Whether you’re visiting Seattle on a sightseeing mission, a weekend getaway with friends, or on business, you’re likely looking for a centrally-located hotel that doesn’t skimp on style. The State Hotel fits the bill and offers easy access to the city’s best attractions.
The hotel is housed in an iconic 1904 building that was originally a medical office suite. It was awarded landmark designation in 2006 and is steps from the city’s buzzing Pike Place Market and waterfront area. Other attractions, including The Showroom, The Space Needle, and Chihuly Glass Museum, are within walking distance or a short ride on public transit.
Ben Paris, the hotel restaurant, delivers elevated American bistro fare and craft cocktails from morning to night, fueling suit-clad business meetings, catch-ups among old friends, and artists mulling over laptops and notebooks.
The 91-room hotel has the intimacy and charm of a boutique stay with nods to Seattle culture and history in every nook and cranny. The original medical building became a billiards parlor and a gambling hall in the 1930s. Eventually, it went into disrepair and sat empty for years, until the current operators, Columbia Hospitality, converted the space into the modern hotel of today.
The rooms are compact but serviceable and prepared with handy amenities, including pour-over coffee and local beans, a mini fridge, and locally-made beds and bedding. Many rooms offer city or waterfront views.
On the exterior, a five-story mural painted by Shepard Fairey covers the hotel’s west wall to celebrate the city’s vibrant street art culture.
Inside, each of the nine stories is adorned with a unique wallpaper created by local designer and illustrator Kate Blairstone. The artist took inspiration from the bounty of offerings at Pike Place Market, and it’s worth a trip to each level to spot the various seafood, produce, and local souvenirs hidden on the walls (look for beautifully layered oyster shells, ripe figs, and the occasional glass pipe). The artist also contributed portraits to each guestroom that highlight the building’s various tenants over the years and the city’s diverse demographics.
Other local artists adorned various walls throughout the hotel, including Takiyah Ward, Ryan Molenkamp, and Jessica Cantlin. Overall, the hotel’s art collection celebrates history with a strong dose of whimsy.
The State Hotel restaurant, Ben Paris, named for the entrepreneur and conservationist who ran the building as a gambling hall in the ’30s, showcases the region’s best seafood and produce on plates, rather than the walls.
The restaurant serves an abbreviated breakfast menu from 7 to 9 am, including essentials like stacked breakfast sandwiches, avocado toast, and fluffy ricotta pancakes. Come after 9 for a more robust brunch offering until 2 pm, including a popular Niman Ranch double burger, a crunchy cauliflower caesar, and an excellent slice of carrot cake.
Weeknight happy hour runs from 4 to 8:30 and includes classic bar bites like wings and sliders alongside discounted beer, wine, and cocktails. The space becomes lively at night, when the kitchen adds a collection of small plates to the menu, including a creamy burrata and pear salad and truffle fries you’ll spot on every table.
The beverage program features craft cocktails inspired by seasonal produce as well as a global wine list with an emphasis on bottles from Washington and Oregon.
Hotel amenities include a 24/7 fitness center and a small rooftop terrace with views of the waterfront and market. During the summer, the hotel opens a casual rooftop bar from Wednesdays to Sundays for guests to gather and mingle. The space is also available for private events.
Fast Facts
Location: Seattle, Washington
Rating: Four-Star
Room Count: 91
Starting Rate: Rooms start at $250 per night.
The vibe: A modern, industrial-chic stay in a fully renovated Seattle landmark building with views of Pike Place Market and the waterfront and an art collection that keeps you looking for more.
Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: Restaurant Ben Paris is the beating heart of the hotel. The classic dishes are shaped by the high-quality produce, seafood, and meat available in the Pacific Northwest. It’s vibrant and buzzing from early in the morning until late at night, and the clientele reflects the diversity of the city and the hotel guests.
Amenities: 24-hour fitness center; rooftop terrace; discounts at select local businesses
Nearby Attractions: Pike Place Market; The Seattle Waterfront; The Crocodile; The Seattle Art Museum; Smith Tower Observatory
Any Personal Neighborhood Recs? Music lovers can’t miss a show at The Crocodile, Seattle’s premier venue with nightly headliners across genres. Or book tickets at The Showbox, which has been a destination for world-class performers since it opened in 1939. During the day, linger among the galleries at the Seattle Art Museum or the Chihuly Glass Museum.
Closest Airport: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
.jpg)
.jpeg)
