Fodor's Expert Review Pensione Nichols Bed & Breakfast

Editor's Note: This property is currently undergoing renovations.

Once the favored lodging of Alan Ginsberg and other beat poets, this slightly bohemian B & B in a converted 1908 office building is one of the most affordable and unique options in Downtown Seattle, though it's definitely not an ideal fit for every type of traveler. It's like a hostel for grown-ups, or one for people who want more privacy and style than a typical hostel. The historic building has a mixed bag of standard room sizes and layouts, all with spacious shared bathrooms; many rooms on the third floor have skylights instead of windows—skylight rooms are quieter but window rooms have great views of the bustle on 1st Avenue. Suites have their own bathrooms, plus kitchens and living rooms. The huge common room has spectacular views of Pike Place Market and Puget Sound.