I love staying in boutique hotels when I’m traveling. Instead of being just another one of hundreds of guests, they tend to offer much more personalized service and, often, some unique perks like complimentary wine tastings while being set within a history building or a modern building with funky, unexpected decor. When it comes to boutique hotels in Seattle, there are many choices that are just a short walk away from the city’s wealth of attractions like the waterfront and Pike Place Market, including these.
The Alexis Royal Sonesta Hotel Seattle
Recognized as a “Top 500 Hotel of the World,” The Alexis Royal Sonesta is set in a landmark 1901 building just a short walk from the Seattle Art Museum. This top-rated Seattle hotel has an impressive gallery room and rotating art exhibits in its lobby. It stands out for its friendly, personalized service and it also hosts a state-of-the-art fitness center with Peloton bikes. Delicious contemporary cuisine and cocktails can be enjoyed at The Bookstore Bar & Café. Rooms and suites all have unique layouts of their own, but some of the favorites are the specialty suites like the Fireplace Suite, which includes a fireplace, and the Spa Suite with a two-person soaking tub.
Key Amenities:
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Bar/cafe on-site
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Gallery room and lobby with rotating art exhibits
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State-of-the-art fitness center with Peloton bikes
Hotel Sorrento
Seattle’s first boutique hotel, the historic Hotel Sorrento was built in 1909 and offers lots of charm and character with magnificent Italian architecture. It has an old-world meets hipster kind of vibe, located within walking distance of Capitol Hill and the monorail to the Space Needle. Keep up with your workout routine in the outstanding 24-hour fitness center and perhaps indulge in a massage to soothe sore muscles afterward. The Fireside Room is a hot spot for relaxing with a glass of wine and enjoying live music while the restaurant is popular even among the locals. It’s known for its fantastic martinis and farm-to-table fare. While all rooms and suites have European stylings with flat-screen TVs and minibars, no two are alike.
Key Amenities:
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Fireside Room for wine, cocktails, and live music
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On-site restaurant with farm-to-table fare
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24-hour fitness center
Motif Seattle
Inspired by Seattle’s alternative fashion scene, Motif Seattle is a trendy boutique hotel in a prime location on Fifth Avenue. It’s a short stroll from the waterfront close to Pike Place Market, designer boutiques, high-end department stores, and a wide range of dining venues, although the hotel’s on-site rooftop restaurant, Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails is something you’ll want to try at least once with some of the city’s best views. It includes an outdoor patio for alfresco meals and drinks during the warmer months along with shuffleboard and cozy fireplaces. A 24-hour fitness center is available to work off those tasty dishes, while rooms are trendy with funky furnishings, pillows with famous song titles from Seattle bands, and flat-screen TVs.
Key Amenities:
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Rooftop restaurant with an outdoor patio
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24-hour fitness center
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Electric car charging stations
Inn at the Market
The Inn at the Market is the only hotel right inside Pike Place Market. Not surprisingly, it’s one of the city’s most popular places to stay. While you’ll be steps from all the action, you can look forward to returning to a tranquil setting that comes complete with an ivy courtyard and a rooftop deck. While unwinding with a drink, you’ll have a view of downtown, the Market, and the sparkling waters of Elliott Bay. More breathtaking views can be enjoyed in your room from floor-to-ceiling windows. Enjoy dining at some of the best downtown restaurants on everything from all-day sushi to classic French fare. There are countless restaurants just steps away as well, including the famous Athenian Seafood Restaurant and Bar that was featured in Sleepless in Seattle.
Key Amenities:
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Panoramic rooftop deck
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In-room massage
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Shine in the Market Salon
Kimpton Palladian Hotel
Just two blocks from Pikes Place Market and many other attractions at the edge of Belltown, the Kimpton Palladian has a quirky, cool style with its mantra “where elegant meets edgy.” It offers a daily wine hour, a 24/7 fitness center with high-end cardio and weightlifting equipment, and a noteworthy restaurant. The Pennyroyal Bar and Shaker + Spear restaurant is highly rated, with a seasonal menu focused on seafood and local ingredients, while the bar is known for its excellent craft cocktails. Rooms have a fun and playful vibe with vintage-modern decor and bathrooms with large clawfoot tubs. In-room spa services are available too.
Key Amenities:
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Daily wine hour
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24/7 fitness center + in-room spa services
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Bar and restaurant on-site
Maxwell Hotel
The Maxwell Hotel is in an ideal location for those who want to enjoy the Seattle Center attractions and the Space Needle. It even offers rooms with a perfect view of the iconic firework displays that take place right at the Needle on Independence Day and New Year’s Eve. Of course, you’ll have to book well in advance to score one, as they often sell out 12+ months ahead. All are spacious and come with flat-screen TVs with premium cable and DVD players, Keurig coffeemakers, minifridges, and microwaves. Local snacks and coffee are included too. There’s an indoor heated pool and an espresso bar on-site, and free loaner bikes for exploring the city on two wheels are also available. If you want to bring your four-legged friend, dog beds, dog bowls, and treats are provided.
Key Amenities:
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Rooms with Space Needle views, including fireworks displays
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Indoor heated pool
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Loaner bikes
Hotel Max
Hotel Max was designed for art and music lovers, as well as being pet-friendly with eco-friendly dog beds, treats, toys, and even custom dog tags with the hotel’s name and number in case Fido gets loose. There are over 350 original works here, including one by Andy Warhol in the funky lobby. Plus, you’ll see a bass guitar signed by Nirvana’s Krist Novoselic. Every floor includes an original piece by a different local photographer, while rooms feature original paintings and vintage Tivoli radios, and large workstations. Free Shinola bikes are available to borrow, and there’s a complimentary craft beer happy hour too. The on-site steakhouse offers impressive meals helmed by a James Beard award-winning chef.
Key Amenities:
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350+ original works of art
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Free loaner Shinola bikes
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Complimentary craft beer happy hour + a steakhouse
Thompson Seattle
The Thompson Seattle is a high-end boutique hotel located right next to Pike Place Market. Begin your stay with a welcome glass of sparkling wine and when you’re in the mood for another drink, one of the most popular rooftop bars in Seattle can be found here. It’s known for its craft cocktails but it also offers a menu of tasty dishes. There’s another eatery in the lobby for dining on seafood dishes and New American fare. Rooms come with Amazon Alexa and original works of art – many have floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing a view that ranges from the Puget Sound to the city skyline.
Key Amenities:
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Rooftop bar
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Multiple restaurants on-site
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Pet-friendly
Hotel 1000, LXR Hotels and Resorts
An ultra-modern boutique hotel in the heart of downtown, Hotel 1000 is just a short walk from the waterfront, but there are plenty of reasons to stick around. It hosts the only virtual reality Golf Club in Seattle, with over 50 courses worldwide, including the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland. There’s a spa that provides a tranquil oasis for indulging in various treatments and the on-site restaurant serves boat-to-table cuisine with local ingredients from local farmers and Pike Place Market. Rooms include options for Puget Sound, Elliot Bay, and downtown views along with super comfy beds, a bathrobe, and a soaking tub.
Key Amenities:
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Virtual reality Golf Club
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Full-service Spa
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On-site restaurant with boat-to-table cuisine
Hotel Andra Seattle MGallery Hotel Collection
Located right at the edge of the Belltown neighborhood, just over a 5-minute walk from Pike Place Market, Hotel Andra is set in a classic brick and terracotta building. The intimate boutique hotel has a unique Northwestern meets Scandinavian style with rooms and suites that have a residential feel and standard amenities like flat-screen TVs and comfy beds with goosedown pillows. There’s a gym and two restaurants on-site, including Assaggio Ristorante for Italian and Lola’s serving Pacific Northwest dishes, along with a bar and a lobby lounge with a fireplace.
Key Amenities:
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Gym
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Multiple on-site restaurants
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Bar and lobby lounge
W Seattle
A trendy property with a space-age interior, W Seattle is a 10-minute walk from the waterfront and Seattle Aquarium, with numerous shops and eateries just steps away. The rooms are spacious and modern, all of which are uniquely decorated, but all come with minibars and flat-screen TVs and DVD players. Suites have separate bedrooms and living rooms with bathrooms that include jetted tubs. The W Sound Suite offers a creative space for artists and even includes a private recording studio. There’s a large, well-equipped gym, while The Living Room is a popular spot for cocktails at happy hour as well as offering live music and DJs. The on-site restaurant TRACE serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner featuring seasonal ingredients.
Key Amenities:
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Well-equipped gym
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Bar hosting live music and DJs
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Restaurant on-site for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hotel Theodore Provenance
Set in a 1929 landmark building, Hotel Theodore Provenance highlights Seattle’s rich traditions, evoking an era long past with pink neon letters and a lobby with a marble fireplace and live piano music. Pike Place Market and the waterfront are a short stroll away along with a wealth of dining, shopping, and nightlife venues. Right here, you can enjoy dining at the signature restaurant Rider, which offers a menu based on fresh, sustainable, and locally-sourced seafood and dry-aged steaks. Rooms feature 19th-century furnishings with windows that open for fresh air, while the Jacuzzi suites boast huge jetted tubs and views of Elliott Bay.
Key Amenities:
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24-hour fitness center
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Live piano music + welcome wine tasting
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On-site restaurant serving fresh, locally-sourced dishes
The Edgewater, a Noble House Hotel
The Edgewater sits right on Pier 67, just steps from attractions like the Seattle Aquarium and the Seattle Great Wheel, and offers breathtaking views. It overlooks the Puget Sound, the ferries and myriad of boats that come and go, and the craggy peaks of the Olympic Mountains beyond. While the views and the location are what draw many, but there are some fabulous, unique perks, like a complimentary two-hour guitar rental, record players and albums, and even a Rock Band Room rental. The Six Seven Restaurant offers exceptional dining indoors and out, and weekly live music is hosted too. Plus, the waterfront rooms come with gas fireplaces and floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors.
Key Amenities:
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Weekly live music, complimentary guitar rental, record players/albums
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Six Seven Restaurant with award-winning Pacific Northwest fare
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Use of The Edgewater bicycles and a fitness center
