The Lodge at St. Edward Park — Hotel in Kenmore

We stayed here for a weekend away. It’s clear they are still in the process of opening/figuring things out, and operations are not yet ready for prime time.

They only offer valet service, which is fine, except on our 2nd day we went off site, came back, left the car, went to our room, dropped things and changed, then headed back out to explore the park and our car was still at the valet station and running - nearly 15 minutes later.

They have a large, elegant looking restaurant onsite, but we aren’t able to review it. When I called the front desk in the morning and again in the afternoon they simply transfer you to the restaurant and it rings for a long time until you get a message to leave your name and phone number. A visit to the restaurant to see about reservations was also unsuccessful. A party in front of us waited several minutes to confirm they had a reservation and then the attendant didn’t come for several minutes so we went to their downstairs bar. While there we overheard another guest explain that they too had tried for reservations, but were told the restaurant was booked out until Thursday (it’s Saturday).

This property is in the middle of a state park and to leave for food is extremely inconvenient. Thankfully their bar downstairs has a limited menu for us to get something to eat without driving into the city. There is no room service.

We are staying in room 327, but the first floor is sunken, so we are about 2 floors above the grounds, right above their only outdoor dining space. They were hosting a wedding the first night we arrived and it was like we were attending it. The music was nice - until we were trying to wind-down. You can hear every conversation, loud laughter, and crying child, etc even with the windows closed and curtains drawn.

With only 2 bars, 1 restaurant you can’t book, and a library filled with board games that was closed off for the entire second day there really isn’t anything to do at the lodge itself. About the only option is to wander through the great state park and enjoy the trails and then drive off the property anytime you want to eat something other than bar food.

The room we are in is large and furnished well, but other than the wall paper of architectural plans for the seminary there is no indication of the place you are staying. It’s very much like what you would find in a modern boutique hotel in NYC (only larger).

When our room wasn’t serviced while we were out for lunch we inquired at the front desk for housekeeping. They said it has to be requested due to covid (which is understandable, but they didn’t disclose that when we checked in). So we requested it… and they never came (for the whole day).

Our visions of a “lodge” were not recognized with this property. There is no grand/impressive foyer or other lodge-like amenities (no pool, no business center, a tiny gym), instead you walk into what at first appears to be an old high school stairwell. You’ll find the tiny reception area off to your left and the main floor bar (super modern, very un-lodge-like) off to your right just before the unbookable restaurant.

The downstairs bar had the most lodge-like character and a super attentive staff. They are also the place where a limited food menu was available (thank goodness).

We didn’t even bother to try booking the spa, so I can’t review it.

Soooo… if you go in 2021 know that there are a ton of kinks to work out. The “Lodge” doesn’t hold any reservation spaces at their restaurant for their guests despite being in an isolated area, so you may want to pack snacks (seriously), and ask for a high room on the front (north) side of the building if possible overlooking the parking lot (otherwise you’ll be stuck attending someone’s wedding while trying to unwind).

I could possibly overlook all of these new opening issues, but they are charging peak season rates while still in beta mode, so I feel that 3 stars is being pretty generous. It’s like it’s a 3 star hotel with 5 star aspirations. Hopefully they get it together sooner...

Disheartening Experience at The Lodge at St. Edward Park: A Cautionary Tale The Lodge at St. Edward Park promised a serene and luxurious getaway for our Valentine’s Day escape, but unfortunately, it fell short of expectations. What was meant to be a memorable night turned into an experience we’d rather soon forget. Upon our arrival, the receptionist seemed taken aback that we had booked for just one night, and she initially extended a warm offer to prolong our stay, citing an abundance of available rooms. However, once we settled into our room, things took a disappointing turn. Our room was a corner unit, isolated next to several storage rooms—an unusual and unwelcome surprise that set the tone for the rest of our short stay. Dinner at the Cedar + Elm restaurant was another uphill battle. The immediate greeting from the hostess was not a warm welcome but rather a questioning about a children's menu—a strange query, as nothing during the booking process hinted at any policy or restriction against children. The night featured a five-course seafood menu. As someone who does not enjoy seafood, I found myself dissatisfied with the options. Thankfully, Parker, our attentive waiter, attempted to accommodate us by offering a small steak alternative. Despite this, the overall dining experience was overshadowed by a misalignment of expectations. Determined to turn our experience around, we decided to extend our stay to enjoy brunch the following day. This decision came with personal sacrifices, as business owners, it meant last-minute alterations affecting our business operations and staff. Unfortunately, our attempt to extend was met with a dismissive attitude from a different receptionist who claimed the lodge was fully booked, contradicting our earlier conversation at check-in. Suspicious, I checked online and saw numerous rooms available, but upon confronting the staff, I was met with denial and non professionalism, resulting in her hanging up on me. Frustrated and unwelcome, we chose to check out in the middle of the night. A compassionate bellhop noticed our distress and informed the supervisor, who was sympathetic and acknowledged our experience was far from their standard. He reaffirmed the availability of rooms and promised a callback from the manager to address our concerns. However, the anticipated follow-up never materialized. Despite repeated attempts to contact the management, I received a delayed response. The manager, seemingly unaware of our ordeal, promised an investigation into our issues with the potential offer of a complimentary stay. Yet, this gesture feels inadequate for an establishment that should ensure all guests feel welcome and valued, irrespective of race or family composition. People choose to leave their homes and invest time and money for a break from their daily routine, hoping for a rewarding experience, not one marred by inconsideration and exclusion. It appears there may be an underlying problem of either racial bias or an unfriendly stance towards children and families at this establishment. Based on this experience, I would advise people of color and families to reconsider if they’re contemplating a stay at The Lodge at St. Edward Park. Attached are photos of our disappointing dining experience and screenshots proving room availability, contrary to staff claims. More than a week has passed, and dishearteningly, I’ve yet to receive the follow-up promised by the manager. My wish is for no one else to endure similar treatment and that moving forward, The Lodge at St. Edward Park takes meaningful steps to align their service with the hospitality standards they...

Five star ⭐ experience! Fabulous stay!!!

I wanted to treat my husband for his 60th birthday and was looking for a quick but luxurious overnight stay. Something that fit within our budget, but was unique and extravagant at the same time. I started looking at The Lodge at St. Edwards Park at the end of 2024 and finally booked our February stay right after the New Year.

I called ahead and scheduled a massage prior to check-in for both of us. The experience was perfect – they listened to our expectations and it was the ideal kickoff to our stay. After that, check-in was a breeze. The staff was super helpful and even provided a complementary goodie package to celebrate his birthday when we walked into the room.

We started with drinks at the Tonsorium Bar. Andre Feriante was playing acoustic guitar, complementing the speak-easy atmosphere with an excellent blend of classical and world music. The waitress was super helpful, showing us a dinner menu ahead of time so we could plan for dinner. By the time we left, the bar was starting to fill up with guests having a drink or ordering dinner from their yummy Happy Hour menu.

The absolute best part was dinner! We’ve eaten at many of the top-rated restaurants in the Seattle area over the last 12 years and this experience was – by far – one of the BEST WE’VE EVER HAD. The Cedar + Elm menu changes seasonally so the food was all fresh, in-season, and perfect for the time of year. Our waitress as wonderful, giving us insights and suggestions, making sure we were well-taken care of the whole time. She recommended the pork belly appetizer special which was cooked perfectly. The right combination of tender, savory, and crisp. The filet mignon tartare was so fresh, revealing unexpected delicate flavors in layers of deliciousness with each bite. My husband had melt-in-your-mouth short ribs. I had the best salmon I’ve ever been served, a premium cut that was moist, tender, and full of flavor. We finished with a pear sorbet with toasted marshmallow that was an unexpected combo but enhanced each other when blended together. Before we left, the culinary team provided a wonderful little desert with a single birthday candle – they were remarkable! We definitely plan to go back for other celebrations or when we have guests in town and want to show off our...