New hotels in Downtown

Downtown Seattle is the city's commercial and civic core, stretching from the Pike Place Market waterfront corridor east to the Washington State Convention Center and the retail blocks around Fifth Avenue. It's also the busiest stretch of the city for new hotel activity: six properties we track have opened here since 2016, from a 91-room adaptive reuse of a 1904 office tower to the 1,260-room Hyatt Regency Seattle, the largest hotel in the Pacific Northwest.

What to do downtown

For a weekend

Start early at Pike Place Market before the crowds build, then walk the market's Stewart Street entrance a block to Thompson Seattle for a coffee or a look at its faceted glass facade. The Seattle Art Museum and the downtown waterfront, including the ferry terminals, are a few minutes on foot from Hotel 1000 and The State Hotel. Save an evening for The Nest, Thompson Seattle's rooftop bar over Elliott Bay, or Charlotte Restaurant & Lounge on Lotte Hotel Seattle's top floor.

For a longer stay

With more time, the Washington State Convention Center anchors downtown's eastern edge, directly attached to Hyatt Regency Seattle — useful to know if a conference is the reason for the trip. Pioneer Square is a short walk south for the city's oldest architecture, and South Lake Union is a similarly short walk or streetcar ride north toward the Space Needle and Amazon's campus.

Where to stay in Downtown Seattle

Fifth Avenue & the retail core

Lotte Hotel Seattle occupies the lower 16 floors of the 44-story F5 Tower on Fifth Avenue, its 189 rooms designed almost entirely by Philippe Starck around a restored 1908 church folded into the building as a ballroom — the tower's original operator abandoned the project in 2017, and Lotte finally opened it in September 2020.

Pike Place Market corridor

Thompson Seattle opened in June 2016 at 110 Stewart Street, a block from the market's Stewart Street entrance, its faceted glass tower designed by local firm Olson Kundig. The State Hotel followed in April 2019 a few doors down at 1501 2nd Avenue, inside the restored 1904 Eitel Building — its first-ever use as a hotel after decades as offices, a billiard hall and vacant space. Hotel 1000 has operated on the waterfront at 1st Avenue since 2006, most recently rejoining Hyatt's Unbound Collection in January 2026 after stints under LXR and Loews.

Convention center & central business district

Hyatt Regency Seattle opened in December 2018 directly attached to the Washington State Convention Center's Arch Building, its 1,260 rooms across 45 stories built for group and convention business rather than leisure travelers. The Langham, Seattle Hotel & Residences, announced for 2026, will rise from the preserved facade of the 1916 Terminal Sales Annex Building minutes from Pike Place Market — Kengo Kuma's first Seattle project, though it has not yet broken ground.

Which hotel in Downtown Seattle for your trip

First-time visitors focused on the market and waterfront

Hotel 1000, Thompson Seattle and The State Hotel are all within a few minutes' walk of Pike Place Market and the downtown waterfront, putting the city's single busiest tourist stretch on the doorstep.

Convention and group travelers

Hyatt Regency Seattle's direct connection to the Washington State Convention Center makes it the default choice for anyone attending an event there, with two ballrooms over 19,000 square feet each.

Couples wanting a landmark, design-led stay

Lotte Hotel Seattle's Philippe Starck interiors and reused 1908 church ballroom make it downtown's most distinctive luxury option, with a top-floor restaurant for a special-occasion dinner.

Frequently asked questions

What is the newest hotel to open in Downtown Seattle?

Among hotels already open, AC Hotel Seattle Downtown (October 2024) sits just across the neighborhood's boundary in South Lake Union; within downtown's core, Lotte Hotel Seattle (September 2020) is the most recent. The Langham, Seattle Hotel & Residences is announced for 2026 but has not yet broken ground.

Which downtown Seattle hotel is closest to Pike Place Market?

The State Hotel, about 90 steps from the market's entrance, followed closely by Thompson Seattle and Hotel 1000, all within a few minutes' walk.

Is downtown Seattle walkable to the Washington State Convention Center?

Yes for most of the neighborhood, and Hyatt Regency Seattle is directly attached to it.

Which hotel is best for a special-occasion stay downtown?

Lotte Hotel Seattle, for its Philippe Starck-designed rooms and the restored 1908 church now serving as its ballroom and event space.

How far is downtown Seattle from Pioneer Square?

About a 10-15 minute walk south, into Pioneer Square.