Hotel Snapshot
Larch House is a 39-room boutique hotel in Whitefish, Montana’s Historic Railway District, rated 4.7 stars, and priced from $450 per night. Nestled in the heart of downtown at 304 East 1st Street, this intimate design-centric property is within walking distance of restaurants, breweries, boutiques, cultural activities, and the Whitefish Depot, a stop on Amtrak’s Empire Builder route from the Pacific Northwest (Portland and Seattle) to Chicago.
Whitefish is a chic mountain town known for its upscale accommodations, dining, and amenities. It’s also home to the historic 1928 Tudor Revival-style Great Northern Railway station that’s still in operation today. The town is an excellent base for outdoor adventure and exploration, located approximately 30 minutes from the West Entrance of Glacier National Park and less than 15 minutes from Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Larch House seamlessly blends into Western Montana’s big sky landscape. Designed as a contemporary interpretation of an Alpine lodge, the luxury property features an elevated Western aesthetic with cozy interiors curated by the global design practice Olson Kundig.
This architecturally distinct luxury retreat, comprising 10 wooden buildings, surrounds a large outdoor courtyard with landscaped gardens, plush seating, and fire pits. The inviting public areas, both indoors and out, including the lobby lounge and restaurant, create welcoming gathering spaces for hotel guests and local residents to socialize, dine, and imbibe.
Design & Character
The vibe at Larch House is mountain-casual yet elegant, and its intimate size makes it feel more like a private getaway than a hotel. The residential-inspired design elements include natural stone, timber, and handsomely textured materials. Many pieces are vintage and sustainable, sourced from local and regional artisans. The private art collection displayed throughout the property features works by local, regional, and nationally known artists, including David Yarrow, Theodore Waddell, Kate Hunt, Sam Reveles, and Whitefish artist Madeline Boyle.
The Rooms
The 39 elegantly designed rooms and suites range from the smallest Queen Room in the Larch House main building to a spacious Cabin Suite with a fireplace. My Deluxe King room in one of the Longhouse Buildings featured floor-to-ceiling windows, access to the private courtyard, and a beautiful bathroom with a large walk-in shower. Standard amenities include heated bathroom floors, a mini fridge, a safe, plush robes, a 60-inch smart television, complimentary Wi-Fi, Grown Alchemist toiletries, and a gear closet (in all but the Queen Room). The property also offers ADA-compliant and pet-friendly accommodations.
The Food & Drink
Enga, the hotel’s Alpine-inspired lounge and restaurant, offers dinner indoors in the dining room or outside in the courtyard, depending on the weather. The bar menu lists several specialty cocktails, including a whiskey sour made with Larch House reserve bourbon and Flathead cherries, sourced from nearby orchards on Flathead Lake. The dinner menu also focuses on locally sourced ingredients, with Enga’s signature pistachio-crusted elk chop, bison bolognese, and a Montana prime tenderloin, which was excellent. Other menu highlights include the New Zealand Ōra King Salmon and a Petrossian caviar service.
The Amenities
The hotel’s Terrace Rooftop Bar and heated pool come with views of Whitefish Mountain Resort and downtown Whitefish. The pool is open year-round. And The Antler Room, the hotel’s speakeasy-style cocktail lounge (hidden in the basement), hosts just 20 guests in a low-lit setting with rich fabrics and vintage European deer mounts. The hotel’s concierge service, in partnership with Whitefish Outfitters and Tours, can arrange fly-fishing outings, paddleboarding, and other outdoor adventures.
Location & Neighborhood Recs
The Historic Railway District is named for the Whitefish Depot, located just a few blocks from the hotel. The Whitefish Museum sits above the 1928 Tudor Revival building in the Amtrak station. It’s free to visit and open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The area is also home to microbreweries, bars, art galleries, boutiques, and notable restaurants, including Herb & Omni, where I dined one evening. Executive Chef Earl Reynolds is a two-time James Beard Award finalist; the restaurant is beautiful, and the meal was outstanding, featuring many ingredients from local purveyors. The two-story venue also features a popular rooftop bar and an indoor performance space.
I also enjoyed lunch at Blackstar, which serves pub-style fare and craft brews from the on-site Jeremiah Johnson Brewery. I also visited Cutthroat Bagel Company twice, which sits across the street from the hotel. Its bagels are some of the best I’ve ever had (including in New York). With the line out the door of the tiny bakery every day, other bagel-lovers must feel the same way.
Fast Facts
Location: Big Sky, Montana
Rating: 4-Star
Room Count: 39
Pricing: $450 per night
Vibe: Elegant mountain chic
Best For: Couples, groups of friends, solo travelers, foodies, and outdoor adventure seekers
Amenities: Farm-to-table restaurant, rooftop terrace and cocktail bar with 360-degree panoramic views of the city (indulging Sagrada Familia) outdoor rooftop pool, on-site wellness center featuring hydrotherapy, jacuzzis, indoor pools, saunas, and custom treatments
Airport: Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN), also knows as Barcelona-El Prat Airport
Nearby: West Entrance of Glacier National Park (30 minutes) and Whitefish Mountain Resort (15 minutes)
Our Favorite Thing: The lounge, restaurant, and outdoor courtyard, which were filled with hotel guests and locals, creating a convivial space for socializing and dining