About Hotel Washington
Hotel Washington opened in 1904 overlooking Detroit Harbor. Ben Johnson, who came to Washington Island from Iceland as a 12-year-old in 1887 and later sailed the Great Lakes, built it with his wife, Evaline, and the couple ran it until 1946. It quickly became a center of island life and has hosted island weddings and celebrations ever since. Today it has eight guest rooms and stays open year-round.
The restaurant runs from May through October. Menus are seasonal and made from scratch, with ingredients from island farms and local makers. Hours change with the season: on the hotel's current schedule, spring dinners are on Friday and Saturday evenings, and from July 1 the dining room opens Tuesday through Saturday, with guest chefs joining for July and August. Dinner is served in the historic dining room or on the front porch when the weather allows, with wine and beer.
The property also has a studio used for yoga classes, workshops and retreats, the small Honeymoon House Market, and ice cream served under a large oak tree. On Saturday mornings the hotel sells at the island farmers market on Main Road.
Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm & Shop is about 10 minutes away across the island, so a lavender visit by day and dinner on the hotel porch make a full island day, or the start of an overnight stay.
What to do
- Stay in one of eight rooms in a 1904 island hotel
- Have a seasonal dinner made with island-grown ingredients, May through October
- Eat on the front porch on warm evenings
- Take a yoga class or workshop in the hotel studio
- Find the hotel's stand at the Saturday farmers market on Main Road
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Hotel open year-round; restaurant May through October
- Hours
- Restaurant as posted 2026: spring Friday–Saturday evenings; from July 1, Tuesday–Saturday 5–9 pm
Tips for your visit
- Restaurant days change with the season, so check the hotel's hours page before you plan dinner
- Ask about the guest chef dinners in July and August
- If you are taking the ferry back the same day, check the last crossing before booking a late dinner
Pair it with a lavender farm
Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm & Shop · about 10 minutes away
Spend the afternoon at Fragrant Isle's lavender fields, about 10 minutes away, then come back for dinner on the hotel porch.
Getting there
Questions
Is Hotel Washington open in winter?
Yes. The hotel's eight rooms are open year-round; the restaurant runs May through October.
Where does the restaurant's food come from?
Menus are made from scratch using ingredients from island farms and local makers.
How old is the hotel?
Ben and Evaline Johnson opened it in 1904.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Door County, Wisconsin
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
