8 Best Hotels in Downtown, Seattle

The stylish guest rooms received a top-to-bottom redo at the boutique Alexis Royal Sonesta, which occupies a pair of historic buildings (on the National Register of Historic Places, in fact) near the waterfront. The new design has a contemporary loft vibe, featuring sharp Northwest-inspired hues, textures, and furnishings that complement the hotel's high ceilings and walls of windows.

From the huge exterior mural by artist Shepard Fairey to the gorgeous graphic wallpaper inspired by nearby Pike Place Market, every inch of this hip boutique hotel is eye candy, including stylish rooms with sleek, tiled rain showers, an eclectic and welcoming lobby, and vibrant Ben Paris bar and restaurant, where neighborhood locals are as likely to hang out as tourists. Tributes to Seattle's creative side and the city's movers and shakers can be found throughout, from the featured portraits on guestroom walls to the back wall of the lobby covered in repurposed doorknobs from the building's former medical offices. The rooftop terrace with views over Elliot Bay is a serious bonus to take in the scenery, hidden away from the crowds of Pike Place.

A short walk from Pioneer Square, the art museum, and the waterfront, Hotel 1000 (a Hilton Honors property) features ultra-comfortable rooms with on-trend contemporary design elements in shades of pale green and white, and unexpected touches like large soaking tubs that fill from the ceiling. Catered towards maximizing relaxation, the hotel features a small spa and a bath butler program. After undergoing an extensive renovation in the summer of 2023, Hotel 1000 now has reimagined art, a bar with seasonal themes, including a Swiss chalet in the winter, and a restaurant specializing in oysters and Mediterranean-meets-Pacific Northwest seafood dishes. Sports lovers and kids alike will love the Top Golf suite, with golf simulation and gaming programs available.

Each of the serene, quiet rooms named after Washington wineries—some of which boast marvelous views of Seattle’s iconic public library—features a vineyard-inspired palette of burgundy, taupe, and green hues, with a focus on unique interior design and comfortable touches. This oenophile-friendly place also celebrates Washington’s famous wine scene with a daily hosted wine hour.

A fabulous shade of dark green coats most of the interior walls and brick surfaces at this eclectic boutique hotel in a historic building (circa 1898) just a block up from Pike Place Market. Other vintage-modern design touches are equally memorable, like bold graphic tile in the bathrooms, chintz headboards and accent pillows, and Smeg tea kettles. Treat yourself to a drink or brunch in the stylish Hart and Hunter, and if you're traveling with a four-legged family member, they're sure to be spoiled too, with treats, toys, and dog beds. 

A bit of a walk uphill from Downtown, this high-rise has a calm feel to it, with contemporary decor, inviting common areas, a gym and pool, and especially great views of Elliott Bay from rooms above the 20th floor. An on-site restaurant, coffee bar, and lounge conveniently offer snacks, libations, and meals throughout the day. Traffic noise can be present throughout, so request a room on the west side for a quieter stay.

With a club-like atmosphere that starts at the VIP-style lobby check-in, the W Seattle goes for a distinct "urban lodge" vibe, with guest rooms that feature a palette of Seattle-inspired grays and blues accented by bright pops of color, as well as headboards made from floor-to-ceiling backlit wood stacks and Northwest touches like plaid pillows and Pendleton-pattern wallpaper. The lobby pays homage to the city's history, from "lodge poles" that nod to Native American culture to a DJ booth crafted from an airplane turbine engine.