10 BEST things to do at The Lodge at St Edwards (Seattle)

The Lodge at St Edwards is a boutique hotel on Seattle’s Eastside, formerly a Catholic seminary for 45 years.

The Lodge is situated on the magnificent grounds of Saint Edward State Park, with forested hiking and biking trails leading down to Lake Washington, with 3,000 feet of shoreline.

This upscale hotel has a gorgeous, art-deco interior, with two swanky bars, an elegant restaurant, spa services, a library and art gallery.

Many guests also use The Lodge at St Edwards as a base to visit the nearby Woodinville wineries, and can rent out a chauffeur driven 1938 Pontiac Limousine to tour the wineries in style.

History: The hotel’s Romanesque-Revival style building was constructed in 1931, and was utilized as a Catholic seminary for 45 years. The building and grounds were then sold to Washington State in 1977, and became the 316-acre Saint Edward State Park.

Renovation in 2021: The seminary opened as a hotel in 2021 after undergoing a four year $57 million renovation. It’s fun to walk through the The Lodge at St Edwards, and learn the original use of the rooms. For example, the seminary’s dining hall is now a restaurant, the old basement barbershop and main floor common room have become bars, and the dormitories have been converted to 84 luxurious guest rooms.

10 best things to do at The Lodge at St Edwards

1. Cedar + Elm Restaurant.

The stylish Cedar + Elm Restaurant was once the seminary's dining hall. The historic character was preserved during the renovation, like the stunning chandeliers, and arched windows. You can also dine outside on the patio in warmer months.

2. Heritage Bar & Tonsorium Bar.

Enjoy cocktails at Father Mulligan’s Heritage Bar on the main floor, or head down to the atmospheric basement bar, the Tonsorium ,where you can enjoy live music.

3. Gallery of Fine Arts.

Visit the Gallery of Fine Arts on the main floor, to see a selection of Northwest artworks for purchase.

4. Luxurious rooms.

Stay overnight at The Lodge at St Edwards, with luxuriously appointed rooms.

5. Self guided tour.

Learn about the seminary’s history by doing the “Stories of St Edward” self-guided tour with QR codes, available at the front desk. You can also see fascinating old photos of the seminary along the basement corridor at The Lodge at St Edwards.

6. Library.

Hang out at the elegant library at The Lodge at St Edwards, with comfy sofas, free snacks, and loads of classic board games.

7. Hiking trails.

Visit the beautiful Grotto at Saint Edward State Park, a popular location for weddings, or take the ½ mile trail down to the waterfront at Lake Washington.