The Sorrento, Seattle's Oldest Boutique Hotel, Announces its Restoration and the Dunbar Restaurant Debut

SEATTLE, April 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- From its perch atop First Hill, Seattle's historic Hotel Sorrento unveils a slew of improvements on April 24, 2015, the latest in more than a century of ongoing refinement. Seattle's oldest boutique hotel is bursting with new energy. 

Management firm Magnetic/ERV principals Jena Thornton and Jared Lovejoy are committed to this unique project and to reflecting the spirit of our age. The team brings a reverent attention to detail, starting from the ground up. Jared Lovejoy states "The goal of this restoration is to honor what has come before and hold that in the context of all that is emerging now. This hotel has an incredible service, creative, and cultural lineage that we are thrilled to be a part of."

Outdoors the Sorrento's original manicured garden returns in the form of a new outdoor dining and gathering place after a half-century hiatus. The concrete-cast signage above the entrance portico has been brought back to life. The lobby's original white marble floor, long concealed by carpet, has been exposed and the famous Fireside Room, home to generations of afternoon teas, nighttime jazz performances, poetry readings, and general conviviality, has gained a cocktail bar and carefully curated art and furnishings.

Top of the Town, the Sorrento's dramatic, seventh-floor event space, boasts a brand-new look to match its expansive city-to-Sound views.  The hotel's 76 guest rooms, each spacious and unique, have been recast in updated understated colors and an eclectic array of vintage furniture, unusual artwork and one-of-a-kind accents. Beginning in May, the Sorrento launches its Designer Suite series, inviting three Seattle designers to each redesign a suite in his or her singular vision. With renewed emphasis on local talent and innovative design, the Sorrento remains a welcoming and intimate refuge for locals and travelers alike.

The hotel's new restaurant, the Dunbar Room, will be overseen by Executive Chef Seth Caswell. Formerly the Hunt Club, the Dunbar name hails from the Sorrento's 1960's restaurant. The menu will highlight Contemporary American Cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients. Selections include playful small plates and elevated classics, focused on local seafood and dry-aged steaks. To complement the menu, the Dunbar and adjacent lounge will offer an inspired cocktail list developed by notable restaurateur Jared Meisler. With creations that include the Ms. Toklas, Cloud Chaser, Top of the Town, and Overnight, Meisler explains, "Like the menu and indeed the hotel as a whole, the cocktail list is designed to be eclectic. The menu represents where the cocktail movement is now. The flavors are very robust, deep and complex with accents on bitter, smoky and spicy flavors."

Since opening its doors during the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition of 1909, the Sorrento has been Seattle's elegant, eclectic hub of hospitality, creativity and urban life. The current stewards, Barbara and Michael Malone, along with the team at Magnetic/ERV, honor the Sorrento's landmark legacy while creating a thoughtful oasis aligned with the progressive character of the fastest growing city in America.

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for further information on the Sorrento Hotel visit www.hotelsorrento.com 

Hotel Sorrento—Located in Seattle's First Hill neighborhood only a short walk from downtown, the iconic Hotel Sorrento, features 76 guest rooms and a 100-plus year history where Seattleites and hotel guests have long enjoyed afternoon tea, literary events and entertainment, forever capturing the hearts and soul of the community. The landmark Sorrento's restoration details the timeless features found in the original woodwork, marble flooring, exterior façade, and architectural integrity. At the Sorrento's Dunbar Room, Executive Chef Seth Caswell oversees the menu of Contemporary American Cuisine with a locally sourced foundation of ingredients. The offerings feature a full selection of small bites and plates designed to complement the bar's inspired list of craft cocktails. This spring, the hotel will celebrate the grand opening and return of their entry garden where the Dunbar Room menu and drinks can be ordered and enjoyed in the great outdoors of this vibrant city.

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SOURCE Hotel Sorrento