When it comes to luxury hotels in Seattle, the Fairmont Olympic Hotel is a crown jewel of the city that’s storied in history and tradition.
If you’re planning a trip to the Pacific Northwest, look no further than the Fairmont Olympic Hotel with its old world charm and Italian renaissance architectural design.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the hotel has hosted everyone from Presidents to celebrities since 1924 in the heart of downtown Seattle.
A friend and I decided to visit ‘Emerald City’ for a weekend getaway – the first time for both of us.
After landing at Seattle-Tacoma Airport early in the morning, we caught an Uber into the city, about a 30-minute ride.
The hotel can be found in the heart of the financial district, which is footsteps from the city’s best shops, restaurants and attractions such as Pike Place Market.
Walking into the lobby for the first-time was awe-inspiring as classic elegance melded with mid-century modern décor.
Most of the original lobby has been kept in tact – the high ceilings and chandeliers take center stage.
After checking-in, we caught the elevator to the 11th floor to find our Executive Suite, the most common room type at the property.
These recently renovated suites are well-appointed and offer separated living and sleeping spaces, perfect for business meetings or hospitality suites for small groups.
The suite featured one elegantly furnished bedroom with a spacious marble bathroom featuring a rainfall shower and Le Labo amenities.
The bedroom was separated from the sitting area by soft-close sliding barn-style doors.
The sitting room was furnished with a modern sofa (most with pull-out sleeper), modern wing chair and work desk featuring Ethernet connectivity and a separate ChargePort including USB outlets.
After unpacking, we made our way to the lower ground level of the hotel to Belle Epicurean for an early lunch – it serves up classic French pastries and American sandwiches. The Croque Monsieur and vegetarian baguette were both a delight.
Once we finished eating, we decided to explore the hotel before heading out for the day.
Fun fact: the hotel recently completed a full room and corridor renovation on July 1, 2016.
Upon request, we were able to tour the signature 3,000 foot Olympic Suite.
This is one of two premium suites that offer a very well appointed one bedroom with king size bed with the availability to add a second bedroom. The spacious parlor has special touches such as a decorative fireplace, large picture windows, a grand piano and a beautiful dining area.
The Olympic Suite at Fairmont Olympic Hotel can accommodate a reception of up to 40 people, perfect for celebrations. The dining area can seat 12 guests.
After snapping photos, we were treated to a special tour of the top (12th) floor. Here you’ll find offices and a business center that has self-service computer use (Internet access included), computer rentals, printing, secretarial services, courier services, photocopies, facsimile use and conference room rental.
However, our special tour got us a sneak peek at the closed-to-the-public rooftop that’s home to the chef’s garden and beekeeping.
There are fresh herbs and vegetables growing in various recycled buckets and containers along the sides of the top of the roof – a culinary project under the guidance of executive chef Gavin Stephenson.
Honeybee hives were installed in recent years and the program continues to flourish – the hotel has even struck up a partnership with Seattle Cider Company to produce Olympic Honey Cider from honey made on the rooftop.
When it comes to dining options to enjoy the on-property grown produce (and honey), you’ll find The Georgian on the ground floor, which is known for French-inspired Northwest cuisine.
It has an inspired regional wine list and flawlessly executed friendly service in Seattle’s premier dining room.
The Georgian also offers The Petite, an exclusive private dining room with seating for up to 12 that is perfect for an intimate get together.
Open for breakfast, lunch and tea, The Georgian is celebrated as the only downtown Seattle location to offer traditional tea.
While on the topic of the main lobby, we visited The Terrace a few times during our stay.
It boasts unique takes on classic cocktails, savory bites that are perfect for sharing or as a full meal and live music Thursdays through Saturdays.
Stop in during happy hour and enjoy some of the best drink and food specials in downtown Seattle.
Finally, on the lower level near Belle Epicurean is Shuckers, one of Seattle’s oldest and best oyster bars.
It boasts beautifully carved oak paneling and unique tin ceiling of the haberdashery it was in the 1930’s.
Check out its daily menu featuring a selection of fresh fish, seafood, 13 different kinds of oysters prepared nine different ways and local artisan microbrews.
Want to work out during your stay? The Health Club at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel offers plenty of equipment and facilities for use during your stay.
Located on the second floor of the hotel, the 10,800 square foot facility includes a swimming pool, whirlpool, cardio machines featuring CD and DVD capabilities and men’s and women’s locker rooms and saunas.
Since we all know it rains in Seattle, there’s an on-property spa and wellness center for ‘splashing out’ before any special event or enjoying the city’s nightlife.
Penelope & The Beauty Bar boasts 3,000+ square feet of pampering space, the spa contains European-designed body slimming machines and non-surgical facial toning devices, stations for massage, sugaring and nail treatments including Natural nails or Shellac, and luxurious mink or silk lash extensions.
One final perk worth mentioning: the hotel offers a luxurious car service for pick-up and drop-off within a few miles radius of the property. It’s the perfect way to get to the Space Needle or any of Seattle’s nearby neighborhoods such as Capitol Hill and Belltown.
The Fairmont Olympic Hotel is located at 411 University Street, Seattle.
For more information, visit www.fairmont.com/seattle.