Fairmont Olympic Hotel

The Fairmont Olympic Hotel has been a downtown Seattle landmark since 1924. It occupies an entire city block on University Street, between Fourth and Fifth Avenues, and is the city's grand old hotel, with public rooms that suit afternoon tea as much as a business meeting. It has 450 guest rooms, suites and penthouses, and it was recognised in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards in 2026.

Eating and drinking are a big part of a stay. The George is the signature restaurant, serving breakfast and hosting winemaker dinners featuring Pacific Northwest wines. Shuckers is the hotel's oyster bar, with Shuck-It Sundays where guests can try shucking oysters themselves, and the Founders Club holds tastings of rare spirits and cocktails. Afternoon tea is served in the Olympic Bar Lobby Lounge, in the main lobby. In total there are five places to eat and drink.

The leisure facilities are unusually good for a city-centre hotel. On the second floor, a 42-foot indoor heated pool sits in a sunny solarium under a skylight, open daily from 8am to 9pm, with a hot tub alongside. There is also a fitness centre and sauna, and the spa, Penelope and The Beauty Bar, on the lower lobby level, offers European skincare and body treatments.

Check-in is from 4pm and check-out is at 11am, with early arrival or late departure available on request, subject to availability and possibly a fee. Dogs and cats are welcome for a cleaning fee, and accessible rooms are available. Parking is by valet or in the Olympic Garage at Fifth Avenue and Seneca Street.

The Fairmont suits couples on a special trip, families who want a pool and business travellers who value a central address. It is a formal, traditional hotel, so those looking for a more casual, design-led stay might prefer one of the city's boutique options. Book well ahead for summer and for weekends with big events in town.

The location is excellent for sightseeing on foot. The Seattle Art Museum, Pike Place Market and the waterfront are all a short walk downhill to the west, and the Westlake shopping area and the Seattle Center Monorail are a few blocks north. Questions about stays can be emailed to the hotel.