Seattle is one of my favorite places to visit: the people are kind & quirky, the food scene is top notch & wandering around Pike Place Market makes my heart happy. So when we booked an Alaskan cruise that left out of Seattle, I was looking forward to our pre- & post-cruise city stays almost as much as the cruise itself. As soon as we decided on the trip, I already knew where we were going to stay: the Inn at the Market. We stayed there in 2008 on our anniversary trip to Seattle & it immediately became one of my favorite properties in the world. With a recent refresh under their belt, I knew another stay was in order. I’m happy to report that the hotel is just as delightful as it was nine years ago.
(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved
Location, location, location
The Inn at the Market couldn’t possibly be any closer to the famed Pike Place Market. Actually it’s the only hotel in the Market! The view from the Water View Rooms will have you sitting in a cushy chair, gazing out over the Puget Sound watching ferries, sipping coffee for hours. The remodel & fresh made their already comfortable rooms even more stylish. The beds are palatial, with soft, crisp white linens. Bathrooms are modern with a spa feel: over-sized subway tile, a rain shower head & an eco-friendly toilet. Despite its location, the hotel was pin-drop quiet, even in the morning as trucks rumbled around the area, bringing vendors to the market.
The best hotel amenities – ever
Amenities abound, including a coffee machine in the lobby with Starbucks coffee & tea, free wifi throughout the property & arguably their best feature which sets them apart from everyone else: the amazing rooftop deck. The deck offers sweeping views of the Seattle waterfront, Puget Sound & the Olympic Mountains. The rooftop deck is the perfect place to crack open a bottle of Washington wine (I love the nearby Pike & Western Wine Shop) & offers delivery service from the hotel’s restaurant.
The day we arrived, we were exhausted. It was late in the evening & had worked a full day & then took a cross country flight. Eric at the front desk took pity on us & presented us with a bottle of house wine to enjoy on the roof. We enjoyed the view as Seattle twinkled in the balmy July night. It was the perfect way to start vacation.
Excellent service
What I remembered most from our first stay was the impeccable service. I’m happy to report that the standard has not changed at all in the past nine years. For instance: we were half way to the cruise port when we realized we had left our coats in the closet of our room. Our taxi turned around & after breathlessly calling the hotel, the manager personally went up & got them for us. This is just one of many examples of everything the Inn at the Market does to make guests feel like they’re at home. Because of this the Inn will continue to be my home in Seattle.
Know if you go…
– The Inn is a great pre- or post-cruise stay. A taxi is about $20 from the hotel to the port.
– When arriving at Seattle’s airport, getting a taxi or Uber can be a chaotic process. For the same price, the Inn can book a private car for you to or from the airport. Just request this in advance after making your booking.
– A few of my favorite Seattle eats are within steps of the Inn: the Pink Door restaurant for delicious Italian & Lowell’s Restaurant for breakfast.
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