Fireside Room at Hotel Sorrento Reviews

Spent a couple days during a week stay at happy hour. Very relaxing after touring the city. Every night they had different corral groups in to sing Christmas Music; very pleasant.

My office went for a holiday lunch arranged by our Dept. Manager. The waiter we had gave really poor service, inattentive, lots of mistakes... I was really surprised that the food was so mediocre. I had the clams, which were tasteless, overcooked. I also had the "beet salad" and there was a ton of and a few small thin pieces of beet that I could count on one hand. All 6 people at the table said their food ranged from mediocre to bad. The waiter didn't know the phone # of the restaurant or hotel. He forgot what 1 person ordered and had to come back and ask (so they got their food late), he never asked if we wanted refills or reorders on our drinks (iced tea and soft drinks) and after we received the check we waited much too long for him to come back and collect payment. It took so long that some of our party left and went back to work while 2 people stayed to wait. Thinking this was an off day for the kitchen and waiter because the atmosphere is so lovely, I went back there a few weeks later with my daughter for afternoon tea. What bad luck; we got the same waiter with the same bad service. After he finally arrived at our table, he took our tea and food order. I didn't realize until he walked away that he had never inquired about something else to drink (the menu consisted of a selection of teas and several champagne drinks; the food was set so there were no options), so it was likely that if someone wanted an alcoholic beverage, they would probably request one of the champagne drinks on the tea menu. It was not terribly busy, but he had enough tables that he should have been busy most of the time. He spent a good deal of his time chatting and laughing with the hostess who wasn't busy. During this time he never looked around at his tables to see if anything was needed. We were done with our meal and I wanted to pay the check. After watching him take care of his social life for an unreasonable length of time, the hostess finally walked away. I thought he would surely look around or come over to our table. He didn't - he left the room. When he came back, he wasn't carrying anything, so I know he wasn't picking up food or drink for a customer. He was walking down the hallway chatting and laughing with a waitress this time. I watched the waitress finally walk away (maybe SHE was going to check on her tables?). I then got up before he could leave again and thrust the check at him. I almost always tip 20%, occasionally 15% if the service is not that great. Our bill was $91.00 (afternoon tea for 2 people with 1 glass of champagne; no other drinks, not even soda) and I left $1.00 tip with a note that it was among the worst service I had ever received (I dine out often). I have never left a tip that bad. I think the price would have been reasonable if the food and service were great, but considering the poor service and food it was way overpriced. At afternoon tea the food was AGAIN just as mediocre as it was for the previous lunch. I'd be generous to call it average. I'm not a picky person, but I am discriminating. There's a difference between a steak at Applebees and a steak at Daniel's Broiler. You expect much more at a place like Daniel's Broiler, and for the price, you have a right to. The atmosphere at The Sorrento is terrific, but can't make up for the poor food and service. I have had afternoon or high tea at several luxury hotels in different states, so I know what to expect. I was extremely disappointed. I gave them a 2nd chance but I won't give them a 3rd. To be fair, I was impressed with the service of the valet and doorman, but the hotel needs to really step up the quality of the food and waitstaff if it wants to be competitive and pretend to be a luxury hotel.

Intimate, friendly sitting area; live music during the evenings, bar and food service available, all done in classic Italian motif.

This place could be wonderful. The room is lovely, but it's so loud, you can't enjoy it. The service is SO bad. She introduced herself 3 times like she'd never met us. Go after 7 on a week night or don't go at all. You'll send $70 on 2 drinks and a plate of appetizers with a 18% tip. Check my other reviews for better after-work options.

On a Saturday we were very excited to visit the Sorrento hotel for a holiday treat. Last review I wrote was about two years ago for the Sorrento Fireside Room with my husband. I believe I called it old world charm and compared it to Philadelphia. I had thousands of hits on my review. When we arrived we asked for a table. We did not know that they were serving high tea which was just about over and another half hour before happy hour. The hostess was not friendly nor inviting. She immediately said "do you have a reservation? which we replied we didn't know we needed one. She just said we cannot seat you unless you have a reservation! You make them way in advance. And to add there were some empty tables. We drove in from the Edmonds and very disappointed as she made absolutely no effort and was quite rude. We asked if she could try to accommodate us because we had driven so far her answer was firm ...no. I finally said we would appreciate it if she could talk to someone about helping us. She left and came back and said fine I will seat you! A waitress finally came and I asked if we could have a pot of tea. My friend had wine. The tea was so strong and so bitter I couldn't drink it and send it back. People were leaving and the room was almost empty. We placed an order which took 45 minutes +. Asked the waitress if she was having a bad day? No..just busy. It had been happy hour for awhile. Needless to say..it was not an enjoyable visit. Hostess and service attitude is important and they need some training. I have never been treated like this at the Metropolitan Grill or other restaurants downtown, even for happy hour.

If you're looking for a place that's warm and welcoming on a rainy night in Seattle the Fireside Room would be a good choice. Lots of comfortable places to sit. They even have music on some weekends.

the service, the atmosphere, the opportunity to dine by the fireplace. This is my favorite room in all of my travels over the last few years! QUIET SOPHISTICATION!

We just hung out in this super cozy room and enjoyed after dinner drinks. It's absolutely lovely! And in the fact that it was decorated for Christmas... perfect!!

I had the holiday tea here with some girlfriends. I had made a reservation through email, and it was all very easy. I requested seating by the fire if possible, and was delighted that they had thoughtfully honored my request. The ambiance was wonderful with beautiful Christmas decorations and an incredibly talented singer and guitarist performing music in the background. Seriously, A+ for atmosphere! The tea options were lovely, but the food was just ok. The sandwiches and sweets were tiny (way smaller than any other tea experiences I’ve had), and you only get one of each thing per person. When my group asked about having more savories, we were told that we would have to pay for the entire tea experience again to get more, which had not been the experience I or any of my party had at other teas in town or in the UK. Overall, I’d recommend going here for drinks, but the tea experience was underwhelming and not worth the money.

Intimate, great music and ambience! Relaxing evening with attentive bar and wait staff. Music was great both nights - Zarni was awesome and the Brazilian band the second night provided a completely different vibe!

Loved being able to relax here after a long day of work. Beautiful and unique atmosphere with kind and generous staff. The live entertainment was great and the food was amazing! Cannot wait to come back.

This is a special spot. It is quiet, special, romantic. We love this room in this beautiful hotel because it is off the beaten path and has an old room, old country charm. You don't even need the fireplace going to enjoy its perfect qualities.

Plush seats, fireplace, live music. This is a great spot to unwind at the end of your sightseeing day!

My wife and I were visiting Seattle and were in search of a fine dining adventure and the Hunt Club was recommended by our travel guide. We had a rather early dining time and saw that the Fireside Room was preparing for live entertainment and thought that we would try this first. Let me just say that the room is unique as it has throwback appeal to when it was built around 1908 as the rich Brazilian wood is featured as is a center seating in which each table has one seat against a center post (maybe 8 seats in the middle) which then spans out to seat either one or two more guests facing the center post. The Hotel had a four piece jazz/pop group which was great and also had an excellent list of unique drinks and appetizers/bar food that we ordered for dinner. Service was cheerful, parking was $10 which is reasonable, and the food was great. See if you can also hear the Nicki D group if you are fortunate to visit Seattle.

Warm and comfy, somewhat Dickensian parlour/bar. Staff was a bit disoriented with our special request to order off dinner menu. Better for drinks and small plates.

The salmon and salad was excellent. Everything was seasoned and prepared wonderfully and with a glass of wine, WOW right up there with one of the best dinners ever.

You can sit near the fireplace and have drinks or dinner and enjoy the lovely old wood and decor. There is music some evenings. It is a huge room which was formerly known as the Hunt Club. Dinner is served from an adjoining restaurant so you are free to choose which room you prefer . The Hotel is very near the center of Seattle but an uphill walk of 6 to 8 blocks. Parking is available at the Hotel.

Beautiful room with wood paneling and fireplace make a gorgeous environment. We ate dinner here from the bar menu one evening while staying at the Sorrento. Loved the chicken pot pie and it came with a nice salad for a very reasonable price. The next afternoon we made use of the room for a couple of hours before leaving for the airport. We sat for about an hour without ordering anything and felt welcomed and no pressure to leave. I eventually ordered a cup of coffee and was brought a nice tray with a carafe of coffee and cream for only $3 - can't understand the other reviews about high prices. I would definitely spend time in this room even if I weren't staying at the Sorrento. Loved it!

Loved, loved, loved this fireplace and the space around it! My family arrived early from a cruise and were able to sit in this space for an hour. We were given drinks and newspapers to read. It was lovely. The staff was so attentive, so friendly. Could have stayed there forever, so peaceful!

Not just a bar in a hotel, The Fireside Room is a special little getaway that is pet of what makes an old school place like The Sorrento as special as it is. This has historically been my favorite place to go for after work drinks and/or dinner, or on a little staycation. It's changed a little with the hotel renovation but still a cozy, classy, and typically quiet spot to have a glass of wine, cocktail, and share a cheese plate or have a light dinner. Sit on the sofas by the fire and be sure to come when there is a piano player on duty. I have been coming here for years, as recently as last week, and I'm always glad I made the effort. Highly recommended for unwinding after a long day or a perfect place for getting started to go out and enjoy an evening. Great place to share with a date or friends.

Beautiful room. Had some drinks and a charcuterie plate. Very nice and comfortable room and good service.

If you'd like to experience Seattle of 1900, this is a great place to do that...elegant, understated, and nice place to just hang out and get a glass of wine.

Maple Bourbon old fashions. Wow. You have to have one of these by the fire. Incredible, feels like you stepped back in time. Best place I can think of to spend a rainy Seattle night with a date.

...with their maple old fashioned in hand - the perfect winter holiday cocktail. The dirty martini on the other hand was not very well mixed, we were also expecting live music. We had to go to another room to place an order, there was no staff present despite a pretty full room. Overall a nice cozy place to warm up with a drink.

Happy hours these days seem to last a great deal longer than 60 minutes, so it can be quite bewildering to figure out what prices apply. Having said that, we had delicious food and drinks a little after 10pm on the evening of our arrival in Seattle, and benefitted from greatly reduced prices. Excellent staff, comfy armchairs and settees, open fire, What's not to like?

it's really the hotel lobby room. Has a grand piano ad you can even host a band there. comfy chairs and sofas!

I have to say that this place had a wonderful brunch. The bacon was dreamy as was the rest of the food. They even have a menu for kids that they get to eat free! Yummy!!!!

Skip the Santa Tea. Not worth it. We paid $150 for my daughter and I to go to the tea with friends. It was poorly executed, the “hot coca” was Swiss miss with no marshmallows or sprinkles. The tea was one pot with loose tea that was never refilled. Our friends asked for sugar and milk and that was never delivered. The event was haphazardly put together where the trays of food took a long time to come out and no one ever returned to the table to bring us more beverages. We were hopeful this event would be awesome. We were so disappointed.

Great place for late night drink, listening to jazz, or sitting in a large chair by the fire reading the paper.

Old world charm. Nice place to relax with a drink.

Great atmosphere, good food, nice wine and reasonable selection of local beers. The room has old world charm, fireplace, deep leather chairs, and is a great place to relax or hold a small gathering.

Cosy and steeped in a bit of history. Had a few drinks. Not a must do but add to the list of things to enjoy if staying at the hotel. Check out the fireplace - its worth a TON of money apparently.

Seth and Revecka are our favorites, but there are other good staff here. When the place is busy, it is often just one waiter/waitress serving everyone, so it can be kind of slow. Staff are also careful about being too intrusive - let them know if you need something! The room is supposed to be an area to relax in, sometimes for hours without necessarily eating and running off quickly.

Good food and service, pleasant location. We checked this out while we were staying at the hotel. The Easter Sunday brunch was really good -- not overwhelmingly huge, but everything was very good and well-prepared.

Went there on a splurge from nearby hotel, expecting quality commensurate with high price. Wrong! Lackadaisical service, tiny portions, chintzy pours on the wine were reason enough to be unhappy with the $100 plus bill. But the food! Incredibly awful, my pasta dish was borderline inedible, my wife had a similar fate. Do. Not. Eat. Here.

Heavy wood finishes with mixtures of eclectic chairs. Oriental rugs with some worn out spots. Floors a little rough. You can choose the fireside room which has a bar but wasn't really used by a barkeeper so the server ran to the adjacent room and full bar to pick up drinks. Old school European vibe is nice. Drinks range from about $12-$20. My dirty martini ended up not dirty and my husbands drink they forgot ice. I think it was more because of our server - she was bubbly and nice but guessing Inexperienced. Anyway, nice to hang out.

Every year we try out a new venue for our holiday party and this year our 25 guests were entertained in one of the private dinning rooms at Serrento's... this one at the top floor of the hotel. We've hosted this party for 12 years and this is easily the most beautiful space we have experienced. The fireplace, baby grand piano and large outdoor patio all contributed to a great atmosphere. It was great to learn that we had a couple of gifted pianists among our guests. The service was excellent, like the sensation of a warm object near the back of your hand; you can feels its warmth but not its touch. The food also was excellent, a foodies delight. Several of us ordered black cod. I have seldom had fish in a restaurant that was cooked as perfectly. I can highly recommend this venue for a private dinner party.

We came here for a drink after a long day and enjoyed a martini. Overall, the service was very good, but it deteriorated a little when our waitress spent quite a bit of time chatting loudly with a couple who were customers. We were fortunate to have a seat by the fireplace. My only critique is that there were some large photos, one of them rather sadomasochistic, that had been hung, and did not really seem to fit in with the elegant and classic décor.

We came here on a Saturday night after a concert at the near by Cathedral, some of us wanting a dessert and drink, others just a drink. We were seven and were asked to join a large table where only three were seated, which we happily agreed to - they had been to the same concert. When the server finally came the only thing she was interested in was whose tab what was on - she rudely started by saying it was difficult to have as large a table as we were. Nice welcoming feeling, that. Then when asked about desserts she mentioned one thing no one could understand and "root beer float". I decided, rather than a glass of blah house wine, to have an old fashioned root beer float. When it finally came, maybe 25 minutes later, I had to laugh - it was the tiniest thing I've ever seen - one small scoop of ice cream in what used to be called a "sherbert cup", with perhaps half a cup of root beer around it, This was really ludicrous. One other person had also ordered this and she also thought it was a joke - but an $8.00 joke? Pretty overpriced, in my opinion. Then when she brought the bill - extremely quickly I might add, as if she thought we might bolt without paying, or she just wanted us to be over and done with? - she overcharged us for the beers the other three people on our tab had. After making such an issue of who is paying for what (we were paying for four), she charged us for more beers than we had ordered or consumed. My husband brought it to her attention very politely, but she was surly about taking the extra items off our bill. It's a shame about the Sorrento: it's a beautiful building with lots of architectural integrity and walking distance from our apartment. We used to go here, but after several bad experiences with meals, problems with both ordering, food preparation and rude service, we just stopped. We only went this week because our friends wanted to go there, and it was convenient, but much as we might like to frequent it , we won't be back. It's a shame because it could be a welcome spot in our neighborhood, but not if they treat customers this way. Full disclosure: I'm not sure if we were in the Dunbar Room or the Fireside Room - it was a long bar room off the main lobby.

Don’t waste your money! Not only was the room itself chilly (several of us left our coats on the entire time) but even the tea couldn’t keep us warm. We were a party of 7, a mix of family and friends having a holiday outing. Everything on our plate was chilly as if it literally just came out of the refrigerator. Warm scones, forget it! Warm croissants, not! Butter was so cold, we could not even spread on our scones. We were given these small tea pots and by the time we waited a mere three minutes for our tea leaves to steep, our tea water was lukewarm. We also had to track our server down several times just to get hot water. We weren’t aware a 20% gratuity was automatically charged to our bill so don’t think our server was very motivated. When my friend complained to the manager, he said he would credit her tea...? He was all apologetic to her, even though all of us were in the same boat but didn’t acknowledge the rest of us, even though he came to our table and several of us proclaimed our displeasure. Won’t return again!

We came for after dinner drinks and dessert, and for the live music which was wonderful. The dessert menu we were presented does not list drinks so we paid a visit to the bar to see what was offered since our first choices weren’t available. The bartender was not friendly and expressed his dislike for our favorite scotch. We ordered it anyway, but what kind of service is that, especially on a Saturday night with a nice crowd? This is a lovely space and very cozy regardless.

Cozy room with wood paneling, fireplace, and live jazz during the holidays makes the Fireside room a great tradition. Arrive early for a seat, you will not get one easily if you wait until music time. Drinks may be a little pricey, and the food is usually good but not always even, but it is a fantastic and intimate place to enjoy an intimate set. We've been rewarded with good musicians every visit.

Great food and wonderful service! We had a group of 14 @and they had no problem accommodating us!! We enjoyed the wonderful atmosphere and warm hospitality!

Excellent dining experience and all we had to do was take the elevator down! A menu full of wonderful experiences and a fabulous breakfast menu to boot!

The food was wonderful. I had a cheese and fruit tray and a wonderful glass of wine. The staff were excellent and very friendly and accommodating.

Relaxing fireside with a glass of wine at the Sorrento Hotel was great, even if you dont stay here , Seattle visitors should stop in for a cozy glass of wine, martini or cognac. Its worth the trip

Relaxing & cozy gathering place. Decent food and wine. The fireplace is inviting on those cool and damp days.

My husband & I met 4 friends here for a 5:00 holiday get together. We'd been here a number of times during the Xmas season and fondly recalled the carolers. first disappointment, no Carolers. Still we pressed some small tables together & had a good visit. 2nd surprise, one of the "special drinks" wasn't available. Apparently some big drinkers over the weekend had cleaned them out! When ordering food, out of Cauliflower! The waiter was lovely in his manner & timing, but what's with these shortages. We shared a cheese & meat platter, mussels (Excellent), a crab cake ! (not worth 14$), green salad, Mac & cheese. No one overate but it was just enough for 6. We asked the waiter to split the bill between two cards. We didn't notice he put both halves on the same card. It took SIX calls to get this straightened out, as if we were a very low priority, I doubt we'll return. Just too many misses here, despite the wonderful fireplace.

all the modern stuff is great but you cant improve a true classic like this. not huge - just comfortable and spectacular all at once

I have been coming here since 1980 or so. I have always loved the Honduran wood and the fireplace atmosphere. The service used to be personal and elegant, with wonderful jazz in the background. Now the place has changed. One "waitress" with a black fishnet outfit had many visible tattoos that did not fit the decor of this 1909 hotel. We had four different "servers" in one hour. We were never sure whom to ask for drinks, water, and food, as they seemed disconnected and hurried. The alcohol was standard and the food was acceptable, I guess, but the antiquarian elegance was missing. It is no longer a special place for me, primarily because of the sporadic service. A shame because this used to be Seattle's classic lounge.

Live music but poor seating views and the drinks are expensive.

beautiful room, great service, great food. Lobby isn't dark and dank, but light airy and everything flows,

I go here fairly often. The room is beautiful and sitting next to the fireplace is cozy and intimate. The hotel itself has a clubby , welcoming feel to it and there is valet parking- which really helps since this neighborhood has very little street parking and the parking lots are expensive. There are also nice seating configurations - couches, comfy chairs so that if you can't sit by the fireplace ( preferred, of course) there are other nice ways to be in the room. A great place to meet friends or a date for a drink.

My daughter (17) and I arrived in Seattle this afternoon after flying across the counrty. We were exhausted when we checked into the Sorrento Hotel (which we are loving so far) and wanted something small to eat before heading to bed. We walked into the Fireside Room and immediately loved the atmosphere. The service was quick and friendly. The food is a bit pricey (but reasonable compared to NYC prices) but the portions were good sized. We ordered three things assuming they would be small and ended up taking a good chunk of the food back to our room. We got the cheese plate and the brie was out of this world. One thing to keep in mind before dining here is that the menu is pretty sophisticated. You won't find chicken wings on the menu but frog's legs.

I love the Fireside Room at the Sorrento! After a long drive (I live in Portland) It is great to have an elegant in-hotel spot for a glass of wine, a bite to eat, or just a place to sit and rest or visit with friends. A lovely amenity in a beautiful historic hotel.

The atmosphere here is just right if your not quite ready to call it a night. On the weekends they have live music which was nice too. We had appetizers along with something to drink and everything was just great.

We had the crab cake and the "Hour Tower" (with the Seared Scallops, Sausage and Mushroom Panzanella, and Mac & Cheese). Everything was fantastic! Especially the crab cake!

Went for the Holiday Tea Nov 2025. If you are a tea connoisseur, or have had wonderful high teas somewhere else, you will be very disappointed with this "special" holiday tea. There were only 4 types of tea you could have, none was a simple black tea (if you are not a fan of frou-frou teas, you will have to settle for a bag of Lipton). The food was a tower of woe. I disliked the trout mousse tarts, they were too salty. The middle tier of finger sandwiches were nothing special - deli turkey and cranberry, and squash/leek (squash was stiff) and the bread was hard as if it were a bit stale. The top tier of treats were ok but certainly not anything to go out of your way for (there's a little pot of some kind of pudding that was tasteless). It kills me to pay $55 plus tip per person for this pseudo afternoon tea service.

This hotel offers some very interesting options in the Fireside Room - especially the reading night with piano accompaniment

It's everything you've read about. Gorgeous and antiquey. But it's all about the service at the Sorrento Hotel.

We were staying at the hotel and brought our dog, Molly. There aren't microwaves in the rooms though and she will only eat her food if it's heated. I went to the kitchen and they said "No problem, just bring us her food". I went back to our room, got the food, took it back to the wonderful young man and he heated it up in just a minute. He also offered anything else we needed for the night, so we later came back down and ate in the dining room. The food was excellent and service devine.

We were meeting a friend (hotel guest) in the Fireside Room and were served the "Holiday Tea" service. I cannot express how disappointing and ridiculously bad the food was… a) the "Fresh Baked" scones were hard as rocks (you could literally drop one on your plate and hear an audible CLUNK), dry, and buried in sugar and sprinkles. b) the chocolate croissants were chewy and filled with - something that tasted and resembled a Tootsie Roll. c) the savory selection was better, but the small quiches were cold and the rest forgettable. d) the espresso chocolate pot de crème was BITTER and had a thick/gummy/rubbery texture…the eclair and tarts looked and tasted like they were purchased from the local supermarket. Service: our server was friendly, but very unattentive/unavailable…we had a difficult time flagging her down to ask for more cream/sugar, even though the place only had a handful of people. Ultimately, to say our experience was less than satisfactory would be a gross understatement…I would highly encourage anyone to SKIP this offering.

We had lunch during restaurant week. I had one of the best sandwhiches I've ever had! We sat on the bar side of the restaurant which is richly appointed with beautiful wood. Nice abiance.

This place is comfy and cozy and the the fireplace adds such a nice touch. Drinks were inventive and there was live music that we enjoyed and a very eclectic crowd which made people watching fun!

Gentlemanly and lots of beautiful wood. Excellent cocktail service and well crafted drinks. UNFORTUNATELY, with the renovation, they ruined the decor. It no longer carries the high end style and personality that it had, but it can be put back. The furniture looks so cheap and poorly chosen, it isn't near as comfortable as the former look, and does not contribute to the greatness of the space. This would not hinder our coming back, but it was a bit disappointing to see.

Good prices on the Happy Hour drinks. We had wine and a Black Russian. My friend says that it was an excellent Black Russian; just the right ratio of Vodka and Kahlua. The Happy Hour food was a bit skimpy on the portions

Very warm and welcoming atmosphere but the items on the menu are overpriced for what you get. Probably the location and the hotel setting are the reasons they can overcharge. The food is good but not exceptional. Service OK.

Great cocktails and nice assortment of appetizers.

I give the hotel kudos for inviting the Beaconettes to the FIreside Room during the holiday, but unfortunately neither the staff nor the room was not up to the task of handling the turn-out. We got there at 4:30 (Beconettes came on at 5:30) and there were 10 names ahead of us on the list (no reservations for the lounge). They took our number and said they would call when something opened up. We went down the street to Vito’s for drinks and appetizers, and they did call, around 6. We were thrilled to snag seats, and thoroughly enjoyed two sets of the Beaconettes...but got NO drinks, despite sitting there for a full hour after we put our order in and mentioned the delay to three servers. We finally left, without drinks or food. Their loss since we enjoyed the show. Drinks and food are expensive outside of happy hour, so we saved around $40

both meals were every good. Anxious to return and try dinner. The French Toast for breakfast is the best I have ever had.