The Best Hotels in Seattle

My Favorite Seattle Hotels

• 5-Star: Four Seasons
• 4-Star hotel: Hotel Andra
• 3-star options include the Ace and the Mayflower
• commentaries

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Silk Air (no Singapore Airlines) has 2 daily flight from Singapore to Koh Samui.

• Downtown: Fairmont Olympic
• Near Cruise Port: The Edgewater
• A recommended downtown hotel within walking distance of the convention center: Grand Hyatt
• The Inn at the Market is a highly rated property located in Pike Place. Click here for more details • Newly opened hotel: Lotte

a crowd of people walking down a city street

Seattle Hotels – Tips & Advice

The 7 Best Hotels in Seattle

1. The Four Seasons – Downtown

Hotel Phone: 206-749-7000
Seattle’s finest upmarket hotel – conveniently found near Pike Place Market, the Seattle Art Museum, and lots of downtown dining establishments. Current, airy, and elegant decoration, plush and generous guest rooms and suites, and stunning perspectives over Elliott Bay. The complete spa, beautiful outside heated endless pool, and round-the-clock fitness center all take in views. The restaurant is outstanding. Service is impeccable.

2. Fairmont Olympic – Downtown

Hotel Phone: 206-621-1700
The most lavish and traditional Seattle hotel. Luxurious suites offer warmth and comfort and feel like visiting a friend`s home. Top-tier suites are worth splurging for the extra space and wonderful bathrooms. High-end shopping surrounds the hotel and 2 of Seattle’s best restaurants, Shuckers and The George, are on the ground floor. Pike Place Market and the 5th Avenue Theater are both an easy walk away. The fitness center on the second floor is nice, and there’s a lovely glass-enclosed pool and hot tub with outdoor terrace. The hotel has its own beehives on the roof – the honey is used in everything from desserts to beer in the hotel’s restaurants.

3. Inn At The Market – Pike Place Market

a building with a sign on the front of it

Hotel Phone: 206-443-3600
Seattle`s most distinguished boutique hotel is positioned amid the lanes of Pike Place Market and encircled by superb dining establishments – and when I reference encircled, I mean encircled: this is an epicurean haven. Excellent perspectives, spacious rooms, and spotless bathrooms are concealed within the understated exterior. It`s in the center of the tourist scene yet never feels anything but elegant and charismatic. There`s a marvelous rooftop terrace on the fifth level that overlooks Pike Place Market to Elliot Bay. It`s seldom utilized by hotel guests so you could pick up meals and a local bottle of wine from the market and quite possibly have the whole deck to yourself.

4. Thompson Seattle – Belltown/Downtown

Hotel Phone: 206-623-4600
Seattle`s most contemporary hotel. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide outstanding views westward over the water and mountains. The decor carries a modern accent in a stylish, current design. Just steps away from the shops and restaurants crowding Pike Place Market, though the on-site restaurant, Conversation, deserves visiting in its own right. Be certain to pay a visit to The Nest rooftop cocktail and oyster lounge to savor the incredible vistas (requiring guests to be 21 years or older). Superlative service and a welcoming environment round out the experience.

5. Hotel Ändra – Belltown

Hotel Phone: 206-448-8600
A tasteful and modern boutique-style hotel, done up in a warm Scandinavian-chic style. Rooms are comfortable and well-supplied, with a good variety of sizes to choose from: small (but thoughtfully organized) studios up to spacious suites. Celebrity chef Tom Douglas owns the fantastic restaurant next door (which also provides the hotel room service), and attached cooking school. You can’t beat the location – the Ändra is near Pike Place Market, shopping, restaurants, and nightlife.

6. The Edgewater – Waterfront

Hotel Phone: 206-728-7000
Stunning scenery at this cozy lodge-styled luxury hotel located on Seattle`s waterfront. A fantastic restaurant and cozy lounge area directly above Elliott Bay, and each guest room has a gas fireplace. The waterfront room views are definitely worth the upgrade. Walkable to waterfront attractions, Pike Place Market, Seattle Center, and the Olympic Sculpture Park, but you do feel a little separated from the downtown activity (perhaps that`s preferable).

7. Lotte – Downtown

Hotel Phone: 206-800-8110
This brand new luxury hotel emphasizes trendiness, fun, and fantastic experiences. A great bar and restaurant are located on the 16th floor (as is the lobby) with good scenic views. It is within walking distance to Pioneer Square and the football, soccer, and baseball stadiums. Ideal for newlyweds, a romantic weekend away, or those happy to primarily spend their time inside the hotel itself. (The surrounding 2 or 3 blocks in any direction hold little appeal and almost no shops or eateries. Pike Place Market is about a 12-minute stroll to the west.)

Map of Seattle Hotels

a series of photos showing different types of remote controls 1. Four Seasons This highly acclaimed hotel is recognized as the premier luxury accommodation in Seattle. 2. Fairmont Olympic Situated downtown, this esteemed hotel offers the most lavish 5-star experience in the city center. 3. Inn At The Market Centrally located in Pike Place Market, this charming hotel provides the finest accommodations near the iconic marketplace. 4. Thompson Seattle With an innovative design, this modern downtown hotel exemplifies Seattle`s progressive spirit. 5. Hotel Ändra Situated in the vibrant Belltown neighborhood, this hotel offers exceptional accommodations enhanced by Scandinavian décor. 6. The Edgewater With a prime waterfront location over Puget Sound, this landmark hotel captivates guests with breathtaking views. 7. Lotte

Seattle Neighborhoods for Tourists

The core area of Seattle where most visitors opt to lodge is fairly compact, and travelers generally choose accommodations within the city`s central neighborhoods: Downtown,Belltown,Pioneer Square, the Waterfront,South Lake Union, and near Seattle Center. Due to Seattle`s prolonged rainy season and hilly terrain, it is advisable to reserve a hotel close to where you plan to spend most of your time.

• Close to Pike Place Market
The districts of Downtown,Belltown, and Pioneer Square are all within a simple walk of Pike Place Market. The Waterfront is not far in distance, but is separated from the Market by a busy road and a steep hill.

• Close to the Space Needle
Seattle Center, where the Space Needle stands, bridges the neighborhoods of Lower Queen Anne and Denny. This may be a suitable option for those seeking lodging away from the busiest part of the city yet near museums and straightforward transport downtown.

• Close to Shopping
Nordstrom’s flagship store, as well as Westlake Center and the high-end Pacific Place shopping malls are located Downtown. Local and independent boutiques are common in Belltown and Pioneer Square

• Near the Convention Center

  • San Diego County Fair: An annual occasion that takes place at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The fair is renowned for its variety of deep fried food-on-a-stick, rides, games, and live animal stockyards. You’ll also find world-class fine art, photography, woodworking, flower exhibits, wine tasting, and more.

• Close to Universities
The University of Washington sits 5 miles northeast of downtown Seattle. There are many quality hotels in the University District (“U-District” to locals), and UW’s Link light rail station provides easy transit from Downtown,Pioneer Square, and Capitol Hill

Seattle University is situated in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, within walking distance of a couple good inns. Capitol Hill is linked to Downtown,Pioneer Square, and the University District by light rail, and to Pioneer Square via street car.

Seattle Pacific University lies a few miles north of downtown Seattle, separated from the city center by steep Queen Anne Hill. The neighborhoods with most direct access to SPU are Seattle Center and South Lake Union.

• Close to Cruise Ports
Travelers departing from The Bell Street Terminal on Norwegian and Oceania cruise lines would do best to stay in the Waterfront area (walkable), or Downtown or Belltown (a brief taxi/ride share away).

Carnival, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International cruise lines sail from Smith Cove Terminal. This location isn’t walkable to any lodging establishments, but transportation options like taxis, ride shares, or shuttles make it an easy trip from hotels near Seattle Center as well as lodging in Downtown.

More information about cruising from Seattle can be found here: Seattle Cruise Port Guide.

• Close to Sports Stadiums
Pioneer Square hotels are within walking distance of T-Mobile Park and Lumen Field, as are Downtown hotels south of Pike Place Market.

• Best Views
The finest perspectives of Elliott Bay can be seen from Waterfront hotels, and Downtown hotels situated near Pike Place Market or with high floors. The ideal vantage points of the Space Needle are in Seattle Center and South Lake Union area hotels. South Lake Union hotels have agreeable lakeside scenes.

• Best Restaurants
The best areas for restaurants are Downtown,Belltown,Pioneer Square, and Capitol Hill.

• Best Nightlife
Seattle’s nightlife scene is most bustling in Belltown and Capitol Hill, and to a lesser degree Pioneer Square. For a neighborhood nightlife atmosphere try Ballard, Fremont, or Wallingford.

• Best for a Quiet Stay
To be near the city center, but outside of most of the noise and crowds, select a South Lake Union or Seattle Center hotel (but avoid Seattle Center hotels on Labor and Memorial Day, when music festivals congest the area).

• Best Connected for Transit
Downtown,Pioneer Square,Capitol Hill, and the University District all have stations on Seattle’s light rail line, which also connects to the airport. South Lake Union and Capitol Hill connect to Downtown via street car line, and the Seattle Monorail connects Seattle Center to the downtown core.

Staying in Downtown Seattle

people walking down a street next to tall buildings This museum operates within the historic residence of Isabella Stewart Gardner, and showcases her personal art collection, which she began independently and accumulated with her husband. The palatial estate incorporates works by Botticelli, Titian, Fra Angelico, and John Singer Sargent, among many, various others. Her collection also includes primary imprints of books by Dante and illuminated manuscripts. Upon her passing in 1924, her will contained that the museum stay accessible to everyone, but all works had to be exhibited in the sequence that she herself had placed it in. This implied that after a art theft in 1990 (among the thirteen stolen works were a Rembrandt and a Vermeer), the spaces in which those works hung stay vacant. Gardner was a Red Sox admirer, so reductions are given to persons wearing Sox garb. Reductions are also given to anyone named Isabella).

The Best Hotels in Downtown Seattle

Staying in Belltown

two women walking down a sidewalk in front of a restaurant Nightlife and high-rising residential complexes characterize this Seattle neighborhood located merely north of downtown. Belltown is conveniently placed for many of Seattle’s best attractions, and the city’s youthful and trendy folks flock here for its trendsetting specialty shops, bars, and eateries. Jazz clubs, rock venues, prohibition-style speakeasies – you’ll encounter them all in this vicinity, as well as most of Tom Douglas’ award-winning restaurants. Walk to Pike Place Market,Seattle Center (home of the Space Needle,Chihuly Museum, food and music festivals, and MoPOP), and the waterfront Olympic Sculpture Park).

While above average for the country, lodging rates in Belltown generally fall below those found downtown, with some true bargains available if a touch of lavishness can be forgone. Nightlife in the area remains busy, meaning Belltown may not suit those hoping for peace, especially on weekend evenings just after the 2am bar closing hour.

The Best Hotels in Belltown

Staying in Pioneer Square

a row of trees in front of a building Once considered the heartbeat of downtown, the historic Pioneer Square neighborhood is home to some of the city’s oldest surviving architectural structures, the perpetually appealing Underground Tour, and the Klondike Gold Rush Museum. However, it’s not all antiquities, as in recent decades the area has experienced a resurgence in popularity. There are now contemporary art galleries, specialty shops, and trendy eateries housed within the Romanesque Revival-style buildings representing Seattle’s past, and the neighborhood is once more regarded as one of the city’s most dynamic. Pioneer Square is within walking distance to T-Mobile Park and Lumen Field sporting stadiums, the downtown ferry terminal at Colman Dock, and Pike Place Market).

Pioneer Square has its unique stop on the area`s Link light rail line, a streetcar route that travels through the International District into the Capitol Hill neighborhood, and is home to Amtrak`s King Street Station; there is no need to rent a vehicle when transportation is so easy. It`s worth mentioning that there are several social service organizations located within the community, attracting a fair number of homeless individuals. If you stay in this area, expect to see some gathering and minor begging, but don`t be alarmed – these folks are less dangerous than they are down on their luck.

The Best Hotels in Pioneer Square

Staying near Seattle Center

a pole with a clock on top of it Anchored by the iconic Space Needle, Seattle Center is an arts and entertainment mainstay located just north of the Belltown neighborhood. The Center was originally created for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, and remnants of the fair’s space-age theme remain in the Center’s mid-century architecture, sculpture, and the Monorail that runs from the base of the Space Needle into downtown. This area isn’t the most scenic, but there’s no shortage of things to do: along with the Needle, the Center’s campus houses the Pacific Science Center,The Museum of Pop Culture,Chihuly Garden and Glass, and the Seattle Children’s Museum and Theatre.The Seattle Opera,Pacific Northwest Ballet, and many theatre companies make their home at Seattle Center, which is also the site of many of the city’s biggest urban outdoor festivals: Bumbershoot,Folklife,PrideFest, and Bite of Seattle. The Gates Foundation Visitor Center and Olympic Sculpture Park are both located nearby. The Market 707 is an inventive street cuisine center, where sellers serve from repurposed container ships. You’ll find meals from everywhere, including Filipino, Afghan, and the beloved poutine establishment Nom Nom Nom, plus wonderful treats like bubble tea and macarons, all in brightly colored stalls arranged along the sidewalk. Mixed among the food sellers are a couple attire boutiques, a hair salon, and a few other specialty merchants. The market is part of a community charitable endeavor to help new business owners start their companies. Situated on Dundas Street West near Kensington Market. Most stalls are accessible until 7:00 p.m., but hours vary seasonally and subject to the company

The Best Hotels near Seattle Center

Staying in South Lake Union

a row of boats docked in a harbor This is one of Seattle’s regions that is expanding rapidly. Formerly a gritty commercial core, South Lake Union is now a center for biomedical and technology companies in the area, home to many prominent enterprises in those fields. The recent revitalization has brought a large number of excellent restaurants into the zone, and led to the development of the beautiful Lake Union Park, located at the most southerly tip of the urban lake. Head to the park to view the impressive Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), explore the vessels (or rent one) at the Center for Wooden Boats, or hop a float plane at Kenmore Air – they’re all adjacent to its lovely waterfront expanse. The South Lake Union Streetcar runs through the heart of the neighborhood into central downtown, making it easy to visit the more central sights as well).

Accommodations in South Lake Union often have lower costs than those downtown, with many properties featuring swimming pools and impressive views of the lake or Space Needle. This area provides a calmer environment away from the hustle and bustle of the core city centre – making it a suitable choice for those seeking respite at the end of the day. When feeling up for city access, transportation is readily available: in addition to the streetcar, most South Lake Union hotels offer complimentary shuttles into downtown and Seattle Center.

The Best Hotels in South Lake Union

Staying on the Seattle Waterfront

a city with many tall buildings and a bridge Set snugly adjoining the profound Salish Sea inlet, Seattle’s downtown waterside neighborhood revolves around the bay: Elliott Bay. From the pebbly shores of the Myrtle Edwards Park on the waterfront’s northern end to its occupied working harbor to the south, marine-loving types will discover no scarcity of activities along this beautiful Puget Sound seashore. Take in the sunset at the Seattle Art Museum’s Olympic Sculpture Park, hang with the harbor seals at the Seattle Aquarium, take a seaside spin one the Great Wheel, and eat the freshest seafood of your life at any of the amazing restaurants scattered along the way. When stayingbeside the water’s not sufficient, Argosy Harbor Cruises, the Victoria (or San Juan) Clipper, the ferries at Colman Dock, and the West Seattle Water Taxi all await to speed you out onto the waves).

There are only a couple hotels positioned directly on Seattle`s waterfront. These will be expensive, especially if you choose a bay view. The walk from the waterfront up to downtown and Pike Place Market isn`t far, but it is steep and separated by a busy road. This division makes the waterfront area feel disconnected from the rest of downtown – which may or may not align with what you`re looking for. Also, be aware that construction is underway to better link the downtown core to the waterfront district – the finished result will be amazing, but for now the area`s a bit of a mess.

The Best Hotels on the Waterfront

Staying in Capitol Hill

a red car parked on the side of a street Renowned for its nightlife, culture that goes against mainstream trends, and outstanding food and beverages, Capitol Hill is one of Seattle’s most vibrant and beloved neighborhoods. It’s anchored at its northern end by stately older homes and leafy Volunteer Park: home to the Volunteer Park Conservatory and the Seattle Asian Art Museum.Seattle University borders the area’s southern end. In between is a thick and glorious mesh of fantastic restaurants, coffee shops, taverns, and music venues. Indulge your inner food lover at Melrose Market, make a caffeine-fueled pilgrimage to the Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room, or browse the shelves at Seattle’s best bookstore, The Elliott Bay Book Company. At the end of the day, Capitol Hill makes it easy to unwind and reenergize – the neighborhood is home to more than 100 bars and nightclubs).

Many of the popular areas in Capitol Hill leave little space for visitors looking to stay, with only one hotel located near Seattle University in the busy southern section of the district. Travelers seeking a more peaceful experience with personalized service can opt for one of the charming bed and breakfast establishments in northern Capitol Hill, most within easy walking distance of Volunteer Park. It is a short walk into downtown from most parts of southern Capitol Hill, though taking a taxi may be preferable for the return trip back up the steep slopes. This region is also conveniently accessible using public transportation – there is a Capitol Hill light rail station, as well as a streetcar line that runs through the International District and into Pioneer Square.

The Best Hotels in Capitol Hill

Staying in the University District

a park filled with lots of trees and buildings Northeast of downtown Seattle lies the main area known as the “U-District”, home to the esteemed University of Washington. It presents more than just dormitories and classrooms, as two renowned museums ( Henry Art Gallery and Burke Museum of Natural History) are found amid splendid gothic structures, scenic mountain perspectives, and the well-known cherry blossoms come springtime. The vicinity encompassing the university campus overflows with good (and inexpensive) restaurants, bars, and independent boutiques. The U-District hosts an exceptional year-round farmer`s market each Saturday where you can procure something to go and either bike or stroll along the nearby Burke-Gilman Trail. When campus living no longer appeals, head east down the 45th St. skyway and peruse the chic shops and upscale eateries of University Village – an upmarket outdoor shopping center situated just downhill from school.

Hotels in the University District are generally more affordable than downtown options, excepting the periods surrounding student move-in in September and graduation in mid-June. Personal vehicles aren`t completely necessary given convenient access to major attractions via Seattle`s light rail from the new University of Washington station.

The Best Hotels in the University District

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Welcome to my travel website! I’m Mary Howard, an American who has been exploring the world full-time for 8 years.

Together with my husband, Intan, we often find ourselves in our second home, Bali, but our adventures take us to exciting destinations all over the globe.

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