This article reviews the best luxury hotels in Seattle. I list the ones I consider to be the best at the top. I will be reviewing each of these Seattle hotels in detail in turn so that you know what you’ll be getting if you book a room.
1. Four Seasons Seattle
Four Seasons Hotel Seattle is located in the heart of downtown and is our best luxury hotel choice in Seattle. Stay here, and you will find yourself within a five-minute stroll of the Seattle Art Museum, concerts at Benaroya Hall, or the energy of Pike Place Market.
Positioned on the first 10 floors of a 21-storey hotel and residential tower, Four Seasons Hotel Seattle offers 147 spacious guest rooms, including 13 suites. The interior décor is bright and airy, contemporary but soft. Although this hotel is based in the city, light woods, and natural tones are used throughout, helping you escape the frenetic city vibe and relax in this luxury environment.
Intricate Asian-inspired millwork and exciting light fittings make this hotel feel extraordinary. Reflecting the hotel’s appreciation of local art, guest rooms display a selection of 16 works by classic Northwest artists reproduced from the collection of the Seattle Art Museum.
Spacious guestrooms are urban-chic and feature elliptical desks, two chairs, dual-line speakerphones, and high-speed wired/wireless Internet access. A chaise longue provides a relaxing spot to lie back and watch the 42-inch (107-centimeter) plasma television. The marble bathroom includes a deep-soaking tub, glass-enclosed rain shower, separate WC, and vanity mirror with an integrated television. Perhaps more special than the rooms themselves are the views from them, as many face the waterfront.
The resort-like outdoor terrace offers a fire pit and infinity swimming pool (pictured above), the horizon line of which leads the eye to Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains. To keep you busy, there is also a spa, the Goldfinch Tavern, and the main restaurant is in partnership with chef and restaurateur Ethan Stowell and offers simply prepared Pacific Northwest cuisine using the finest local ingredients.
2. Loews Hotel 1000, Seattle
The newly reimagined Loews Hotel 1000, Seattle, is fresh off a multi-million dollar transformation designed to enhance the overall guest experience. The new interior design captures the lush nature that surrounds Seattle from within this urban city.
Located at the intersection of 1000 First Avenue and Madison Street, Loews Hotel 1000, Seattle is just steps from the waterfront along Elliott Bay and ideally placed in the Waterfront district near Pike Place Market, Seattle Art Museum, and the bustling shopping surrounding.
120 peaceful rooms feature a sleek design and deep soaking tubs along with electronics do not disturb and housekeeping features to minimize interruptions. Their on-property restaurant, All Water Seafood & Oyster Bar, celebrates the history of its location by paying homage to the freshest seafood of the Pacific Northwest, surrounded by decor inspired by the history of this waterfront. There is also a full-service spa, a fitness center, a wine cellar, and a golf simulator. Try the new Bell Lounge for craft cocktails and a chic ambiance.
3. Thompson Seattle
The luxury boutique hotel Thompson Seattle reflects the intrinsic beauty of Seattle downtown. Conceived by Olson Kundig Architects, Thompson Seattle is a contemporary urban landmark. As a result of its unique nature, Condé Nast Traveler named the Thompson Seattle in its 2017 Hot List as one of the 75 most exciting hotels in the world.
Sunlight and Instagram-worthy views of Puget Sound flood through the floor-to-ceiling windows of this 155-room hotel just steps from lively Pike Place Market. Expansive, Instagram-worthy views of the Sound. Sunlight and vistas flood in through the floor-to-ceiling windows of this 155-room hotel, just steps from lively Pike Place Market.
The sleek glass façade and innovative interior attract entrepreneurs and philanthropists who seek refuge from the ordinary. You’ll find a bevy of locals at The Nest, the rooftop lounge and terrace serving up handcrafted cocktails, and a host of hip events like vinyasa flow classes and courtyard parties. A life-size quilted bear welcomes guests to Scout PNW restaurant, where the quirky ambiance sets an unpretentious tone for the simply prepared, locally sourced foods.
4. Kimpton Palladian Hotel
IHG’s most funky luxury brand is Kimpton, which is as luxurious as an InterContinental hotel, but its unique decor and size make it more exciting. These luxury boutique hotels are arty venues attracting travelers who want something a little bit different. The Kimpton Palladian Hotel is more like a gothic art gallery than a standard hotel, with its Belltown restaurant that serves up classic farm-to-table cuisine in an urban setting. Book via our luxury travel concierge for extra benefits.
5. The Fairmont Olympic Hotel
The Fairmont Olympic Hotel offers Downtown sophistication with a rich history of welcoming dignitaries, royalty, and historical events for over 100 years. Built in 1924, the recently renovated rooms and corridors make this classic a must-experience hotel in Seattle. Seamlessly melding classic elegance with mid-century modern room décor, the Emerald City’s first love has never looked more beautiful.
Just steps from Pike Place Market, the waterfront, museums, and world-class shopping, this landmark since 1924 has offered nearly a century of luxury service standards.
The Fairmont Olympic offers two fabulous dining options, the elegant and ornate grandeur of The Georgian with its Palladian windows and spectacular chandeliers and the warm oak paneling and pub-style setting of Shuckers featuring fresh local seafood and oyster bar.
6. Sheraton Grand Seattle
Located in the city’s vibrant core, the Sheraton Grand Seattle offers gourmet dining and bars, world-class shopping, exciting entertainment, and iconic local attractions, including the Pike Place Market, Space Needle, and Chihuly Garden & Glass Museum. You can redeem or earn Marriott Bonvoy points here as this is a category 5 hotel that requires around 35,000 points per night.
As one of only seven Sheraton hotels in North America to earn the esteemed Grand designation, you can book into this hotel with confidence, knowing that this Sheraton is one of the best. Book via our concierge, and we can usually secure an even better deal. With our rates, you will still earn your usual points and benefit from your Bonvoy status.
Add to that, the Sheraton Grand Seattle recently completed a multimillion-dollar transformation featuring all-new guest rooms, an expanded Sheraton Club Lounge which we consider to be the best in Seattle, and modern meeting & event spaces. The swimming pool is on the 35th floor, and there is also an excellent gym on the same floor.
The stylish new lobby showcases the hotel’s private art collection featuring local artists, while Starbucks in the foyer will service all your coffee and snack needs. The Sheraton Grand features several dining options, including Loulay Kitchen & Bar by James Beard award-winning chef Thierry Rautureau.
This hotel is located in an incredibly tall building, so it offers some fantastic views from its floor-to-ceiling windows. Book a club room to get lounge access included. These rooms are on higher floors and have sand-colored carpets and creamy walls with dark wood decorations on the walls.
We like the stylish lamps, the chaise long by the window, allowing you to relax while looking out at the twinkling skyline, and the practical table with two chairs in case you want to eat in your room. Ordinary and club rooms have either a King bed or 2 double beds rather than queen beds.
The club lounge is modern and on one of the top floors with staggering views. Bar stools and high tables are arranged around the edge, so you can work, eat, or drink whilst looking out of the windows. The decor is in pines with bright, funky colors. It makes me immediately think of IKEA, but a classier version. You can see a shot of this lounge in the image above.
The hotel and lounge are both popular, and both get rave reviews and repeat bookings. The attraction of the hotel is its location in the heart of downtown, just a 2 minute walk from Macy’s and less than this to Nordstroms and the Pacific Center, its excellent refurbishment, and its club lounge.
Tip: Parking at the hotel is over $50 USD per night, so park behind the hotel at the convention center for about half the price. If you are there on a Sunday, parking is free at the convention center.
When considering the Sheraton’s location and club lounge, you might decide that this hotel is a better choice, value-wise, than the more luxury Seattle Fairmont and the Pan Pacific. However, the best hotel in Seattle is the Four Seasons, so if you can afford it and aren’t hunting down a club lounge, we always recommend this hotel for the best experience of all.
7. Hilton Seattle
Although this is not the most luxury hotel in Seattle, the Hilton Seattle is a solid choice with an executive floor and lounge. It is just around the corner from the Sheraton, which we reviewed above.
This is the only club lounge in Seattle that offers complimentary beer and wine, served from 5:00 – 7:00 pm every night. As this may well be a deal-breaker for your club lounge choice, we have positioned this executive lounge at “best lounge position 2”, even though I prefer the look and style of the Hyatt lounge in position 3.
If you are a Hilton Gold, or Diamond, this large downtown hotel is a great choice, both for the location and the top floor lounge. It is connected to the Washington State Convention Center via a concourse, so it is convenient if you need to access this building and if you want to check out the many Seattle attractions. You can walk to Macy’s, Nordstroms, and the Pacific Center from this Hilton, and are about 3 blocks from the light rail. Amenities at this Hilton include a restaurant and bar on the lobby level, the Executive Lounge on the top floor, a fitness center, room service, a complimentary business center, concierge services, and on-site parking. Our tip is to park behind the hotel at the convention center for about half the price of the hotel car park. If you are there on a Sunday, parking is free at the convention center.
The Hilton Executive Lounge was renovated in 2014 and is on the top (29th) floor of the hotel. It offers top-tier Hilton HHonors members a warm and intimate environment to work or relax in, with a big-screen television, complimentary continental breakfast, light afternoon snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, and free internet on dedicated computer workstations. The lounge is accessible daily from 6:00 – 8:00 pm.
This Executive Lounge offers wonderful views along with breakfast and evening light bites, as you would expect from a club lounge. All-day soft drinks and basic snacks, along with free alcoholic drinks available in the happy hour, will keep you fed and watered throughout the day. During happy hour, you can choose from a variety of beers as well as white and red wine, plus a great selection of fruit, cheese, crackers, and usually a hot item.
Rooms are large and quiet with great views (anything above the 19th floor offers jaw-dropping vistas). The only downers relating to this hotel are that the lobby is unimpressive and hardly a lobby at all, and the decor in the rooms is uninspiring and feels dated with old-fashioned headboards.
8. Grand Hyatt Seattle
Located in the downtown Theater District, this Four-Diamond hotel offers stunning skyline views and is situated steps from iconic landmarks and destinations like the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and the scenic Seattle waterfront.
The Grand Hyatt Seattle has a club lounge and very nice club rooms at around 380 ft² in size with large floor-to-ceiling windows. The views remind me of how I imagine the popular Seattle sitcom’s Frasier Crane apartment would have looked. The bathrooms are also generous in this hotel. If you like to spend time in the tub, this is ideal!
The Grand Club lounge is large, with stylish furnishings and a rich wood floor. You can pick up your free breakfast buffet here, along with refreshments throughout the day and evening Hors d’oeuvres. You get access to the Grand Club by either booking a Grand Club Room or having status with the World of Hyatt rewards program. Beyond the lounge, you can dine at Starbucks, Blue C Sushi, NYC Deli Market, or Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse.
9. Seattle Marriott Waterfront
The M Club Lounge at Seattle Marriott Waterfront is open 24 hours a day and is located on the first floor of this luxury hotel, with outdoor seating and waterfront views which makes it quite a special lounge. The hotel itself is well located for exploring Seattle by foot and is right across the street from Elliott Bay and Puget Sound.
The hotel’s location is ideal for Pike Place Market, the Westlake Center shopping mall, and the iconic Space Needle with Pier 91 just 2 miles away, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, a short 25-minute drive away.
Restaurants at this hotel include the Hook & Plow, featuring modern American cuisine using locally sourced products, craft beers, specialty liquors, and artisan wines. The hotel also features a heated indoor/outdoor connecting pool and a modern gym.
The rooms here are pretty standard Marriott rooms, and the balconies are very small but offer gorgeous views. The decor is dated, but the bathtub is deep, and the standard is acceptable. Noise can be a problem here from both the outside and connecting doors, so be sure to request a room without a connecting door.
The club lounge itself is on the first floor and is not large, but it is professionally staffed, clean, and serves nice food. Perhaps the highlight is the waterfront view.
There is also a private business center in the lounge. The highlight of this lounge is the fact that there is an indoor and outdoor seating area with views of Elliot Bay, so in the summer, this is a great place to spend the evening overlooking the bay.
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite, and Ambassador Elite, plus one guest, can enjoy free lounge access as part of their Elite benefits, even if they book a standard room. Remember to book via our concierge. You will get the same prices and all your usual points and elite benefits, but we can also add in additional benefits, depending on the hotel, such as a room upgrade, free breakfast, free credit to spend in the hotel, and more.
Note: The Crowne Plaza Seattle used to have a club lounge but doesn’t offer one anymore, so do not book this hotel if you are relying on executive lounge facilities. The Westin Seattle also does not feature a club lounge.
10. The Edgewater Hotel
The Edgewater Hotel is famous for hosting The Beatles, who fished from their balcony room in 1964. Legends like Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones have also stayed here, but anyone can book a room in this waterfront hotel and enjoy a rustic, eclectic look and feel.
Located right on Pier 67, this luxury lodging, with river-rock fireplaces and urban and wilderness landscapes just outside your hotel window, offers something out of the ordinary for travelers, whether they are rockstars or not.
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