A Night at the Monkey Room: When Spokane Went Tropical
Restored Monkey Room Menu Print
In the 1950s and early 1960s, when mid-century America wanted to escape the ordinary, it reached for tiki culture. The Monkey Room at the Sillman Hotel in Spokane, Washington, was exactly that kind of refuge: a dimly lit sanctuary where cocktail hour meant something more than a drink. It meant theater, exoticism, and a knowing nod to the postwar hunger for adventure without leaving home.
This restored menu print captures that spirit entirely. The bright yellow paper practically glows, a warm beacon of optimism. Red lettering announces the bar's name with playful confidence, while mischievous monkey illustrations and cocktail graphics dance across the surface. There is no pretense here, no minimalism. This is design that wanted to delight, that understood a menu was not just a list but an experience.
The Sillman Hotel stood as a landmark in Spokane's downtown, and the Monkey Room was its crown jewel for those seeking a taste of tropical fantasy. Bartenders worked their craft among bamboo accents and tiki torches, mixing Mai Tais and Zombies while patrons felt transported thousands of miles. It was mid-century Americana at its most optimistic: the belief that hospitality and a little imagination could make anything feel possible.
Like so many beloved bars from that era, the Monkey Room has faded from memory, but its menu remains. That artifact of an evening out, printed in vivid colors and genuine playfulness, tells us something true about who we were and what we valued. Restored and reproduced at museum quality, this print brings that moment back to your wall, a conversation starter and a portal to a more whimsical time.
Paper & Craft
Our restored menu print is reproduced on 325gsm museum-grade archival matte paper using fine art giclée printing, ensuring the vibrant yellows and reds remain true to the original for decades. Whether displayed as print only or framed in your choice of elegant wood finishes, this vintage wall art honors both the craftsmanship of its era and the precision of modern archival reproduction.