Axel's take on Downtown Spokane: #1 of 6 in Spokane, 7.8/10
Choose downtown for restaurants, theaters and exploring without a car. Downtown wins overall for sightseeing access, restaurants and character, with good hotels, though value is middling and evenings are less quiet.
Downtown puts Spokane's brick architecture, theaters and restaurant scene in one walkable package. Around Sprague Avenue, First Avenue and Monroe Street, you can combine a show with dinner and drinks, then walk north to Riverfront Park. This is our pick for travelers whose plans revolve around eating out and culture.
Recent local hotel advice repeatedly favors downtown for walking to dinner. The trade-off is the urban setting: I-90 approaches are more traffic-dominated, and bringing a car adds parking logistics. Choose the river-facing blocks instead if playgrounds and park walks matter more than bars and theaters; skip downtown altogether if quiet evenings are essential.
- Best for: food lovers, nightlife, museums and culture, travelers without a car
- Skip it if: You want genuinely quiet evenings; You prefer driving straight to every destination
- Getting around: Walk the core; City Line 1 and STA Plaza buses connect outward. From GEG, Route 7 runs directly to the Plaza.
- After dark: Bars and performances give evenings a focus; recent local accounts describe comfortable evening walks rather than a district to avoid wholesale.
- Rates: Typical Axel rate $130 a night · usually 8% under the public rate
Where to stay in Spokane: every neighborhood ranked
Where to look in Downtown Spokane
- First Avenue at Monroe Street. Start here for theater nights, live music and dinner on foot; expect city bustle rather than hushed evenings. Hotels here: Montvale Hotel, Hotel Indigo Spokane Downtown by IHG, Hotel Ruby, Steam Plant Hotel Spokane, an Ascend Collection Hotel.
- Sprague Avenue at Post Street. A central choice for couples combining historic architecture, restaurants and performances without driving between stops. Hotels here: Davenport Hotel, Autograph Collection, The Louie, A Davenport Hotel, Autograph Collection®, The Davenport Tower, Autograph Collection.
- Riverside Avenue at Monroe Street. Look here for historic streetscapes and walks toward the falls, with the theater blocks close by. Hotels here: Spokane Club.
How to choose
- Choose Montvale Hotel if historic character and an easy walk to shows matter more than soundproofing.
- Choose Davenport Hotel, Autograph Collection if you want an occasion hotel with a spa, indoor pool and spacious rooms.
- Choose Hotel Ruby if you want a cheaper downtown show base and can accept compact rooms and train noise.
What paying more buys
Hotel Ruby is cheaper than most here, but rooms are compact and noise carries. Mid-priced Montvale buys more space and historic character; pricier Davenport Hotel adds an indoor pool, hot tub and full-service spa. Those extras are less worthwhile if you'll spend your days out and only need a bed after a show. Typical rates with Axel here run from $82 a night at Tiki Lodge to $191 at Davenport Hotel, Autograph Collection (last 30 days).
The best hotels in Downtown Spokane, ranked by Axel's take
Each hotel scored for what it is by Axel's own review; the rate is one stay Axel priced this week, beside the public rate for the same dates.
- Montvale Hotel 8.7/10, historic mid-range boutique hotel in downtown Spokane. Historic character and strong downtown value, with soundproofing the main compromise. Why it's here: Historic character, spacious rooms and mid-priced value for theater weekends. Accept: Thin walls, creaking floors and trains can interrupt sleep.. $110 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Davenport Hotel, Autograph Collection 8.7/10, historic, full-service 4-star in downtown Spokane. Go for historic grandeur and comfortable rooms, but expect extra fees. Why it's here: Historic grandeur and spacious comfort with a full-service spa and indoor pool. Accept: Amenity and parking fees, plus occasional housekeeping lapses.. $175 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Hotel Indigo Spokane Downtown by IHG 8.6/10, historic, boutique-style mid-range hotel in downtown Spokane. A characterful downtown base with comfortable rooms, helpful staff and paid-parking trade-offs. Why it's here: Spacious, characterful rooms and welcoming service for less than many downtown alternatives. Accept: Paid valet, possible freight-train noise and no pool.. $97 a night with Axel against $130 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $33 a night less (25%). Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- The Louie, A Davenport Hotel, Autograph Collection® 8.6/10, upscale historic boutique hotel in downtown Spokane. A polished downtown retreat, with big-hotel perks across the street. Why it's here: Personal attention and butler service in a smaller downtown hotel with comfortable king rooms. Accept: Major amenities are across the street; fees and parking add up.. $184 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- The Davenport Tower, Autograph Collection 8.4/10, upscale, safari-themed downtown tower hotel. A strong downtown choice for comfortable rooms, with extra charges worth checking. Why it's here: Spacious redesigned rooms and comfortable beds with an on-site indoor pool and hot tub. Accept: Extra fees and occasional billing disputes; not the historic Davenport.. $135 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Spokane Club 8.3/10, historic mid-range hotel inside a downtown private athletic club. Historic character and excellent fitness facilities make this a strong downtown pick. Why it's here: The downtown choice for serious workouts, with a lap pool, courts, sauna and steam room. Accept: Room condition varies; parking access and dining hours need checking.. $95 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Hotel Ruby 7.8/10, budget-friendly 3-star motel-style hotel in downtown Spokane. A good-value downtown base for shows, with small rooms and noise trade-offs. Why it's here: A cheaper downtown show base with breakfast for two and friendly staff. Accept: Compact rooms, thin walls, trains and mandatory extra fees.. $129 a night with Axel against $143 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $14 a night less (10%). Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Steam Plant Hotel Spokane, an Ascend Collection Hotel 7.3/10, basic 3-star downtown motor hotel with exterior-access rooms. Good downtown value, but train noise and parking-lot work make quiet stays a gamble. Why it's here: Cheaper downtown rooms with included parking and easy access to shows. Accept: Train noise, worn carpets and parking disruption.. $93 a night with Axel against $117 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $24 a night less (20%). Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Tiki Lodge 5.8/10, basic 2-star downtown motel. Convenient downtown access, but uneven rooms make this a budget fallback. Why it's here: A cheaper downtown fallback with free parking for a short driving stop. Accept: Inconsistent cleaning and repairs, noise and streets some guests dislike.. $72 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details