To be in the heart of the action downtown and get a swanky room with a view, check out The Charter Hotel Seattle, Curio Collection by Hilton.
This high-rise hotel is a quick walk away from Pike Place Market, the popular tourist site with fishmongers tossing their wares and the site of the original Starbucks. The location means you’ll have plenty of options for drinking, dining, and shopping. Just past the Kuhl store is the winning name restaurant “Hot as PHO.”
The lobby is not huge, but it’s an attractive space that shares some features with The Porter Hotel in Portland, also a Curio Collection property. The focal point at both is a giant clock on the wall, so maybe they wanted something to point to when non-Hilton Honors guests try to check in early. If you want a snack or a drink to take back to your room, there’s a small store by the reception desk.
Charter Seattle Dining and Drinking
Unfortunately, as with The Porter, the big restaurant space that dominates the first floor was not open during our stay for lunch or dinner. Apparently, it closed during the pandemic lockdown times and never re-opened. Staffers had no idea when it would be possible to get a drink at the bar there or dine in during a rainstorm. So ignore the part on the Hilton website that says, “Our upscale restaurant serves modern Argentine cuisine.” On the plus side, it is open for breakfast if you don’t want to venture out.
Instead, you’ll take the elevator to the top 16th floor for the Fog Room, a trendy rooftop spot that focuses on mixology, craft beer, and wine from Washington.
The focus at The Fog Room is on the drinks, but I did see some nice-looking plates coming out to customers while I sipped at the bar. They are mostly small plates and items meant to be shared, such as Pacific oysters, crispy Brussels sprouts, and lamb meatballs. The limited menu does have a burger, a salad, and a roasted king salmon, among a few other full-meal items. The venue has its own website here.
The gleaming bar is beautiful with its lit-up fine liquor bottles, but it’s the view outside that’s the big draw. When the weather is nice, take advantage of it and sit outside and get a view like this:
There’s no pool at this property, but there’s a well-equipped fitness center if you want to get a workout in.
Rooms and Suites at The Charter Hotel Seattle
The rooms are the real star at this downtown Seattle hotel. In an area with plenty of worthy competitors in that department, this AAA 4-diamond property competes well by delivering a bit more than you expected from a Hilton property. There are robes and slippers in all rooms, always welcome, and the TV is a full 50-inch diagonal one. The bedding is actually from the company’s Waldorf-Astoria collection, so you can sleep like a jet-setter.
One wall is floor-to-ceiling glass in most of the rooms, so the higher up you are, the better view you’ll probably have. Some rooms face the water and corner suites get a view in two directions. There are a few nods to the Pacific Northwest in the ample wood and the artwork. The carpet is an abstract city street map and there’s a leather padded headboard behind the bed.
The standards start at 360 square feet, so you won’t be cramped here. There’s room for an armchair or two, a floor lamp, and a built-in desk area with a nice leather chair. A mini fridge, safe, and Keurig coffeemaker are included in all room classes.
Step up to a suite though and you’ll really have room to spread out.
The suites are quite luxurious, with interesting furniture in a full living room, a dining table, a separate desk, and a Marshall Bluetooth speaker. The suite bathroom will make you feel like you’re in a true high-end hotel though with its large bathtub and separate shower. There’s a rain shower head and a handheld one, plus the suites have two sinks.
As with a lot of U.S. hotels these days, there aren’t a lot of staffers around and housekeeping is now upon request at most Hilton brands chainwide. During normal times though, most guests are business travelers in for some meetings or leisure travelers who are going to be exploring the city. Either way, the hotel is meant to be a resting place, not a destination, and there’s plenty within a few blocks to draw you out the door.
Speaking of getting around, there’s a light rail station nearby and it’s easy to get a taxi, Uber, or Lyft. Go with one of those or your feet: parking prices are so stratospheric here that we cannot recommend this hotel to anywhere bringing their own car or a rental. Overnight parking rates are $55—before taxes!
Rates at the Charter Hotel Seattle usually start between $185 and $220, plus a “Daily Mandatory Urban Destination Charge” of $25. You can get that charge back though as a credit if you dine at the Fog Room restaurant. Suites start at $390 and are worth the upgrade for a special experience you’ll remember.
See more information at the official Hilton site or check prices online at Hotels.com.
Review and photos by editor Tim Leffel. He was hosted at the property one night for purposes of review but all opinions are his own.
