Kimpton Palladian Hotel

OUR ARTICLE

This downtown Seattle landmark rules the ranks in the city with its vintage and alternative hotel aesthetic. A dimly lit mansion vibe in the lobby leads to bold illuminated rooms offering multiple city views. The Palladian is style and sophistication done right.

But you have to ask yourself, what is sophistication without a bit of fun? Boring, that’s what.

At first glance, the Palladian Hotel, a Kimpton brand property, is sophisticated with a design that’s masculine and trendy with modern furnishings and accents like golden decorative elements, raw wood, and nautical knot art. Think: mansion, dark and cozy – a look that isn’t entirely unique among hotels. However, take a closer look and you’ll find a funkiness and edge to the 1910 property with portraits of Seattle legends like Bill Gates, Dave Matthews, and Jimi Hendrix displayed as Napoleon-era heroes. They’ve even splashed faces of famous male icons in the same get-up on the room pillows, so you can lay your head on the likes of David Bowie, Patrick Swayze, Michael Clarke Duncan, Elvis, and Bill Murray.

Speaking of rooms, they’re accessed via hallways that look like old book covers. Inside, the rooms have custom-built headboards with bookshelves, white beds, flat-screen TVs placed in easels, and small tables with red leather chairs. The bathrooms are stylish with claw foot bathtubs and glass showers. Placed in every room is a yoga mat for the guy who appreciates a good morning flow.

Beyond the rooms, Palladian Hotel likes to keep you entertained. While they lack a pool, they do have a 24-hour gym and an evening social hour in the lobby living room that features a local distillery spotlight. Chow down on seafood at Shaker + Spear’s, the ultimate Pacific Northwest dining spot of Seattle, or sip on classic cocktails at Pennyroyal, the hotel’s bar named after Penny Royal Tea which Kurt Cobain famously drank to ease his stomach. The bar has a speakeasy vibe with low lighting, a wooden bar top, and gold-framed paintings. If you’re with friends – or easily make new ones – ask the bartender for one of their shareable punch bowls. Your room is just an elevator ride away, so why not?

And if you decide to leave and head out into the night, it’s a four-minute walk to Pike Place and for cold beers and oysters. Next door is the Moore Theater, a spot to catch an epic concert.

This hotel is sophisticated and odd in all the right ways. Book a night or three at the Palladian Hotel and salute general Jimi Hendrix on the wall for us.