Motif Seattle, USA – hotel review

Motif Seattle is a 319-room hotel that offers a friendly welcome with a modern design and generously sized rooms in a city centre location.

Seattle in northwest USA has a reputation for tech brilliance as the Global HQ for Amazon and Microsoft, for coffee as the home of Starbucks and for music as the one-time home of Jimi Hendrix, Pearl Jam and Nirvana.

In the 1990s this was the capital of grunge and today the population is predominantly young and casual. Motif fits in well with this vibe, a relaxed hotel for a relaxed city yet also a comfortable and convenient base.

Where is it?

Motif Seattle wins full marks for location with a central Downtown address that puts all of Seattle’s main highlights within easy reach. The hotel is on Fifth Avenue with good shopping directly outside the door: Nordstrom, Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Anthropologie and high street favourites Banana Republic and Gap. It’s a two-minute walk to Pike Place Market with the waterfront just beyond and to the Monorail that whisks riders to the Seattle Needle

Style

Fresh from a major refurbishment, the quirky, youthful style is dark and eclectic with heavily patterned carpets, graffiti-style decorations and a significant nod to Seattle’s music scene through lyrics printed on soft furnishings.

The hotel aims to have its fingers on the technology pulse. It sends text messages to guests once they have checked in, there’s an Alexa in every room and outside there are charging points for electric cars.

Facilities

Motif Seattle has a 24-hour fitness centre, a lounge with multiple television screens and in-house music selected by local musicians. Much of the distinctive artwork is produced by local artists and there is a well-promoted visiting artist programme.

Extracurricular 

One of the very best things about Motif Seattle is Gene, the Seattle born and bred concierge who is the first face most guests see on arrival. His upbeat welcome and extensive knowledge of Seattle are invaluable.

The top two of his to do list for visitors to Seattle are:

Take the Monorail for a bargain $2.50 from the Westlake Mall to the Space Needle for a bird’s eye view of the city and also drop in to the Pacific Science Centre and the Museum of Pop Culture.

Head to Pike Place Market, one of the world’s oldest farmer’s markets and Seattle’s most visited tourist destination, for the freshest seafood, local colour and a daily feeding frenzy at the fish market.

Also head high to Nest at Thompson Hotel Seattle and hang out with a young and glamorous crowd who come for spectacular cocktails and equally spectacular sunset views over the waterfront taking in Elliot Bay, the Olympic Mountain Range and the lights of Seattle.

Restaurants to bookmark include more of Seattle’s speciality seafood at the Crab Pot or Elliot’s Oyster House and enjoy music, a burlesque show and great Italian food at the Pink Door.

Food & Drink

Frol!k Kitchen + Cocktails is the fifth floor bar and restaurant where a large outdoor space is equipped with table tennis tables and firepits. Seattle’s winters are long and harsh so when summer comes the city lives outside and the Frol!k rooftop terrace is clearly a hip destination for locals as well as guests. The menu offers American classics including burgers, ribs, seafood, pasta and salads and breakfast choices, from an a la carte menu, are generously sized and well-presented.

Which room? 

There are 319 rooms over 20 floors. Head high for compelling water views which are especially good from the 14th floor upwards. Room 1905 is a spacious waterfront suite with some of the finest views. If you prioritise value and space over views, 303 with its own sitting area is a good choice.

Best for:

As a city centre hotel, Motif works well for holiday makers, both families and couples. It is also popular for conventions and conferences and with Seattle’s business community and is regularly used by Amazon staff.

Price

Double rooms start from US$99.00.

Details

Motif Seattle; 1415 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, Washington WA 98101; 00 1 855 515 1144.

destinationhotels.com/motif-seattle