Warmest regards

Stylish, yes. Smart, yes. Sexy, yes.

And very cool, in the hip way – but warm in the decor way.

That’s the brand-new Hotel Andra in Seattle, a sparkler in the Belltown neighborhood on the border of the downtown core.

And what’s old is new again, since the hotel debuted as the Claremont back in 1926. It reopened as the Andra in April after a multimillion-dollar makeover. It now complements the fun clubs, galleries, boutiques and bistros of Belltown.

Best of all, though, is the killer restaurant, Lola, operated by chef Tom Douglas and his wife/business partner, Jackie Cross.

Those in the know will recognize Douglas as one of Seattle’s – and the country’s – top chefs. He won the James Beard Association Award for Best Northwest Chef in 1994.

Douglas also runs the Dahlia Lounge (smack dab across the street from the Andra) and two other super Seattle eateries, Etta’s Seafood and the Palace Kitchen. (More on our great Lola dinner later.)

Walk into the hotel’s “living room,” as the lobby is known, and you’re immediately at ease. The new design reflects the Scandinavian influences in Seattle, with a chic Northwest look of water images, warm maple wood and touches of Icelandic blue paint that contrasts nicely with the warm color palette of green, khaki and walnut brown. The room’s distressed plank floor is accented with hand-knotted rugs with abstract designs.

Floor-to-ceiling bookcases border the granite fireplace, where a steel-wrapped plasma screen displays a changing collection of art. (Talk about hip.)

The 119 guest rooms and suites are also relaxing, especially the bed – which the wife fell in love with. She sipped coffee late into the morning while snuggled into the bedding (white goose down, with 315 thread count Egyptian cotton linens) and propped up against the alpaca fur headboard by soft, Icelandic-style pillows. Only the plush terry robe convinced her to get up.

Minimalist Danish-style furniture finishes the relaxing ambience. Suites hold 8-foot walnut-stained desks with a comfortable chair. Naturally, this being a contemporary place, wireless Internet connections are available and some suites feature plasma screen televisions.

After checking in on a Tuesday night last month, we plopped down into the comfy chairs in one of the two living room conversation areas and sipped on a cocktail with our son and his girlfriend. (Bar service extends into the living room.)

All the chairs filled quickly with the overflow from a packed bar and restaurant. A few people ventured up the metal and wood stairs to the loft, also designed for socializing.

The four of us sat in the living room waiting for a table to open in the bar, since Lola’s reservation book was filled. The funky restaurant serves Northwest products in a Greek style, in honor of Cross’ immigrant family. Indeed, the place is named after her grandmother.

All of us wanted to share dishes, including entrees, and our waitress served everything on separate plates we could pass around. For starters, we picked two pita spreads ($3 apiece), the roasted red pepper and the spicy sumac carrot puree, which complemented one another well. We also went for the red-wine-braised Pacific octopus and pork belly ($10) and one of the nine kebabs, featuring artichokes and figs in fig vinegar ($8).

Our entrees also proved to be wonderful delights: naturally raised goat, shallots and dates ($21); cumin-spiced leg of lamb ($21); olive-oil-braised rabbit with lemon and artichokes ($22); and beef short ribs with harissa and preserved lemons ($21). For a veggie, we got the crunchy and lemony green beans ($6).

Though full, we couldn’t leave without sharing a sweet, so we nibbled on the sweet goat cheese with turnovers, pistachios and mint honey ($7).

Along with a bottle of 2003 Argyle pinot noir ($30), I dropped well over $200. But the prices were reasonable, especially considering how we all enjoyed every dish. And what’s life without a once-in-a-while splurge while treating family and friends?

If you go

Hotel Andra: 2000 Fourth Ave., (800) 448-8601; www.hotelandra.com. Rates range from $149 to $189 for rooms, $189 to $750 for suites, depending on type of room and time of year.

Lola: Open daily. Reservations: (206) 441-1430. Tom Douglas is the author of two cookbooks. “Tom Douglas’ Seattle Kitchen” ($30, Morrow/HarperCollins) is a collection of his favorite restaurant recipes. The James Beard Foundation named it Best Americana Cookbook in 2001. “Tom’s Big Dinners: Big Time Home Cooking for Family and Friends” ($32.50, Morrow/HarperCollins) offers 13 dinner menus for home entertaining. (206) 448-2001; www.tomdouglas.com.

Assaggio Ristorante: Winner of a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, this restaurant sits on the other side of the Hotel Andra from Lola. It’s open Monday through Friday for lunch and dinner and Saturday for dinner only. (206) 441-1399; www.assaggioseattle.com.