Passing signs for Kirkland on the freeway, you’ve no doubt joked about how good the Costco must be there—but the city is so much more than that (and honestly, the Costco is nothing special; you want Issaquah for that). 

Photograph by Anne Godenham

Given its location just across Lake Washington from Seattle, Kirkland is considered by many to be a suburb of the larger city; in fact, Kirkland has a reputation for being its own community, where residents not only live but also work and play. That last part explains why there’s so much green space, even despite the population boom that Google has brought to the area, and why everything I ate during my brief trip was well above par. 

Stay

 Looking at the stately red brick building that blends so seamlessly into the edges of downtown, you’d never guess that The Heathman Hotel was built in 2007. The hotel has a real sense of belonging, an almost vintage feel that’s belied only by the contemporary functionality of the rooms. 

Photograph by Anne Godenham

“We’re very engaged with the Kirkland chamber,” says Food and Beverage Manager Courtney Smith. “They have a ton of pride in their home. And so, the fact that The Heathman feels like it was always part of Kirkland is really pretty impactful.”

Photograph by Anne Godenham

 I stayed at The Heathman for two nights with my husband and two-year-old son, and every single staff member we encountered was friendly, helpful, and kind. The room was perfectly appointed (the balcony, with its sturdy railing, was a bonus for a kid who loves to be outside), the beds were comfortable, and the water pressure in the shower was amazing. Add to that the ability to park our car with the hotel valet and walk everywhere for the entire weekend—we were very happy customers. 

Dine 

Photograph by Anne Godenham

We had brunch on our first morning at the hotel restaurant, Hearth, and my husband faced a rare dilemma: there were too many dishes he wanted to try on the menu. Usually, I’m the one who struggles to decide, but when Shrimp and Grits are an option, I never hesitate—these were exceptional, with tender wild gulf prawns and a flavorful harissa butter sauce. My husband wound up choosing the PNW Scramble, which came layered generously with smoked salmon and accompanied by crusty parmesan potatoes. Chef Edison Mays has a background in fine dining, and it shows in the food at Hearth. 

Photograph by Anne Godenham

Our dinners were much less fancy but no less delicious. The first night, we satisfied our constant craving for raw fish at Big Fish Sushi (the little one had an Eel and Avocado Roll), and the next night we indulged in rich roti dipped in Beef Rendang and tried to steal the noodles from our son’s Mee Goreng at Reunion Malaysian Cafe + Kitchen. 

Of course, we also had to try Lady Yum’s famous macarons—the $5 special of a glass of bubbly and a single macaron was a no-brainer, though I also couldn’t resist ordering a few more, for taste-test purposes. They were all exceptional, but my favorite was the Apricot Honey Cardamom.

 Breakfast on our last day was an overorder (no regrets) of incredible pastries from Kirkland Bakery, including one of the best Almond Croissants I’ve ever eaten. And we couldn’t resist fitting in one last meal on our way out of town: on Smith’s recommendation, we picked up burgers and fries from Coastline Burgers, and I can report that the buns really are that good.

Play 

Photograph by Anne Godenham

Besides eating, we spent most of our time enjoying the beautiful outdoor spaces Kirkland has to offer. The Heathman is right between two wonderful parks: Marina Park, on the shore of Lake Washington, includes a beach, a harbor, and a pretty gazebo, and Peter Kirk Park squeezes a baseball field, a pool, a huge playground, and an impressive amount of rolling lawn into a surprisingly compact space. We also stopped by The Whole Cat and Caboodle to look through the window at the beautiful fluffy kitties.