Sharing is caring!

McMenamins Hotels in Washington State – Fun Staycation Options!

The McMenamins chain is well known in Oregon, but since they are newer to Washington State, not everyone may know about the pretty cool spots they have located here. Although Oregon still has more locations, there are some you may want to know about that will not require you to cross state lines if you live in Washington, and we share those here.

Some of the McMenamins offer a place to stop for a fun dining experience, and a couple offer hotel accommodations with fun amenities, but they all offer a unique experience that is fun to enjoy for a few hours or overnight. They make fun staycations, as you can feel like you’re really transported to some place different. You will find everything from unique pools to waterfront locations and movie theaters, all put into old historic buildings. Although Oregon may have quadruple the amount of McMenamins that Washington does, we do boast 10 fun locations to either dine or stay at, and they can all make a fun spot to run to when you are looking for something a little different to enjoy.

If I had to condense them all into a short description, I would say:

• Stay at the Anderson School location for the most to do, the most spots to eat, and great for families.
• Stay at the Kalama Harbor Lodge for waterviews, a laid back vibe, and easier access to Portland.
• Stay at the Elks Lodge for a more urban setting, and fun restaurants and bars.

Here is what you will want to know about Washington McMenamins locations in both those categories.

McMenamins Hotels in Washington to Stay In

Washington is home to two McMenamin hotels. One is further north in the Bothell area (and it has a fun pool), and the other is further south in Kalama, and sits waterfront. Here are some details on both of these locations, so you can decide if one is a good fit for you or not.

McMenamins Anderson School

This location transformed what used to be Bothell’s first junior high school, first built in 1931, into a hotel and brewery, complete with an amazing pool, movie theater, and restaurants and brewery! They updated this old brick building to include lots of amenities that make it a fun staycation, as well as a great stop on your way through.

As mentioned above, you will find a great pool, a movie theater, multiple restaurants (including a brewery), music, and various events on-site. There is a lot of shopping nearby, too. I have not had a chance to stay here yet, but I have family members who have done multiple stays and really enjoy it as a staycation spot locally. They feel like there is a lot to do at this location, without having to travel far, and shared these pictures with me to share with you.

The Market is their fun, on-site store, where you can stop by for your morning espresso (and sit right outside the store to enjoy it) or fill a growler. It’s even a great spot to grab a pint and enjoy here, if you want to avoid some of the crowds in the restaurants. You will also find many staples and souvenirs. Something for everyone!

The Lagoon at McMenamins Anderson School has been a local favorite spot since it opened. You can enjoy it as a guest, but they do offer public entrance (for a fee too). JHotel guests and Bothel residents can swim for free, and there is a daily fee for all others.

We have included it in our list of some of the best hotel pools in Washington here. Its a full-size warm pool with 88-90 degree lagoon temperatures.

Other amenities include an on-site movie theater as well as scheduled movies and events.

Nearby, you can enjoy biking along the nearby Sammamish River Trail, restaurants and shops in downtown Bellevue, and lots of wineries in nearby Woodenville. The Alderwood mall is also a short drive away (around 15 minutes), and it has lots of shopping and restaurants there too.

There are 8 different spots where you can get some food at this location. They include:

• The Nui Nui (picture here) – This spot overlooks the North Shore Lagoon Pool and provides an island-style atmosphere of drinks and casual dining options.

• Tavern on the Square – This is a farm-to-table restaurant located in what was once the school cafeteria, and it will be the best spot to get a nice meal.
• The Principals’ Office – Great spot to grab a drink, and reminisce about the times in the past you may have been sent to the principal’s office (but under more fun circumstances this time)!
• The Market -They have an espresso bar here, as well as offering full growlers and many other food and snack items you can take back to your room (or home with you).
• The Woodshop – This is kind of like a bar and grill atmosphere, serving classic pub fare. where all ages are welcome (but the pool table and shuffleboard are in the bar area so you will need to be 21 to access those).

• The Whisky Shed – This is another fun spot on-site to grab a drink, with indoor and outdoor seating, as well as an indoor fireplace.
• And the Anderson Theater Bar – Burgers to brews, and popcorn or candy can all be delivered right to you while you take in a show at their onsite movie theater. So fun!

McMenamins Kalama Harbor Lodge

The McMenamins Kalama Harbor Lodge is a fun spot right off the 1-5 Corridor. We have stopped there on trips down 1-5 (we share a lot of ideas for a road trip down the 1-5 from Seattle to Portland, or vice versa, here).

This spot offers a Hawaiin these atmosphere,  and is a little unique for McMenamins in that it was built as a new structure, rather than a renovation. A few things I love about it, though, are that it sits waterfront on the Columbia River (and right off the freeway, even though you feel like you are further away. It takes you just a couple of minutes to get here from 1-5, but then you can park your car and walk the waterfront. Not only does the hotel sit along the water, but there is a waterfront marketplace just a short walk away, with restaurants, shops, and even food trucks. You will also find parks in the area (including a marine park) and ampitheater in the area for more to do. There are also some game areas on site, with spots like pool tables, to enjoy during your stay.

The historic town of Kalama sits right across the highway (just a few minutes’ drive) and offers some great antiquing and thrift shopping.

It is also about 30 minutes away from the Vancouver, WA waterfront and a few more minutes into Portland, so can be a fun base camp to use to explore those areas more too.

There are lots of seating options, and a marketplace right inside the hotel, where you can grab what you need for your room, or an espresso to enjoy in one of the many seating options throughout the hotel.

You can even reserve rooms with a waterview, which can be unique from some of the other McMenamins hotels. We found this location to be hopping, but also quieter than some, so that was nice if you’re looking for a spot to relax.

They also offer outdoor seating areas, like a fun fire pit out in front of the water that comes alive, especially in the evenings.

There are walking paths in front of the water for quite a while, so it is also a great spot to take a morning or evening stroll.

SECRET ROOMS – Oh MY! Another unique aspect of this hotel is that it has secret rooms! Take the time to look for these, and you may find yourself in an obscure black-lit room, or beer sampling in another. Definitely worth spending a little bit of time to find!

Restaurants and Bars at this location: 

The Pub is their main restaurant right past the check-in counters on the first floor. It offers indoor booths that line their river view, as well as outdoor seating and a full menu of pub-style food.

The Harbor Lounge is a cute indoor lounge area that makes a quaint spot to stop in for a drink.

Cloud Bar

We chose to sit on the rooftop deck, with water views in front of us,  but you can sit indoors or outdoors in this rooftop seating area. They serve both a full menu of food and drinks. We enjoyed watching all of the boats on the river as we dined, as it was a beautiful day during our visit.

The Cover Bar

This location is a short walk down the riverfront and offers games, food, and drink, as well as scheduled entertainment!

Ahles Point Cabin

This spot is a short walk away from the lodge, down the waterfront, but a fun extra spot to grab a drink.

McMenamins at Elks Temple

I knew this was a restaurant, but I did not realize it was a hotel as well until recently. This is located in Tacoma, right off a main freeway (and just down the street from Stadium High School – which has been made famous from movies being filmed there, and makes a great picture-taking spot).

Many local Tacoma area spots, fun for exploring, sit nearby, too. If the museums and restaurants nearby are not enough to take up your time, head to Ruston Point for some waterfront fun!

In addition to restaurants and bars on site, this spot also boasts a secret speakeasy!

This spot has a moody and urban vibe, and also seems to offer more live events that might appeal to adults.

You will find a number of restaurants and bars inside, making this one a fun getaway for a girls’ day, or a couples getaway. There are also many spots nearby that would be fun for kids, if you want to use it as a base camp (Tacoma has some fun city waterparks and wave pools that are great for kids in the summer). \

Restaurants and bars include:

• The Brewery Tasting Room
• McMenamins Pub
• The Old Hangout
• Docs Bar
• The Spanish Bar
• And the Vault

McMenamins Olympic Club

Evindently, the Olympic Club location in Centralia also offers lodging. I have never been in this location, but it seems like it could be a fun option for a smaller location. They have a pub restaurant and bar, and a theater onsite, and the Centralia Outlet mall would be nearby. Let us know if you have been here, and what you thought?

McMenamins Restaurants to eat at in Washington

In addition to the many restaurants we mentioned in the hotel options above (which you can eat at, whether you are staying at the hotel or not), here are some restaurant-only options to dine at McMenamins in Washington you might want to check out as well. Find details for each of these spots here.

• McMenamins Seattle & Queen Anne locations
• McMenamins Mill Creek
• McMenamins on the Columbia

Let us know if you have a favorite McMenamins location!