Hotels designed around a particular setting are abundant, but not every property captures the nuances of a place as well as The Kimpton Palladian. The Belltown property is a reimagined downtown landmark from 1910 whose bold architecture, kitschy design and 97 well-appointed rooms serve as subtle reminders of Seattle’s past—shimmering accents to take you back to the gold rush, raw wood harkening to the timber industry days and a fantastic sound system, lest you forget you’re in the birthplace of grunge.
It’s a few blocks from the busy Pike Place Market but don’t expect to see a swarm of tourists in this lobby. During our stay, we encountered a few return visitors, several families with dogs (it’s a pet-friendly hotel) and first-time guests like ourselves gathered for the free wine happy hour that takes place daily from 5 to 6pm. It’s a thing across all Kimpton properties (so take note), as well as complimentary umbrellas and bike rentals, and a plants pal program that allows guests to check out a plant to keep in their room during their stay. Traveling with an infant made it impossible to care for one more thing while on vacation but we did opt for another relevant perk: a playard with a changing table. Kimpton Palladian has a partnership with 4moms to provide guests with all kinds of baby gear free of charge, including an infant seat and a tub with a built-in thermometer. It’s a real treat when you’re already toting a stroller, a car seat, a diaper bag and a week’s worth of supplies to hold you over for the weekend.
Our king Palladian suite with just under 800 square feet of space provided plenty of room to spread out, enjoy our room service burger from the downstairs bar Pennyrotal and even comfortably take a work call while the other person slept (head laying comfortably on a pillow adorned with Brad Pitt's face). The separate living room with a wet bar and an extra-large conference table became the in-room amenities I didn’t know I needed. Something else to file under that category: a record player! The room came equipped with a Crosley record player and a selection of vinyls curated by Sub Pop—the same music label whose posters you’ll see plastered throughout the namesake suite and whose current roster of artists includes Father John Misty and The Shins. For inquiring minds, Sub Pop achieved fame in the early 1990s for signing the likes of Nirvana, Soundgarden and Mudhoney. You don’t need to be a fan of Seattle’s grunge era to appreciate that.
Time Out tip: Make time to dine at Shaker + Spear, the modern seafood restaurant just off the lobby. It was packed on a Thursday night with the smell of fresh locally caught halibut and king salmon just wafting through the air.
