48 Hours in Kirkland, WA

Kirkland's tree-lined cobbled streets, vintage shops, and boutique restaurants make for a restorative weekend away.

Give yourself a good 48 hours to explore—your best bet is to move your base camp after one night to experience both downtown and fun lakeside activities.

DOWNTOWN

STAY The Heathman has clean, business-like rooms, conveniently located behind Park Lane, an alleyway full of treats for both the tummy and the eye. The accommodation is comfortable, but the staff is what really make the place shine, and the restaurant alone (below) is worth the drive.EAT Trellis at The Heathman is the best thing to have ever happened to Kirkland. Eat arugula and radish salad picked that afternoon from Executive Chef Brian Scheehser’s 18-acres of Woodinville farmland, followed by locally sourced white king salmon with Chef’s own apple cider and brown butter sauce. Round-up your culinary adventure with in-house produced cheeses and chutneys. The evening was so delicious we went to explore Chef Brian’s farm the very next morning. Photograph by Nathalie Uribe  Photograph by Nathalie Uribe EXPLORE Nestled amidst vintage shops and surprisingly good Mexican restaurants (considering their distance from the Latin border), you will find Rococo Coffee Roasting Company. Beans are roasted in-house, creating a delicious aroma that would pull any coffee-drinker straight to the door, but it’s a haven for the tea-time set, too thanks to a large selection of loose-leaf teas. Photograph by Nathalie Uribe

LAKESIDE

STAY Consider The Woodmark Hotel the epitome of lakeside luxury, complete with sweeping staircases, an interior of beachside pastels and a first-class view over Lake Washington. A 24-hour snack cupboard is on hand for any late night munchies, as well as ultra-soft over-sized towels and robes for relaxing after a Molten Brown-infused bath.EXPLORE Either whittle the hours away in the soothing environment of the Still Spa or enjoy the hotel’s paddleboards, boats, and jet skis to rip up some waves. The Woodmark has the air of more of a rural country retreat than downtown Kirkland, not that we’re complaining.EAT The Woodmark has two eateries on site, Beach Café and Bin on the Lake, though a town car is on hand if downtown Kirkland is calling. The Beach Café is the more casual of the two, with eggs benedict and fresh fruit galore; Bin on the Lake’s chef de cuisine Dylan Giordan’s menu is fun and full of variety, an enticing compliment to the large assortment of wine offered on tap. Photograph by Nathalie Uribe