McMenamins Elk Temple

I ended up loving how different this was from a regular hotel. There are restaurants on different floors, hidden rooms, loads of history, and such interesting decor. The food and drinks were good, and the atmosphere had plenty of character. At first I wasn’t sure about staying somewhere other than a Hilton or Marriott, but I was glad I did. I only wish there had been an elevator on the lodging side.

The room was definitely warm, which might have been lucky because our group of 25 could have taken over the whole place. We had a semi-private area for the birthday party, and the staff somehow kept everyone fed, cheerful, and topped up with drinks the entire time. The food was remarkable as always. Make time to hop around the other bars too, it was a total win.

The booths with tall backs were great for chatting without needing to raise our voices, and I really liked the look and feel of the place. Our late lunch was just okay, though. My husband couldn’t get the burger on a gluten-free bun because they were out, even though gluten-free options are advertised. I had crab mac and cheese, but there was very little crab and the cheese didn’t have much flavor. My son enjoyed the mushroom pizza as a vegetarian choice.

Every bar has its own vibe, so there’s a lot to wander around and explore. I’d definitely come back to see more, and tracking down the hidden speakeasy is a fun little mission.