Thompson Seattle, by Hyatt

Rooms and decor

Picture a sleek curved-glass tower standing above Pike Place Market. Pull back the curtains in the morning and you get the wide blue of Puget Sound, white ferries gliding slowly past, and the Olympic mountains as a backdrop — that's the first bit of charm at Thompson Seattle, by Hyatt, a 5-star hotel that opened in 2016 and became one of the city's coolest design stays almost overnight. The building was designed by the renowned Seattle architecture studio Olson Kundig, which chose floor-to-ceiling curved glass to pull as much of the bay and skyline into the rooms as possible. Rooms and suites run a cool mid-century-modern look, mixing warm walnut wood, clean-lined furniture, and easy earth tones against the natural light that floods in. What sets the rooms apart from a typical city hotel is the view — many face the bay full-on, so you can wake up to coffee watching the water and mountains, or lie back and watch the sunset turn the sky orange and pink over the water. If you like modern, minimal luxury that lets the view and the design do the talking, this should land.

Food and amenities

If there is one highlight everyone keeps talking about, it is The Nest, the rooftop lounge on the hotel's top floor that has become one of Seattle's most famous spots for a sunset cocktail. Stand up there and look out over Puget Sound stretching away, ferries coming and going, the city skyline, and the mountains as a panoramic backdrop. A cold cocktail in the soft evening light, a chic atmosphere, quiet music — plenty of guests call it the highlight of the trip. Downstairs is the Conversation restaurant, which leans on fresh Pacific Northwest ingredients, from coastal seafood to local produce, served in a warm, contemporary setting that works for an easy breakfast or a stylish dinner. There is also a 24-hour fitness room, plus the easygoing-but-attentive service of the Thompson brand. Many reviews agree the staff are excellent, friendly, and helpful beyond expectations.

Location and getting there

Location is another strong card here. The hotel sits on Stewart Street in the heart of Downtown by the waterfront, a few steps above Pike Place Market — walk out of the lobby, down a short slope, and you are at Seattle's legendary market full of fresh-fish stalls, flowers, food, and the original Starbucks where people line up for photos all day. From here you can keep walking down to the waterfront along Elliott Bay, with its boardwalk, seaside restaurants, and the Seattle Great Wheel. Just about everything you'd want to see downtown is within walking distance. Getting around is easy too: Westlake station (Link Light Rail Line 1) is about a 6-8 minute walk and runs straight to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport or other parts of the city without dealing with traffic.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. The thing reviews flag most is room size — they look great but run fairly compact, especially the entry-level rooms, and some feel the space and storage are a little tight for a 5-star price. If you travel with big luggage or several people, consider upgrading to a roomier room. The second common point is The Nest: it is the highlight, but because it is open to outside guests, weekend evenings and summer get very crowded with long lines, and staying guests may have to wait or squeeze in at peak times — head up a little before sunset. Third is view and noise — rooms that don't face the bay get city or neighboring-building views instead, so specify a water view clearly when booking, and since it sits next to a busy market area, some nights you may hear street noise from below. Light sleepers should ask for a high floor. One more thing: this is a boutique design hotel, so there is no pool like some waterfront luxury hotels — check first if a pool is essential.

Our take

After reading through a lot of real guest reviews, Thompson Seattle, by Hyatt sells "the coolest, most modern design in the city, full Puget Sound views, the rooftop Nest, and a location above Pike Place Market" with real character. If the trip in your head is waking up to a bay view filling the window in a mid-century-modern room, walking a few steps down to Pike Place Market, then closing the day with a sunset cocktail on The Nest, this is a chic, well-rounded pick. But if you care most about big rooms, lots of storage, or having a pool, you may need to weigh it up, because the strength here is atmosphere and design more than size and resort-style amenities. Overall we give it 8.4/10, best for couples and design lovers who value the bay view, the cool atmosphere, and the central location more than a spacious room.