Seattle may be known as the Emerald City, though on our recent trip through Washington, we found Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco to be like Emerald City in itself. A luxury boutique recognized by Fodor’s as a Top 100 Hotel in the World, we stepped into a vibrant new world; chandeliers hanging from a grand lobby, plush furniture throughout, and colorful, bold design offering a playful escape from outside. And, just as Emerald City was at the center of the Land of Oz, so too is Hotel Monaco just steps from downtown. The perfect gateway to everything Seattle has to offer.
Located just off the yellow brick road, otherwise known as Interstate 5, Hotel Monaco is like your home away from home, and, as the famous quote goes, there really is no place like home! Within walking distance of so many of Seattle’s finest attractions, you literally are in the center of it all. And if walking isn’t your thing you can rest assured you can always use one of Kimpton’s wonderful complimentary bikes.
Head up to Pike Place Markets for an overload of the senses with its variety of specialty shops, fishmongers, and of course the original Starbucks store. Ten million people annually cannot be wrong, and the marketplace is now one of the Top 50 most visited tourist attraction in the world. And chew on this, for something funky to do, check out the Seattle bubble gum wall in a secluded alley below.
Go cheer for the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field just a mile away from the hotel, or Safeco Field if baseball is your sport instead. Send the kids to enjoy the Seattle Aquarium, Seattle Art Museum, or stay entertained at the theatre, and feel like a kid again yourself as you walk along the waterfront and ride the 175 foot Seattle Great Wheel Ferris wheel located at Pier 57.
Chew on this, a short walk from the hotel is Seattle’s famous gum wall.
With so much in downtown Seattle to do, there is something for everyone to enjoy right outside your door, including Toto if you decide to bring him along too. The Hotel Monaco’s pet friendly nature means your furry friend can accompany you on your Emerald City adventure; they accept any number of pets without size or weight restrictions and for no extra charge.
Should it decide to rain (which has been known to happen in Seattle from time to time), simply take in the luxury the hotel offers onsite. With their delicious Sazerac restaurant with its amazing happy hour, a complimentary hosted wine hour which had the hotel lobby buzzing on the Friday we were there, and complimentary morning coffee & tea service at reception, there really is no need to leave the hotel to satiate your hunger or thirst.
After a great meal, head back to your room to use your in room yoga mat or pay the fitness center a visit to burn off the calories you just acquired. If relaxing is more your speed, look into their in room spa services or simply relax in your animal print robe. Quite like the cowardly lion in Oz, we found it extremely hard to muster up any courage – courage to leave the extreme comfort of our lavish room complete with large flat screen TV, Italian Frette Linens, and complimentary WiFi too.
Click on individual photos to enlarge.
When all is said and done, it is pretty much a no brainer to stay at Hotel Monaco when staying in Seattle, so unless you’re like the scarecrow and lacking a brain, you have no excuse not to stay.
Don’t assume the role of the Tin Man and be left out in the rain; let the Hotel Monaco show you the heart of Seattle.
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10 Comments
I love pet friendly hotels because most times, you get to see dogs in the lobby. I also love Seattle. Great combination.
Absolutely – and they’re always so adorable!! Makes it a really fun and playful atmosphere which is a nice change from stiff cookie cutter hotels that you get everywhere else!
What a pretty hotel, I love the design! Seattle is high on my travel wish list.
I hope you manage a trip there soon – we really loved our time; we’re not huge foodies generally and Seattle is a big city for the food scene, so we were really surprised with how much there was to do outside that bubble of food :) Had a really great time & highly recommend the Monaco when you make your trip happen!
Ironically enough, I was just thinking of taking a trip to Seattle. It’s a place I’ve always wanted to visit, but have never made the trip. I’m hoping to visit in the next few weeks now.
Perfect timing then! Highly recommend the Hotel Monaco, it really did just make our trip, and the wine hour was a really fun way to mingle with locals while we were there :)
Let us know if you’re looking for tips on things to do once there :)
Yes, ideas on what to see would always be nice. I’ve already decided I want to visit the first Starbucks, but after that, unsure. I love to do non-touristy things. (Though I do tend to put a few touristy things on my holiday agenda).
Thanks.
Well the Seattle gum wall is really unique, and we loved it, so highly recommend that. It’s in the alley under Pike Place Markets and it’s quite fun, it’ll only take 10 min so combine it with your trip to Starbucks because it’s right around the corner :)
We were at the Markets for the day on a Saturday, and it was absolutely packed, so just be ready for that if you generally don’t like crowded spaces. The Starbucks line was pretty long too, but it was a great buzzing atmosphere so just be expecting large crowds.
We didn’t do the Space Needle because we had heard it was too touristy, though I’ve been told you can get equally as amazing views of downtown from Smith Tower which is a bit of a local secret.
The Seattle Arboretum is nice for nature and if you’re looking for more outdoor adventure you can head up to The University of Washington and rent a canoe which is a fairly non touristy thing to do :)
I haven’t been to the Monaco in Seattle, but man the one in Denver sure is rad. I want to visit them all (preferably with my pup!).
Oooh I LOVE the one in Denver too – we were there late last year and loved the layout of the rooms – so plush and fancy! And I pretty much spent the whole time in my leopard print robe lol :) The Monaco in Salt Lake is also fab and has complimentary massages and cosmopolitans as part of their social wine hour :D