc, toasted hazelnuts, and a crispy fennel salad and the Spring Lamb Loin which included lamb loin, puffed grain, early spring vegetable, morel mushrooms, green garbanzo puree, and mustard espuma. The entrees were both cooked perfectly and you could tell the chefs took extra care with the recipes because the flavor notes paired perfectly.

Overall, our dinner was perfect, from the drinks to the service to the impeccable food. It is more of a splurge dining experience, but it's absolutely worth it because of what you receive as a guest. Dining at The Marc Restaurant is truly an experience everyone needs to have while visiting Walla Walla.

The Marc Bar

We headed over to the Marc Bar for after-dinner cocktails and to just experience it, to be completely honest. The cocktails from dinner were made at The Marc Bar but we wanted to sit at the bar and really be able to talk about what it’s like in this space as well. Guests can order food from The Marc Restaurant and enjoy it at the bar or many of the tables and booths in the space. The cocktails, beer, and wine list is the same list that you receive in The Marc Restaurant but if you’d like something different just ask. I asked for an espresso martini with a splash of Bailey’s and the bartender didn’t even question it and was happy to make it AND… it was PERFECT! I’m pretty picky about my espresso martini too — so that’s a big compliment.

There are numerous spaces in the bar/restaurant area. There’s the main restaurant, the main bar area, and a second room area of the bar. The spaces vary in style but all cohesively flow together in such a beautiful way. The main area of the bar gives off a French bistro vibe and the second room almost feels like a darker cozy study vibe. I highly recommend experiencing them all separately as we did and just enjoy yourself. This hotel was the perfect place for us to relax and just embrace the beauty and hospitality. I truly can’t wait to come back and visit with Andrew or even bring friends and family next time.

In every room you’ll find a special blend of coffee only found at The Marcus Whitman called the Tower Blend. It was so nice to wake up, make some coffee, and enjoy the view in the cozy rooms. The coffee was delicious too!

What to do nearby

There are numerous things to do in Walla Walla and the surrounding area. We unfortunately were only in the area for one night so we didn’t get to experience a ton BUT that gives us a good excuse to come back. I highly recommend exploring the downtown area around The Marcus Whitman Hotel. There are numerous bars, cafes, shops, etc.

Have breakfast at The Maple Counter Cafe

We wanted to have breakfast outside the hotel and opted for The Maple Counter Cafe and I’m so happy we did. It was absolutely delicious and the patio was definitely the place to sit and people watch downtown. The Maple Counter Cafe is the proud result of three consecutive generations of restaurant expertise. Beginning with the owner’s grandparents' restaurant in Chicago's south side over 50 years ago, the artful skill of handcrafting breakfasts and lunches has become a family tradition.

Andrew had The Maple Counter Trio which included two eggs any style, and your choice of breakfast meat joined by three buttermilk pancakes. He chose the sausage and it was great and cooked just to my liking with crisp on both sides. I ordered the Silver Dollar Pancakes which actually is what sold me on coming to The Maple Counter Cafe in the first place. Maybe it’s the millennial nostalgia that had the tiny frozen pancakes growing up but I just love a mini pancake. This dish included ten petite buttermilk pancakes with whipped butter and warm syrup and they were absolutely perfect for me. In addition, we ordered their house-brewed coffee, a bloody mary, and fresh fruit lemonade.

Visit 14 Hands Winery in Prosser, WA

If you’re going through Prosser, WA to get to Walla Walla then I highly recommend visiting the 14 Hands Winery. 14 Hands means so much to Andrew and me because we had their rosé as our wedding wine before we even knew we would be moving to Washington. We actually didn’t even know 14 Hands was from Washington when we chose that wine. We had it for the first time at the Austin City Limits festival and both looked at each other and said we need this for our wedding and that was that. What’s actually hilarious is when we made the long drive to Washington moving here we went through Prosser and passed the 14 Hands Winery and were like “Wait, what?! Is that THE 14 Hands?!” It just felt kismit to be completely honest. That might sound silly but it just made us feel like we were always meant to come to Washington State or were drawn here before we even knew it would be an opportunity available to us.

From the glitz and glamour of Hollywood icons to the corridors of power walked by esteemed presidents, each visitor has contributed to the rich tapestry of stories woven into the fabric of this hotel. You’ll truly feel the magic of this hotel as you walk around and explore every crevice.