Encompassed by the majesty of nature — with pine forests, mountains, and the sea on all sides — the landscape surrounding Seattle is almost as iconic as its skyline. Retro skyscrapers mingle with shiny new buildings, and the famous Space Needle, for a city that needs to be discovered.
Home to Pike Place Market and great seafood, Seattle is the birthplace of grunge, Starbucks, Microsoft, and boasts a vibrant jazz scene to this day. Staying in this city is all about finding a hotel that suits your travel needs and puts you in an excellent position for exploring the city, so here are some of the best Seattle hotels out there.
1. Four Seasons Hotel Seattle
Source: booking.comUltramodern design and world-class service combine to make this hotel one of the very best in Seattle. Guest rooms are chic affairs, featuring polished stone and warm wood furnishings, with comfortable beds, marble bathrooms, and a high-end sense of minimalism — as well as incredible views.
The luxury continues throughout, from the rooftop infinity pool and indulgent spa to the dining options and delicious food at the Goldfinch Tavern. It’s all-round classiness that makes the Four Seasons Seattle an unforgettable place to stay.
Location: In terms of setting, this place can’t be beaten. It’s steps away from Pike Place Market, the Original Starbucks (which is fantastic), the Gum Wall, and Seattle Art Museum.
2. Royal Residence Downtown
Source: booking.comThere’s boutique-style galore at Royal Residence. Each self-contained apartment offers guests the chance to experience Seattle in a local, yet luxurious way. Full kitchens, living areas, and bedrooms and bedrooms make them comprehensive places to stay for groups.
Complete with amazing views of the city skyline from its shared terrace (best seen lit up at night, of course), this great accommodation also offers the convenience of an airport shuttle.
Location: There’s a monorail station just six minutes away on foot, making it easy to get around. Other sights are within walking distance of this hotel, including Pike Place Market, elegant King Street Station, and Seattle Aquarium. The Space Needle is just over two kilometres away.
3. Grand Hyatt Seattle
Source: booking.comThe Seattle iteration of the Grand Hyatt certainly doesn’t disappoint. The service is impressive, the decor throughout is beautifully done, and the amount of amenities on offer means you’ll always be entertained.
The guest rooms here are incredible — think warm furnishings and mid-century modern chic in a carefully curated cocktail of beautiful interiors. A selection of fine dining options are available on-site, as is a health club, complete with sauna, whirlpool, spa, and steam room.
Location: It’s just a ten-minute drive from here to the iconic Space Needle, while another Seattle landmark — Pike Place Market — is a mere 15-minute stroll from the hotel.
4. Hotel Theodore
Source: booking.comA beautiful hotel with elegant, up-to-date interiors, rooms at the Hotel Theodore are spacious and classically decorated. They boast comfortable beds, cosy colours and tasteful design.
Elsewhere at this top Seattle hotel, there’s a stylish restaurant with an open fire to enjoy some fine cuisine at. There’s also a coffee bar serving snacks for a more casual pick-me-up. An on-site fitness centre allows guests to keep up with those work-outs; but then again, it’s also nice to simply relax in the palm-lined lobby.
Location: Set in Downtown Seattle, from here you’ll be able to get to the Frye Art Museum and Denny Park on foot. The Space Needle is also less than a mile from the hotel.
5. Silver Cloud Hotel Seattle Broadway
Source: booking.comSilver Cloud is a large, modern hotel equipped with all the amenities you’d expect from a high-end, city-based accommodation. There’s a comprehensive gym, room service, and an on-site restaurant serving up breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Each guest room has been decked out with dark furnishings and warm, natural colours for a cosy, comfortable place to rest your head at night and relax. The rooms are also immaculate and well-appointed; you can definitely feel the quality here.
Location: Set around two miles from the Space Needle in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood, this hotel is also just across the street from Seattle University and the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts.
6. Graduate Seattle
Source: booking.comA real vintage find, this hotel does retro but in a very modern and fashionable way. The incredible decor pays amazing attention to detail and makes for incredibly unique guest rooms — think black and white tiled floors and tasselled chairs — for one of the coolest Seattle hotels out there.
It doesn’t stop in the guest rooms; throughout the hotel – from the lounges to the rooftop bar – there’s a sense of timeless Americana-style elegance. The rooftop bar itself provides fantastic views of the Seattle city skyline.
Location: A ten-minute stroll from the University of Washington, and close to interstate 5, Seattle Space Needle may be five miles from here, but being further from it makes the views of it from the hotel even better. Thanks to the university, there are plenty of bars and restaurants nearby.
7. Hotel Andra
Source: booking.comA luxury boutique hotel with a clear eye for design, the Andra Seattle boasts Scandinavian decor scattered throughout its understated interiors. Two restaurants located inside the hotel both offer up room service, and there’s a fitness centre for when you need to get active.
Away from the design, however, are the staff; they’re friendly and welcoming from the moment you arrive, which makes for an even more comfortable stay at this top Seattle hotel.
Location: Sandwiched between the busy Belltown and Lake Union districts, this Downtown Seattle hotel is five minutes’ walk away from well-known Pike Place Market and the vast Westlake Shopping Center.
8. The Paramount Hotel
Source: booking.comSultry blues, greys, and burnt oranges combine in the guest suites and common areas of this hotel for a modern sense of sophistication. Tastefully decked out, the guest rooms feature dark wood furniture and crisp white linens.
Staying at the Paramount Hotel means being able to make the most of the on-site fitness centre, dine on delicious food at the hotel restaurant, and relax by the open fire in the ground-floor lounge. The cherry on top is the staff, who offer high-end service.
Location: Half a kilometre from this hotel lies Seattle’s most bustling shopping district and the famous Pike Place Market. You can also hop on the monorail (there’s a station a few blocks away), and you’ll be at the Space Needle in five minutes.
9. Mayflower Park Hotel
Source: booking.comWith its grand entranceway, majestic lobby and lounges, and classically decorated guest rooms, the Mayflower Park Hotel is a traditional hotel through and through. Built as a hotel in 1927, it’s a landmark of the city — staying here is being part of Seattle’s history.
Complete with an atmospheric lounge bar, as well as a storied restaurant, the hotel also offers a wine reception on Wednesday nights, helping guests mingle in its charmingly old-school setting.
Location: Perfectly located for exploring the city, this gem of a hotel is just ten minutes from Pike Place Market (on foot), with many bars, restaurants, and shops nearby. There’s a monorail station right next door, too, making it easy to get around.
10. Hotel Ballard
Source: booking.comA brand new building that is an echo of Seattle’s past and architectural history, this boutique hotel provides an intimate setting to spend your time in the city. Stacked full of amenities – from a sauna to a huge indoor pool and fantastic gym – guests will love the rooftop bar and restaurant.
Decorated with ornate furnishings and contemporary design details, the guest rooms also boast large, comfortable beds, rolltop bathtubs and large windows, and city views.
Location: Set in the historic Ballard neighbourhood with its interesting shops, bars, and restaurants, the New Nordic Museum is close by. It’s also easy to catch a regular bus to Downtown from here.
11. Kimpton Hotel Monaco Seattle
Source: booking.comIf you’re looking for luxury without the enormous price tag that sometimes comes with it, this cool Seattle hotel could be the one for you. Contemporary rooms mix chic design with timeless furnishings for something akin to staying in the pages of a magazine.
Providing a swish place to relax in the city, this hotel also boasts an outdoor terrace where you can enjoy drinks as the sun sets – as well as dinner. The staff here are helpful and friendly and will give you insider tips on what to do in the city.
Location: Set in Central Seattle, the Space Needle and Pike Place Market are both less than a mile from the hotel. Seattle Art Museum is mere steps away; there’s also a monorail station practically on the doorstep.
12. W Seattle
Source: booking.comFunky, fun, and fresh, the Seattle branch of W Hotels reflects the exciting side of the city. From the rooms, you can see the stunning Seattle skyline. The rooms are replete with quirky and cool decor — think flashes of colour and bold furnishings.
Elsewhere in the hotel, there’s a trendy restaurant and bar with a great cocktail menu, but you mostly won’t be able to miss the lobby. This features a three-storey fireplace covered in thousands of stainless steel tiles, atop of which is a DJ booth where music is played on weekend evenings.
Location: From this Central Seattle setting, University Street Station is a stone’s throw away, making it easy to get around the city. Sights that can be walked to, such as Pike Place Market and the Space Needle, are liberally scattered in the vicinity.
13. Inn at the Market
Source: booking.comInn at the Market is a chic boutique hotel that has as much in terms of great design as it does in service; the welcoming, helpful staff make all the difference. Rooms here are understatedly stylish; their muted mustard, orange tones and whitewashed walls allowing the city views to do the talking.
For the best views, head up to the rooftop deck. Here you can enjoy cocktails on a backdrop of sunsets across the Seattle skyline, as well as snacks.
Location: Overlooking Elliott Bay, right in the heart of Pike Place Market itself, the location is terrific. It’s a fantastic place to stay for really soaking up what Seattle has to offer. The Original Starbucks is right on the doorstep, as is Seattle Aquarium.
14. Loews Hotel 1000
Source: booking.comMinimalism, a monochrome colour scheme, and mid-century modern furnishings collide for a cocktail of cool design at this top Seattle hotel. A perfect stay for creative types, the rooms are as cool as they are comfortable, and feature amazing city views.
This 4-star hotel also has a full-service spa, so you can treat yourself to massages and facials after a busy day exploring the city. There’s a seafood and oyster bar for some of the city’s famous “boat to table” cuisine.
Location: Set in Downtown Seattle, Loews Hotel 1000 is an excellent spot for art fans as it’s right next to the Seattle Art Museum. Pier 57 and the Historic Waterfront are just a few minutes’ walk away.
15. Fairmont Olympic Hotel
Source: booking.comOriginally just The Olympic Hotel, this storied structure was built – in all its Italian Renaissance style glory – to be a world-class hotel back in 1924. It still makes the grade today. Officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places, rooms here mix period features with pared-back contemporary flair.
Multiple award-winning dining options are on offer here, including Shuckers – a wood-clad oyster bar. For something more swanky, you could opt for the terrace piano bar. Elsewhere, guests can enjoy full use of an indoor pool — complete with city views.
Location: Situated in Downtown Seattle, this hotel is just across the street from the 5th Avenue Theatre and a ten-minute stroll from Pike Place Market. University Street Station is close by, which means exploring the city is easy from here.