Seattle, Washington
Seattle,
the largest city in the Pacific Northwest, is a leading center
for advanced technology in fields like aerospace, computer
software and biotechnology. While Downtown is compact and
walkable with high-rises and a convention center, business
is increasingly done further afield in Seattle's Eastside,
a high-tech hotbed Microsoft calls home. Eastside towns like
Redmond, Bellevue and Kirkland can be reached via either the
Mercer Island Bridge (Interstate 90) or the Evergreen Floating
Bridge (Highway 520).
Facts
to Know Before You Go |
Transportation:
Taxis
and Shuttles:
Cabs
can be found across the terminal’s skybridge
at the Ground Transportation Plaza. The approximate
fare to Downtown Seattle is $30; to Bellevue, $35.
Shuttle Express provides door-to-door service to
Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond and other Seattle suburbs.
Vans pick up at the Ground Transportation Plaza
24 hours per day on demand. Expect to pay about
$25 to reach Downtown Seattle and between $16- $26
to Bellevue.
Limousines:
Take
a limo for the price of a taxi. Prices run about
$30 for a trip to Downtown Seattle and between $40-$50
to Bellevue. Reservations are not required. Upon
arrival, just dial 55 from any courtesy phone. Drivers,
stationed at the airport, will pick you up at your
baggage claim location or at the Ground Transportation
Plaza.
Rental
Cars:
Several companies—Alamo, Avis, Budget, Hertz
and National—have information counters in
the baggage claim area and have pick-up and drop-off
centers in the parking garage. Offsite companies—Advantage,
Dollar, Enterprise and Thrifty—run courtesy
vans on demand from the Ground Transportation Plaza. |
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Information:
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Internet:
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wireless high-speed Internet access in every terminal
and at every gate, Sea-Tac is one of the most Internet
friendly airports in the country. |
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|  Alexis
Hotel
1007 First Ave. (Madison St. )
206-624-4844 Book
a room
 Not
only is this luxury boutique hotel near many of Seattle’s
major attractions, it’s also one of them. Art
is the focus here with original works in guestrooms
and throughout the hotel's public spaces. The 109 accommodations
have a standard mix of luxury hotel amenities, including
bathrobes, cordless phones and high-speed Internet access,
but the real attractions are the specialty suites: Book
the Miles Davis Suite which features art by the musician
himself, the Author’s Suite, designed for touring
authors, or the Sultan of Brunei Suite, which was redecorated
just for his stay.
Hyatt
Regency Bellevue
900 Bellevue Way NE (NE Eighth St.)
Bellevue, WA 98004
425-462-1234 Book
a room
This mega-hotel is located in a three-building Eastside
complex of monoliths—which includes conference
space, stores, restaurants, offices and a health club—right
across the street from the mega-mall of Bellevue Square.
A surprisingly small and comfortable lobby, adorned
with dark tile floors and Asian accents, creates a sense
of intimacy not found in the rest of the hotel. The
emphasis here is on business (big biz, that is), beginning
with more than 17,000 square-feet of meeting space.
The rooms are spacious and practical with a sitting
area, work desk, high-speed Internet access and all
the other goodies today’s active conference-goer
can’t live without.
 The
Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle
411 University St. (Fourth Ave.)
206-621-1700 Book
a room
 Around
the corner from the bustling Pike Place Market, this
luxurious Italian Renaissance building was constructed
in the 1920s on the site of what had been the University
of Washington’s first building. Its ornate lobby
features 30-foot-tall ceilings and two curving staircases
that open onto elegant meeting rooms. The 450 bright,
elegant and spacious rooms feature antique furniture,
original art, large closets, two or more phones and
free high-speed Internet access. Afternoon tea is served
in The
Georgian, and The Terrace stirs up some of the best
martinis in town.
Seattle
Marriott Waterfront
2100 Alaskan Wy. (Union St.)
206-443-5000, 800-455-8254 Book
a room
 This
waterfront hotel blends great style (imported Italian
glass “murals,” intricately carved headboards
and the like) with lots of business-friendly amenities,
such as a Concierge Level, Wi-Fi access and spacious
work desks. You’ll find a wealth of meeting spaces
on their own dedicated lower level, and just steps from
the front door are the Trade Center and Bell Harbor
International Conference Center. All rooms have views
of the city, Mt. Rainier and/or Olympic mountains. And
when you’re not talking shop with fellow executives,
you can grab a bite to eat at the onsite Fish
Club, hop on the trolley, which runs in front of
the hotel, or stroll down to the ferry terminal and
take a ride across Elliott Bay.
Sorrento
Hotel
900 Madison St. (Terry St.)
206-622-6400 Book
a room
 As
Seattle’s oldest, continuously operating luxury
hotel, the Sorrento appropriately evokes the quiet atmosphere
of a traditional men’s club. While décor
may be formal, no modern luxury is overlooked. Each
room comes with convenient business must-haves like
a cordless phone, high-speed Internet access, a CD player,
office supplies and an all-in-one fax/scanner/printer/copy
machine. Unexpected extras like compilation CDs, a French
press coffee maker, 400-thread-count linens and seven
down pillows of varying firmness make relaxing as easy
as working. If you must leave your room, try The
Fireside Room for daily high tea or live jazz on
the weekends. For fine dining, you can’t go wrong
with the Hunt
Club, one of the city’s best restaurants.
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HOTEL SPECIALS
Grand Hyatt Seattle
This luxury hotel was designed especially for corporate business travelers and is located right next to the convention center. the guestrooms are bright and spacious. As well, they have lots of great gimmicks including doorbells and Do Not Disturb lights that you can turn on before turning in. Feeling lazy in the morning? You can raise the blinds by using a switch near the bed. |
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The
Georgian
The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle
411 University St. (4th Ave.)
206-621-7889 |
13/20
$$$$$ |
 For
sumptuous old-world luxury there are few places in Seattle
that can match the formal dining room of The
Fairmont Olympic Hotel (formerly Four Seasons). The
gilt-edged room is vast, yet each spacious, beautifully
appointed table seems private and intimate. Try signature
Northwest dishes such as Dungeness crab bisque ladled
from a tureen tableside and garnished with thickened cream
and caviar; or thick-cut, cold-smoked, poached salmon
bathed in apple brandy sauce. Some of the other options
are smashing: black and white truffles shaved over a creamy
vegetarian risotto; rabbit ravioli in an intense reduction
sauce garnished with truffle and foie gras. The wine cellar
has extraordinary breadth and depth. |
Downtown’s longest running steakhouse is beloved
by the steak-and-stogie set that populates the surrounding
financial district. The Dow Jones average is tracked in
the big, boisterous bar, where the martinis are exceptional
and happy hour can stretch long into the evening. Try
the house specialty, prime, dry-aged corn-fed beef grilled
over Mexican mesquite charcoal. Steaks and chops are nicely
done and available in petite cuts. If you must have something
other than meat, the grilled catch-of-the-day is usually
reliable. The wine list is long on reds and hard on the
wallet, but you don’t hear the business-types complaining.
For afters, consider a chocolate martini. |
Canlis
2576 Aurora Ave. N.
206-283-3313 |
15/20
$$$$$ |
 Filled
with Northwest art and blessed with one of the most breathtaking
views in the city, the atmosphere oozes sophistication
and quiet elegance. The kitchen sends out a New York steak
that is arguably the best in Seattle, along with seared,
rare, sashimi-grade ahi that is sublime. Still, Canlis
remains firmly dedicated to its Northwest roots, with
dishes like orange-buttered Dungeness crab cakes and pear-shaped
chicken, boned and stuffed with forest mushrooms and green
peppercorn. After dinner, make your way to the Steinway
in the bar and enjoy a brandy accompanied by live music.
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 It’s
not hard to find El Gaucho, even in restaurant-saturated
Belltown: just look for the limos lined up in front of
what appears to be a warehouse (it’s really a converted
union hall). Inside, the tiered dining room rises like
an amphitheater from the fire-breathing display kitchen,
and servers parade up and down the steps bearing such
retro classics as flaming lamb shish kebab, Chateaubriand
for two and oysters Rockefeller. Though we are partial
to the dry-aged porterhouse, fish is handled with equal
finesse: three choices are offered nightly, plus a respectable
Northwest bouillabaisse and an 18-ounce Australian lobster
tail. To finish with a tasty blast from the past, try
bananas Foster for dessert. |
 Fish, fish, fish...and fish. The seas, oceans, lakes and
creeks of the world all surrender their bounty to The
Oceanaire’s menu. Depending on the season, expect
to find Samoan spearfish, New Zealand swordfish, Costa
Rican mahi mahi, Alaskan halibut, Oregon petrale sole,
Cook Inlet sablefish, Brazilian ono, Dungeness crab, Maine
lobster, and so much more. All are extremely fresh and
cooked to your liking in every conceivable fashion: fried,
steamed, stewed, broiled, braised, "au court bouillon,"
and, of course, raw. The Oceanaire boasts an expansive—and
expensive—mostly American wine list. If you are
in the mood for fish and using an expense account, this
is a fine place to dine. |
Rover's
2808 E. Madison St.
206-325-7442 |
16/20
$$$$$ |
 One
of Seattle’s premier dining destinations lurks in
an unassuming house in an equally unpretentious neighborhood.
Inside, a festive mood prevails in the softly lit dining
room. From its opening gambit (scrambled eggs with white
sturgeon caviar and lime crème fraîche) through
course after astonishing course (Maine lobster and veal
sweetbread with bamboo root and curry-ginger nage; seared
scallop with creamed celeriac, duck prosciutto and Perigord
truffle; venison medallions with foie gras and Armagnac
sauce) to the symphony of sweets at the end, the nine-course
grand tasting menu teases, tempts, and ultimately seduces
as completely as a practiced courtesan. Sounds too daunting?
There’s a six-course alternative as well as a vegetarian
option. |
 The
swankiest of chef Tom Douglas’s four-restaurant
empire, Dahlia has a small bar, a private dining room
and a retail bakery next door. One of the loveliest dining
rooms in Seattle, the sexy Dahlia has deep Chinese red
walls, cheery lanterns, and plenty of banquettes, perfect
for snuggling. The menu changes daily but expect dishes
like scallop sashimi, yuzu and shiso; veal sweetbreads;
roasted monkfish with sweet corn sauce and chanterelle
mushroom hash. Don’t miss the Belgian fries, served
with a piquant curry ketchup. Desserts include made-to-order
doughnuts with honey-tangerine jam and vanilla mascarpone.
As with the other restaurants in the Douglas family, count
on relaxed and friendly but always professional service. |
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Kenmore
Air Seaplanes
Lake Union Terminal
950 Westlake Avenue
425-486-1257
Downtown may be easy to explore on foot, but for something
different, see Seattle from a seaplane. Twenty-minute
tours depart from Lake Union and offer bird’s
eye views of Downtown and the area’s waterfronts,
bridges and ferries. Have a little more time? Take a
day trip to the San Juan Islands and experience the outdoors
while kayaking, whale watching, hiking or fishing. Other
tours include Victoria Island, Vancouver or even Alaska’s
Inside Passage. Both scheduled and charter services
are available.
Pike
Place Market
First and Pike
206-682-7453
This nine-acre farmer’s market has been a waterfront
institution since 1907. Local farmers, fishermen and
artisans still flock here each morning to sell their
stock amongst nearly 200 bustling stalls and shops.
Whether you’re looking for produce, flowers or
fish, chances are your goods were picked, plucked or
hooked earlier in the day. Take a market heritage tour
and get shopping tips along with a dose of the market’s
intriguing history. If you’re hoping to try something
more offbeat, this is still your place; you can get
a tattoo or even have your palm read all before lunch.
Jefferson
Park Golf Course
4101 Beacon Ave. S.
206-762-4513
Jefferson Park Golf Course, in Beacon Hill, offers incredible
views of both Mt. Rainier and the city skyline. Built
in 1915, the 18-hole championship course is the oldest
public course in town. Its tree-lined fairways are wide
and flat, and the clubhouse is a little out of date,
but with breathtaking scenery and some exciting play,
this remains one of Seattle’s most popular courses.
You’ll also find a nine-hole par 3 executive course
and putting green on-site.
Gene
Juarez Salon and Spa
607 Pine St.
206-326-6000
Surrounded by Belltown’s stylish shops and trendy
restaurants, the Gene Juarez Salon and Spa is the place
for sophisticated pampering. Inside is so Seattle with
its coffee-colored palette and inviting fireplaces.
Try an algae body mask or herbal scrub before rinsing
off under the popular Vichy shower’s triple rain
bar. The hot stone massage is yet another indulgent
option.
Toi
1904 4th Ave.
206-267-1017
One of Seattle's hottest lounges, Toi offers two-floors
of Asian décor, dining and drinking. Red walls,
antique medical journals and historic maps of Siam adorn
the rooms, and entrees include delectable Thai classics
like Phad Thai, Tom Ka Soup and Papaya Salad. At night,
DJs play everything from House to Hip Hop and R&B
while guests sip designer cocktails—with a Thai
twist of course. Try a martini flavored with jasmine,
lychee or even lemongrass.
|
Ready to book a trip now?
Click here for exclusive savings. |
 Going to Washington? Check our Guide. |
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(Updated: 05/16/08 HC) |
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