Seattle, Washington
The Fairmont Olympic Hotel
Grandest Dame
What it is
A legend since 1924, with 450 luxe guest rooms, three buzzing restaurants and bars, and a waterfall-fed indoor pool and hot tub under a soaring atrium.
What it isn't
Forgetting the environment. Sustainable initiatives here include beehives on the roof and transforming used cooking oil into biodiesel.
What we think
This has been The (note the capital) hotel in Seattle society for nearly a century. But if you think Fairmont Olympic Hotel has grown stuffy, think twice. Guest rooms have been recently revamped in a palette of serene grays and calming Puget Sound blues; for a roomy floor plan, be sure to book a Deluxe Room (at 430 square feet) or above. Each one is fully stocked with luxuries Frasier and Niles Crane-types practically require: down pillows and duvets; terry bathrobes; refreshment centers; Keurig coffee makers; and gratis Le Labo toiletries. Celebrating something? The penthouse level Olympic Suite is a showstopper, with a grand piano, dining room, and panoramic views over the city below.
You're here because
Everyone from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to President John F. Kennedy stayed here. Just call it White House West.
The Moment
Afternoon tea is one of your favorite modes of self-care, so the fact that the main lobby’s is so exultant—with filet mignon sandwiches and salmon caviar-dusted deviled eggs—will put a spring in your step for the rest of the day.
Restaurants & Bars
Olympic Bar - American cuisine that features local and seasonal ingredients as well as crafted drinks, wine and beer
Shuckers Oyster Bar - one of Seattle's oldest and most preeminent oyster bars
4th Ave Espresso Bar - offers coffee and homemade sweet and savory bites
Location
Downtown Seattle, an 11 minute stroll from Pike Place Market. (Grab a cup of chowder at the Athenian Seafood Restaurant and Bar to follow in Tom Hanks’ Sleepless in Seattle footsteps.)