Hotel Review: Inn at the Market, Seattle, Washington

Two weeks ago, I guest blogged on Inn the Kitchen about all the fantastic things that the Inn at the Market in Seattle did to make our trip there in 2007 special. Upon further consideration, I decided that since this is one of my favorite hotels, it really deserved a full write up.

Before I get started though, you should know something about this trip: the expectations on my part could not have been higher. Seattle had been on my list of “must visit” destinations for years. The distance from the east coast kept me away though. When things finally worked out to make a trip out there, I was determined to make it the best four days ever. I don’t think I’ve ever been on a trip, including my honeymoon, where my anticipation was so high.

The basics: The Inn at the Market is a 70 room boutique hotel in tucked away down an alley in downtown Seattle. They have four room categories, which are priced accordingly: City View, Partial Water View, Water View & Deluxe Water View. There are two restaurants close-by which offer room service, Bacco & Cafe Campagne – admittedly, we didn’t eat at either of them, as I prefer more off the beaten path places. The Inn has gotten a bunch of awards from Travel & Leisure & Conde Nast Traveler, I believe well deserved.

Now, onto matters at hand. How do I love thee, Inn at the Market, let me count the ways:

1. Their service is flawless. Everything from helping arrange a town car pick up from the airport (& then a drop off for our red eye flight late in the evening), to having our room ready for check in at the ridiculously early hour of 10am so we could take a jet-lagged nap, to all the details I mentioned in my guest blog.

2. The location cannot be beat. It is literally steps from Pike Place Market – I should have counted, maybe 10 max? Due to the time change that we never really adjusted to, we were up & ready to go first thing in the morning before most Seattlites were on their way to work & before the city really woke up. It was great to wander over to the Market & have a healthy big, greasy, all-American breakfast.

The location is also great for exploring the rest of downtown Seattle, the hilly place that it is. The Inn’s rather central location allowed us to walk to the Space Needle & Seattle Center, walk to the pier to pick up a ferry to Bainbridge Island & downtown, to Pioneer Square & the amazing piece of architecture that is the public library.

3. Comfort. Our room at the Inn, #601, is probably one of the most comfortable hotel rooms I have ever stayed in. I’m not just talking about the mattress being perfectly firm/squishy though. The whole room, decorated in warm neutrals, felt like home. At the end of a long day of touring, it was the perfect place to come back to, unwind with a glass of wine (more on that in a minute) & relax before heading out to dinner. The little seating areas, both the cafe table & chairs in the bumped out bay window & the couch & chairs were a perfect way to relax without having to sit on the bed (don’t you hate hotel rooms where your only option to sit down, or watch TV, is on the bed?).