Fairmont Olympic Hotel

Occupying a full city block in the heart of downtown, Seattle’s largest and most historic hotel is a throwback to the past but offers all the amenities of today.

• The authentic grand hotel ambience
• Penelope & The Beauty Bar spa
• The Georgian Restaurant for a special dining experience

Seattle’s oldest and grandest hotel opened in 1924 and is firmly embedded in the city’s memory bank. The Olympic is loaded with decades of tradition and is associated with a kind of old-fashioned elegance that really sets it apart from every other hotel in Seattle. Until fairly recently it was a Four Seasons, but now it’s a Fairmont property, evoking the same genteel grandeur as the legendary Fairmont Empress in Victoria, B.C.

The 12-story, 405-room Fairmont Olympic takes up an entire block in the city’s downtown business and retail core. It’s so large and complete, with its own shops, spa, café, fitness center and restaurant, that you never have to leave at all. But when you do, you can easily walk to many Seattle attractions, restaurants and shops

In terms of furnishings and décor, the Olympic is traditional all the way. It doesn’t play against its size and historic ambience but works with it. You won’t find any surprises in this bastion of tradition; what you will find is a high standard of personal service and a sense of professional “correctness” that’s missing from smaller, more casual hotels.

With its original chandeliers and beautiful oak walls, the lobby is a grand spot indeed. The lounge at one end is a nice spot to sip a cocktail, and The Georgian restaurant with its enormous Palladian windows remains a highly-rated Seattle dining destination. Penelope & the Beauty Bar, the hotel’s deluxe spa, offers manicures, pedicures, and a full range of facials, skin treatments and massages. And if you are looking for a downtown hotel with a pool and state-of-the-art fitness center, this is a good choice. The only other downtown hotel with its own pool is the Four Seasons.

The rooms and suites at the Fairmont Olympic are fairly spacious, but the décor, it must be said, is definitely dated. For some, this is a plus and in keeping with the age and overall style of the hotel, for others it will look old-fashioned and dowdy. The furniture is well-made and comfortable, the services are all up-to-date, and the host of amenities includes bathrobes, an in-room safe, and 24-hour room service. The unusually large bathrooms have marble floors and countertops and tub/shower combinations. Sliding doors in all the suites separate the bedroom from the sitting area, many of which have sofa beds, making them ideal for parents traveling with kids. Pet-friendly rooms are also available on certain floors.

Guests who enjoy traditional luxury on a grand scale; business travelers who need a full-service hotel; families looking for a hotel with a pool and convenient downtown location.