Grand Hyatt Seattle

Sleek and elegant are the words that will hit you when you enter the Grand Hyatt, with its unusually expansive (and dark!) lobby and attentive front desk staff. This uber-chic vibe is the very reason that the event spaces of this hotel are frequently tapped by locals for large philanthropy gatherings; in fact, it’s not unusual to see tuxes and gowns filtering through the lobby on a Friday or Saturday night, and the valet attendants hurrying to accommodate them. While conveniently set up for large corporate gatherings (the hotel has some 25,000 square feet of function space), there’s a sense that the property is equally focused on business and pleasure. Guestrooms -- of which there are at least 12 different choices -- start on the 10th floor and rise as high as the 30th; which means that no matter where you land, chances are your room will have at least some view of Puget Sound, the Cascade Mountains, and the lively Seattle skyline.

Convenience is key here: The hotel is flanked on all sides by restaurants, some of which are attached to the property (like Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and the requisite Starbucks), so there’s no shortage of dining choices for those wishing to stay put. And with one step outside, you’ll even be able to catch a glimpse of the iconic Pike Place Market sign that’s just a five-block walk toward the waterfront. With the exception of the Elaia spa, which is oddly located in the Grand Hyatt’s more business-y sister hotel, the Hyatt at Olive 8, down the street (it sort of defeats the idea of a relaxing massage, since you can’t go directly from the spa to your guestroom), you’ll feel like you have everything -- from food to shopping to classic Seattle attractions -- at your fingertips.

Without being directly on the waterfront (a coveted Seattle location), the Grand Hyatt still manages to take firm advantage of all that downtown Seattle has to offer...no car or transit needed. It’s throwing distance from the Washington State Convention Center, and literally surrounded on all sides by shopping, theater, and dining attractions that will keep you going for days. Kids will likely drag you to Gameworks, the mega-arcade down the street, but you’ve got plenty of stores nearby to keep you busy. Nordstrom and Pacific Place shopping center (the latter of which contains a multiplex theater) are two blocks away. Westlake Center is equally close, with its full-on food court and access to the Monorail, the iconic elevated train that whisks you over to the Seattle Center (home of the Space Needle) in a mere two minutes.

Less-than-5-minute-walk to:

• Pacific Place shopping center
• Westlake Mall (with two-minute transit to Seattle Center, and Light Rail transit to Sea-Tac airport for $2.50)
• The Washington State Convention Center
• A.C.T. Theater
• 5th Avenue Theater

Other destinations:

• 10-minute-walk to Benaroya Hall (Seattle Symphony), Pike Place Market, and Seattle Art Museum
• 10-15-minute walk to ferries
• 5-minute drive to cruise-ship terminals
• Sea-Tac International Airport is a 20-minute drive south on I-5 (about $45 by taxi)

Once glance at the guestrooms and you’ll realize this Grand Hyatt couldn’t be anywhere else but Seattle, with its characteristic Pacific Northwest design aesthetic: a contemporary Asian influence with warm, grainy woods on headboards and dressers, neutral fabrics, and splashes of rich orange that manage to counteract any gray drizzle you might experience outside the hotel. Not surprisingly, the higher you go, the better the views -- which can be cleverly hidden with the touch of an electronic black-out shade that does away with the need for any fussing and fiddling with the drapes. Bathrooms have separate tubs and glass-enclosed showers, but they get more lavish as you upgrade to suite or business levels, with the addition of marble, granite, and fancy soaking tubs.

All Rooms Include:

• 32-inch flat screen TV
• iHome stereo with iPod docking station
• Hypoallergenic bedding and air purification system
• Down blankets and choice of pillows
• Climate control
• Coffeemaker
• Hairdryer, iron, and ironing board
• Minibar
• Free morning newspaper
• Aquafresh Extreme Clean Toothpaste Amenities
• Three or more telephones, including cordless
• Safe large enough for laptop
• Soaking tub and separate glass-enclosed shower
• Data port and Wi-Fi
• Electronic blackout drapes

Room Types:

• Double Room: 10th floor and above with some city and water views
• King Room: 10th floor and above with some city and water views
• Corner Suite: 468 square feet with separate foyer and living area, plus desk, and marble-and-granite bathroom
• Business Plan Room: King or two double beds. Includes marble bathroom, free Wi-Fi, laundry service, breakfast, water, and local phone calls, some city and water views
• Grand Club Room: King or two double beds. Floors 24 to 30. Includes feather beds, marble bath, dedicated concierge, and access to Grand Club Lounge, city and water views.
• Executive Suite: 812 square feet with excellent water and mountain views, marble bath, granite wet bar, leather furniture.
• Emerald Suite: 823 square feet with excellent water and mountain views, large living room, and separate work space.
• Premier Suites: 1,200 to 2,700 square feet on uppermost floors of hotel with expansive views, separate parlor and dining area, marble bath with jetted tub and fountain faucets, Portico bath products, and fireplace.
• ADA Room: Accommodations for disabilities, including audio/visual aids and assistance devices
• Hyatt Smoking Room: Standard guestroom with continuously filtered air

• 24-hour fitness center (whirlpool, sauna, and steam room available 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.)
• 24-hour business center
• Elaia Spa (located in partner Hyatt, one block from the hotel)
• 25,000 square feet of function space (including ballroom)
• Hertz Rental Car desk
• 24-hour concierge service
• Valet ($34/day) and self-parking ($28/day)
• Shoeshine
• Salon
• Currency exchange
• Gift shop
• Babysitting services
• Wi-Fi ($9.99/day)
• Laundry and dry cleaning

• Room service available from 6 a.m. to midnight
• Starbucks
• Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and has both an early and a late-night happy hour. A wine cellar and tasting room below the restaurant are available for private dining events.
• Urbane restaurant serves farm-to-table Northwest fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Local ingredients include Beecher's Cheeses, Uli's Sausage from Pike Place Market, and produce from Willie Green Farms. The menu is subject to change, but dishes have included lavender seared Grimaud duck breast ($24) and hazelnut crusted rainbow trout ($21).
• Blue C Sushi is a self-service Japanese restaurant open for lunch and dinner.