At the Cannery Pier Hotel and Spa in Astoria, Oregon, your waterfront room is not only waterfront, but situated over the water. This boutique luxury hotel is located on a pier — 600 feet into the Columbia River. The hotel sits between the spectacular four-mile-long Astoria-Megler Bridge and the confluence of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean. The “Cannery,” offers unique architecture, design, and history. You’ll find sophisticated and comfortable rooms, common areas, and personal service. The hotel treats you to some fun “perks” and it’s also walking distance of all vibrant downtown Astoria has to offer.
The Cannery Pier Hotel and Spa is less than two hours from Portland. It’s no surprise the hotel has won many awards and made national “best of” lists.
(Photo by Nancy Zaffaro)
Astoria: A Victorian Maritime City with a Modern Vibe
Astoria was the first permanent settlement west of the Rocky Mountains and became Oregon’s first city in 1811. From the late 1800’s through the 1930’s, the city processed the most salmon and tuna in the world. The restored pier on which the hotel now sits once housed one of these canneries. By 1980, the canneries closed, and the dock on which the Cannery Pier Hotel now stands was condemned.
Today, Astoria is a unique and picturesque city. A visit to Astoria is rich in Pacific Northwest coastal views, maritime history, and vibrant energy. It’s a walkable city with terrific spots to dine, drink, and shop. There are local, state and national parks to explore. With your first glimpse of the hotel and the wooden pier pilings, a stay at the Cannery sets the perfect tone for a getaway.
A freighter passes the hotel. In the background, the confluence of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Nancy Zaffaro)
Enjoy the River and River Traffic
At the Cannery, you’ll experience the tidal rhythms and the changes in the sky and lighting throughout the day and night. From my room and elsewhere in the hotel, I watch gulls, cormorants, hawks, terns, sandpipers, pelicans, eagles, and seals. Great blue herons are common on the coast but never cease to enchant me. I watched one hunt just below me at low tide.
The mighty Columbia River is a major throughway for international trade. The hotel offers a printout of the freighters scheduled to pass (inbound and outbound) during your stay. I watched ships pass right by me and under the bridge. Knowing the ships’ names, size, and from where they hailed added to the experience. During my stay, ships from South Korea, Japan, Singapore, China, and two from California passed the hotel. You may also see Coast Guard helicopters and boats, a cruise ship, barges, and recreational boats and yachts.
(Photo by Nancy Zaffaro)
The Rooms: Luxe Design and Style
Each of the hotel’s 46 rooms has great views and a private balcony. Many rooms also have views of the Bridge.
The room design and conveniences are luxe, fresh, and comfortable. The color palette and interiors are high quality. Artful décor, like the set of comfy green leather chairs, abounds. Beds and 1888 Mills Naked bedding are deluxe. Get cozy with a classic Oregon Pendleton blanket and the room binoculars at your window seat. There’s ample closet and drawer storage space in the attractive wall console, along with a 55” flat-screen panel television.
(Photo by Nancy Zaffaro)
Above the sofa in my room, I especially liked the gyotaku print created by artist Duncan Berry. Gyotaku is the Japanese art form where fresh fish is inked or painted and pressed to create a print. True to the hotel’s maritime vibe, this art style was originally started in Japan in the 1800’s to record a fisherman’s catch. Berry presses his works on birch panels and the results are elegant.
Room Amenities
I appreciated the room amenities. Perfectly situated, I enjoyed the gas fireplace and that it had a thermostat separate from the heater/air conditioner thermostat.
The beverage station is well done, with a bar sink, a tea kettle, mugs, wine glasses and a wine opener. You’ll find quality teas and steep coffee bags from a local tea shop and coffee brewer. (I’ll add here as well, minor as it may seem, that they include the best little sheet on instructions for you TV, HVAC, fireplace, bathroom, and coffee and tea station I’ve ever seen. I know I’m not the only one who has struggled to figure these out at times!)
(Photo by Nancy Zaffaro)
Bathrooms are sumptuous. I especially enjoyed the unique basalt sink. Each room has either a clawfoot or jet spa bathtub. I could enjoy the river view and the rest of my room from my clawfoot tub or choose to close it off with the shutters. Yes, bathrobes, slippers, and bath salts are provided. The glass door, step-in shower has a rain shower with hand attachment.
(Photo by Nancy Zaffaro)
There are some pet-friendly rooms available.
Lovely suites with separate bedrooms are also available. Up for a splurge or perhaps a family trip or traveling with another couple? The penthouse Pilot House is 800 square feet and includes a living room, two bedrooms, two baths, a full kitchen — and those penthouse views — with the best view of the bridge.
One of the penthouse bedrooms at the Cannier Pier Hotel and Spa. (Photo by Nancy Zaffaro)
Cannery Pier Amenities: Special Touches and Perks
Food and Drink at The Cannery
Instead of paying a resort fee, you’ll receive a $25.00 room credit coupon for each night of your stay. Use the credit at Bar 600 on the main floor. At the time of my visit, the seasonal menu included clam chowder, a charcuterie plate, smoked seafood, jalapeño poppers, an Asian salad, flatbreads, a pasta, desserts, and more.
I enjoyed a cocktail and dinner there the first night and an evening glass of Cabernet with the flourless dark chocolate torte after dinner in town next. Staff members took great care of me, and I enjoyed chatting with other guests. Before returning to my room for the night, I helped myself to a hot-out-of-the-oven chocolate chip cookie — perfect for enjoying the river with a cup of herbal tea at the cozy window seat.
Breakfast is included and was a healthy and hearty start to my sightseeing days. Coffee, tea, juices, pastries, breads, cheeses, and made-to-order omelets are available. Coffee and tea is available in the lobby 24 hours.
Check with the front desk for scheduled complimentary happy hour wine tastings at Bar 600. A small shop in the lobby offers Oregon-sourced beverages, including bottles of wine and snacks for purchase.
(Photo by Nancy Zaffaro)
Relaxing
During your stay, enjoy the mineral hot tub and Finnish sauna, workout in the Fitness Studio, and/or book a treatment at the full-service Aveda spa. Borrow one of the hotel cruiser bikes and a helmet and ride down the paved Riverfront trail.
Cannery Pier’s Vintage Car Chauffeur Service
Astoria is a walkable town but do take advantage of a complimentary ride in one of their vintage cars. The chauffeur service can take you to the restaurant or shop of your choice. I rode in style over to Pier 39 in their 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud. Yes, it was beautiful, and yes, it was a kick. Many thanks to Chauffeur John who was great fun. He passed on great restaurant recommendations, two of which I patroned. Talk with the good folks at the front desk to schedule your time.
(Photo by Nancy Zaffaro)
Cannery Pier Hotel: An Architecturally Unique Building
While enjoying the hotel’s design and décor, the hotel’s story piqued my interest. Native Astorian Robert “Jake” Jacob had a passion to build the city’s first luxury boutique hotel. His chosen site was a condemned dock and cannery; the former, 100-year-old Union Fisherman’s Cooperative Packing Company.
The project became a passion, and he committed himself to the daunting task. He took on the challenges of removing the old building and discerning which pilings could be kept and which could not. His vision included a design with distinct cannery features. Some of these include the brilliant red exterior, the roof structures and smokestacks.
(Photo by Nancy Zaffaro)
Indoors, there are exposed steel beams and gorgeous wooden trusses.
The Cannery Pier Hotel and Spa first opened in August 2005. Sadly, Mr. Jacob died in 2019 but left behind a wonderful legacy for his hometown. Vesta Hospitality, led by Rick Takach, Jr., purchased the property later that year. A multi-million-dollar renovation took place in 2022 and the hotel has won many awards and made many national “best of” hotel lists.
Understandably, maintenance of the piers is an ongoing endeavor. The life of the pilings is long, but still, over the last few years, 15-20 pilings were replaced each year. Hearing this made me appreciate the hotel’s construction even more.
(Photo by Nancy Zaffaro)
The Hall of History and Commitment to Northwest Art
Don’t miss the Hall of History, the mini museum located on the second floor. It’s a wonderful photographic collection of Astoria’s maritime history, the piers, and the rich history of the Nordic and Chinese immigrant population, and women who worked the fishing industry.
If you’re at all the history and architecture nerd I am, you’ll enjoy the coffee table room copy of A Sense of Place, which shares more. I also enjoyed the brief documentary of the building of the hotel on the hotel’s guest channel.
In the Hall of History, you’ll find a photo of the original cannery building.
The Cannery has curated an extensive art collection. Some of the art was acquired through the hotel’s annual art contest. They receive hundreds of submissions from Oregon coast artists.
“Narrowing submission down and making our final decision is very difficult,” General Manager Billy Moore told me. “But this is something we really enjoy doing and we’re happy to showcase the art we have.”
Cannery Pier Hotel and Spa Offers A Luxe Stay with Great Value
The Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa is a treat. I was repeatedly impressed with the great value the hotel offers. You’ll enjoy a great property and attentive, kind, professional staff. Your room and the hotel amenities will offer just the getaway you’re seeking. And you’ll enjoy all the maritime town of Astoria has to offer. The Pacific Northwest is unique and you’ll carry wonderful memories home with you.
(Photo by Nancy zaffaro)
For More:
- The Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa
- Travel Astoria, official tourism site
- Travel Oregon, official tourism site
- Vesta Hospitality properties
- On our site: Our editor lives in Oregon and we have a LOT of Oregon content!!
-All photos by Nancy Zaffaro.
