Stay: The EdgeWater Hotel in Seattle, Washington
A big thank you to the folks at the Edgewater Hotel for hosting us for a night's stay and dinner at the Six Seven Restaurant.
To be blunt, I've never been all that impressed with the hotel options offered in my city. When I get asked for recommendations, I struggle to suggest something interesting as opposed to your standard chain hotel experience. Seattle, a city surrounded by both the mountains and the sea, really ought to have options which bring you closer to those features. Thankfully, after experiencing the Edgewater, I've got my go-to recommendation for anyone traveling to Seattle and looking for a hotel stay.
Situated on Pier 67 along Seattle's waterfront, the Edgewater is the only over-water hotel in Seattle - due a zoning change made shortly after it was built. The interior of the hotel is creatively decorated for a Pacific Northwest vibe with faux trees, branches, and nautical elements - it's almost a little exciting walking into the lobby with all these fun yet tasteful elements. Add to the package, a delicious gluten-free friendly restaurant and it's quite the spot to spend a night. Oh, and did I mention it's just a short walk away from some of my favorite activities on the Seattle waterfront like the Elliot Bay Trail? More to come on those next week!
About the Hotel & Room
Like all my favorite hotels, the Edgewater is also dog-friendly and offers furry guests a treat at check-in. Fun facts about the Edgewater include that it's played host to both the Beatles during the era of Beatlemania (thus a Beatles themed suite) and as the setting for an episode of one of my favorite '90s television shows; Northern Exposure.
The standard king rooms are large by city hotel standards, with room for a small desk and two arm chairs to look out on Elliot Bay. As a side note, the foot stool provided for the chairs was actually a fuzzy bear - and now I totally want one. The bathroom opens up with sliding doors to the rest of the room, you know, so you can watch the boats come and go in the harbor from the comfort of the clawfoot soaking tub. Our room faced south giving us a direct view down the waterfront to the cruise ship terminal (talk about people watching), the Seattle Great Wheel, the Port of Seattle, and Mount Rainier in the distance.
Pro-Tip #1: Often the only parking option at the Edgewater is valet and this being a major metropolitan area, that fee doesn't come cheap. On our visit on a Saturday in late May, valet parking was a whopping $41 plus tax! If you want to avoid this kind of impact on your budget, there is a public parking garage across the street that clocks in at half the price - however, there are no in-and-out privileges there if you plan to be jetting around the city in your car.
The Six Seven Restaurant
When visiting Seattle (assuming you are at least a pescetarian), you are hereby advised to eat at least one meal containing seafood. Along the waterfront there are a number of traditional touristy spots to do so, however if you're looking for something more - the Six Seven Restaurant is where it's at. Inside the Edgewater Hotel, the Six Seven defies the norm of the hotel restaurant - the food is high quality, full of flavor, and immaculately plated. The menu has a considerable amount of choices for those who prefer the "turf" from the "surf," but their fresh seafood dishes is where the food really shines.
If you plan to dine on the outside over-water patio, which of course you always should, make sure you either paint yourself silly with sunscreen and bring your sunglasses or plan your dinner accordingly to your level of sun comfort. And of course, provide your sympathy to the servers and waitstaff who smile and bear it looking straight into the sun as they take your order.
Another way the Six Seven defies the typical hotel restaurant is found in it's room service breakfast options and quality. Brûléed grapefruit with brown sugar and rum? Yes please! We splurged for breakfast in our room despite budgeting anxiety, and couldn't have been more pleased - this was fancy, high-quality, and appropriately proportioned goodness. So if you're on the fence about breakfast in bed - the Edgewater is the place where you immediately jump the fence and say yes please!
Pro Tip #2: If you forgot your sunscreen, the adorably curated hotel shop carries some good stuff and it's right across the lobby from the restaurant.
Pro Tip #3: If crowded restaurant's aren't your thing, it appears you have at least a limited menu of food and beverages served in the quieter hotel lobby - which has some great little nooks to whole up in by the picture windows.
Around The Edgewater Hotel
Just a short walk down the waterfront and you'll find yourself walking the Elliot Bay Trail through three different parks including the Seattle Art Museum's Olympic Sculpture Park, the Myrtle Edwards Park, and Centennial Park. With picnic opportunities abound along this route, I'd highly recommend first walking down to Pike Place Market to pick up some artisan food goods and then back along the trail to find your perfect spot either among some sculptures, on the beach, or in a grass field.
The Seattle neighborhoods of Belltown, Queen Anne, and the downtown core are all within easy walking distance of the Edgewater. Of course as is the rest of the waterfront area.