Hotel Monaco

1101 4th Ave., Seattle, Washington 98101, USA
Fodor's Choice
David Phelps

Why We Like It

The Kimpton brand is known for its eclectic approach to boutique hotels and Hotel Monaco is no exception. The globally inspired decor, which piles on colors, patterns, and textures, has a quirky yet timeless vibe, and the eye-catching lobby invites lingering over complimentary coffee and wine. Quirky touches like animal-print bathrobes, yoga mats in the room, and goldfish in bowls for guests to borrow add to the charm. The hotel's convenient location is also a perk.

Fodor's Expert Review

From the popular Kimpton brand, this boutique hotel conjures the home of a well-heeled world traveler with an eye for design. Think accents of saturated color and an eye-pleasing mix of patterns and styles. Monaco's global-modern lobby is easily one of the most attractive in the city, and the hotel is ideally located, close to shopping, attractions, and sports stadiums.

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Room

With a palette of reds, grays, and white, rooms feature an eclectic collection of furnishings, including plush beds with crisp Italian linens against a backdrop of bold abstract wallpaper inspired by clouds. Some of the deluxe room options are quite spacious.

Tip For peace and quiet, and better views, book a room on an upper floor.

Bathroom

The blue-and-white wallpaper has an Aegean vibe, as do the travertine floor tiles and classical console vanity, which features a relief wave pattern. People who love to soak should consider upgrading to a premier room for the bathroom alone. The ultra-deep soaking tub is such a treat.

Lobby

The Hotel Monaco knows how to make a first impression. The whimsical lobby, with 22-foot-high ceilings and tall square columns, juxtaposes classical and contemporary elements to beautiful effect. Cobalt blue complements creamy pale yellow and bold geometric decorative accents contrast with delicate hand-painted detailing. And the pièce de résistance? A striking swimming dolphin mural inspired by the famous Palace of Knossos frescoes in Crete. The lobby’s large living room area invites lounging with a fireplace, a cushy sectional, and lots of stylish chairs and tables.

Tip Hotel Monaco hosts an evening lobby happy hour featuring salty snacks and Washington wines.

Gym

A 24/7 fitness center includes cardio machines, free weights, yoga balls, and plenty of room to stretch and strengthen.

Dining

The hotel’s Outlier restaurant, which opened in 2017, has a playful personality, with a large bottle-cap portrait of local music icon Jimmy Hendrix (smoking a joint, no less), and a mural that wraps around the top of the restaurant featuring oversized white doodles on a black background. The décor, which also includes unique leather tufted booths and dowel-leg chairs, is as eclectic as the food. Prepared in an open kitchen with a brick oven, dishes have a global vibe, ranging from pizza and pierogis to a whole rockfish served Korean bo ssäm style, complete with lettuce wraps and housemade kimchi.

What's Nearby

Getting Around

It’s a 10-minute walk to Westlake Center, where you’ll find multiple modes of transit: Westlake Station, a main hub for Seattle’s Link light rail system; the Monorail connecting to Seattle Center; bus lines servicing every corner of the city; and the terminus for the South Lake Union Streetcar.

Restaurants

The French-inflected Belle Epicurean (3-minute walk) serves up top-notch coffee and mouth-watering pastries, along with breakfast sandwiches and light lunch items. Shuckers Oyster Bar (3-minute walk) is a bustling restaurant in an old-fashioned space that once housed a 1930s haberdashery. One of the city’s oldest and most upscale oyster bars, Shuckers’ menu focuses on seafood, such as whole-roasted Dungeness crab and chicken-fried trout. Purple Cafe and Wine Bar (2-minute walk) impresses guests with a massive centerpiece wine tower that has its own spiral staircase; the tasty small plates also win props.

Bars

Housed in a historic theater, The Triple Door (5-minute walk) is a glam sit-down live music venue featuring a diverse lineup and an old-school vibe. Semi-circular booths face an antique stage, framed by red velvet curtains, and food from nearby Wild Ginger can be ordered during shows. Or head upstairs to the Musicquarium Lounge, where you’ll find a massive aquarium and live acts or DJs nightly. Also nearby, the hole-in-the-wall Diller Room (5-minute walk), housed in the former lobby of an 1890 hotel, has vintage décor and a speakeasy vibe that nods to its past as part of a brothel. The bar’s Tiki Tuesday celebrates the kitschiest of cocktails.

Quick Facts

HOTEL INFO

Phones: 206-621–1770;800-715-6513