Arrival/Check In: It was a chilly 35 degrees in Seattle as I sat with my morning espresso and the city continued to recover from a rare snowstorm the previous week, with more to come. Luckily, I arrived at Sea-Tac the previous evening with clear skies and sunshine scheduled for this day, despite the cold.

I was pleased to try a new boutique property on this trip, Hotel Theodore, located downtown and in the middle of great shopping and restaurants, just a few blocks from Pike Place Market. The property was built just over a year ago and has a great modern-but-homey feel that I love when I travel.

I checked in during happy hour, and a bar cart and mixologist served me a yummy gin drink that warmed me instantly. Although there are plenty of couches surrounding a large lobby area, I chose to take my drink up to my room on the eighth floor.

Guest Quarters: My room featured a large, open space surrounded by windows overlooking the bustling street and offering plenty of natural light. Right off the small entryway was a fully stocked bar with an espresso machine and an electric tea kettle for morning beverage service. A small seating area with club chairs and a large marble table sat to the left, with a small, window-facing desk and plenty of extra electrical outlets. A wardrobe stood in the corner to house the safe but contained no real space for hanging up clothes. The king-sized bed dominated the far end of the suite and offered a comfortable sleep. Two large marble side tables offered extra outlets and held uniquely shaped lamps that were bright and modern.

The bathroom was separated into two rooms, the first featuring my favorite: bright white subway tile with black metal and white marble accents. The toilet and vanity room provided excellent lighting, with plenty of space for my personal effects. A metal and glass door opened into the second room: a large, subway-tiled shower room with a great clawfoot tub sitting within the shower area, giving everything a spacious feel.

Services/Amenities: The Theodore offers two great options for dining on property. The first, MADE Coffee — a café serving handcrafted coffee and espressos from a vintage wood-fired roaster — proves a great place to start the day. For dinner, try the hotel restaurant Rider, located right off the lobby and housing a full bar. One evening I sat at the chef ’s bar that faces the kitchen and the main grilling area for meat and seafood dishes — a perfect place to sit if you are a solo traveler. Being in Seattle, I had to taste the local oysters and the house pull-apart bread with crab butter. For my main dish, I had the Duck Three Ways: seared breast; confit leg; and wild rice hash with toasted pistachio, pomegranate, pineapple quince and foie gras torchon. Probably the best duck dish I have had in the last few years!

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

◆ Unique vintage art and artifacts line the walls of the property, curated through its partnership with Seattle’s Museum of History and Industry.

◆ Located in the heart of the city center, the hotel lies just blocks from Pike Place, the Seattle Art Museum and the financial district.

◆ Nightly cocktails served throughout the week in the lobby give you a chance to try new creations and get excellent advice from locals on what to see.

HOTEL THEODORE

1531 7th Ave.
Seattle, WA 98101
tel 206 621 1200
hoteltheodore.com