1 Hotel Seattle: Where Luxury Meets the Pacific Northwest

Seattle has no shortage of solid hotel options — but very few that actually feel like Seattle. 1 Hotel Seattle, which opened in South Lake Union in spring 2025, is the rare exception. It's the kind of place that makes you want to slow down, breathe deeply, and pretend you live here permanently.

Here's everything you need to know before you book.

Sustainable Luxury

The concept is simple but executed beautifully: a luxury hotel built around nature, sustainability, and biophilic design. That means live plants (hundreds of them), reclaimed wood details at every turn, undyed fabrics, and a jaw-dropping two-story moss and wood mural in the lobby that stops guests in their tracks.

The sustainability ethos runs through every corner of the property — from recycled wine bottle carafes in the rooms to wooden room keys, hourglass shower timers, and a clothing donation initiative called "1 Less Thing." It's a hotel that clearly put in the work to back up its identity, and it shows.

Operating under the Starwood Hotels banner, 1 Hotel has properties across the US — but Seattle, with its deep-rooted Pacific Northwest culture and genuine love of the outdoors, might be where the brand feels most at home.

The Room

With 153 rooms and 45 suites across the property, there's a range of options to choose from. I booked a Cityscape King — a mid-tier room at around $550 per night — and found it to be one of the most comfortable and well-designed hotel rooms I've experienced.

At 360 square feet, the space is efficiently laid out without feeling cramped. The aesthetic is warm and neutral, anchored by hardwood floors, a wood-paneled headboard, and natural textures throughout. The plants are real, and they genuinely contribute to an atmosphere that feels more like a wellness retreat than a standard hotel stay.

Practical amenities are all accounted for: free WiFi, pet-friendly rooms, an in-room safe, a smart TV with Netflix and casting capability, and a foam roller and yoga mat in the wardrobe for the wellness-inclined. There's also an umbrella — because this is Seattle, and the hotel has thought of everything.

One upgrade worth considering: rooms with Space Needle views are available and, especially for first-time visitors, probably worth the splurge. My room faced Denny Way with only a partial glimpse of the needle — perfectly fine, but knowing what I know now, I'd book the view next time.

The Bathroom (A Highlight Worth Talking About)

If there's one thing that elevates 1 Hotel Seattle above its competitors, it might just be the bathroom. Finished in a rich combination of wood and marble, the space feels genuinely luxurious — with a deep soaking tub that opens to the bedroom and a rainfall shower stocked with Bamford toiletries, a collaboration between the hotel and the British wellness brand. The scent — geranium, lavender, peppermint, and tonka — lingers in the best possible way.

Small sustainability details make a big impression here. A filtered water tap beside the sink is paired with dark green carafes and tumblers crafted from recycled wine bottles. An hourglass timer built into the shower gently encourages mindful water use. Even the shower caps and cotton rounds come with tongue-in-cheek suggestions for reuse printed on their packaging.

Worth noting: despite looking and feeling like a spa at every turn, 1 Hotel Seattle doesn't have an actual spa. It's a surprising omission given the overall vibe. I made the most of it though, with some bath bombs and candles from the Whole Foods downstairs.

Food, Drinks & Amenities

The hotel's main dining options are Drift, an all-day café and cocktail bar just off the lobby, and La Loba, an in-house restaurant serving Spanish-inspired dishes made with locally sourced ingredients.

Drift is the more casual of the two, open from 6:30am daily (until midnight on weekends) and worth a visit for the cocktails alone. The menu balances familiar classics — a Paloma, a Negroni — with Seattle-specific creations like the Driftwood and the Puget Fog, both of which I'd recommend without hesitation. The outdoor patio is a lovely spot when the weather cooperates, and the staff strike that ideal balance of friendly and unobtrusive.

Beyond dining, the hotel offers a 24-hour gym (compact but well-equipped), Alo Wellness videos accessible through the 1 Hotel app, and — perhaps most unexpectedly — an in-house Audi Q6 E-tron available for guest use or test drives. The in-room Nespresso machine and complimentary snack trio (fruit, nuts, popcorn) are welcome additions, and with a Whole Foods on the ground floor, skipping the mini bar markups is easy enough.

Location

South Lake Union has quietly become one of Seattle's most interesting neighborhoods, and 1 Hotel sits right at its center. Amazon's Spheres are jusyt amfew blocks away, Pike Place Market and the waterfront are a short walk, and Lake Union is nearby. It's a location that gives you genuine access to the city without dropping you into the noise and congestion of downtown — a meaningful distinction if you're planning a longer stay.

The Bottom Line

1 Hotel Seattle is one of the most thoughtfully designed hotels in the city, and a strong contender for the best overall experience Seattle currently has to offer. The price — around $550 a night for a standard room — reflects that, and while it's certainly an investment, the combination of design, service, sustainability, and location makes a compelling case.

If you're looking for a hotel that captures what makes Seattle genuinely special, rather than just a place to sleep between sightseeing, this is it.

More Seattle hotel reviews — including Hotel 1000 and the Astra Hotel — coming soon. Have a favorite Seattle hotel? Leave it in the comments!