I slept with Bill Murray at Seattle’s Palladian Hotel.
Then I bumped into Bill Gates and Jimi Hendrix downstairs in the lobby.
Here’s the scoop:
Located in a former apartment building constructed in 1910, the Palladian is the newest lodging in Kimpton Hotels‘ Seattle portfolio. Opened in 2015 in a sturdy nine-story brick structure, this 97-room lodging mixes simple but stylish furnishings with a hefty dose of sass.
Take my celebrity encounters, for example. In the lobby, portraits of Microsoft founder Gates, rock star Hendrix, and other notables, dressed up as decorated military men, line the walls.
Actor Kelsey Grammer (aka TV’s Frasier) focuses his sardonic gaze on the counter where coffee and tea is set up for guests in the morning and a complimentary wine hour takes place in the afternoons.
In the guest rooms, every white duvet-topped bed features a pillow with a celeb as well. My “Bill Murray” sported a chest full of military medals and a hint of the actor’s trademark humor.
The snug rooms, which start at 265 square feet, feel spare, but have all the essentials and then some, from marble-topped bedside tables to outlet-equipped work desks to terry-lined bathrobes. A flat-screen TV sits on a chalkboard-style easel; a minibar and small safe are tucked into an armoire.
Although coffeemakers aren’t a standard amenity (since coffee is served in the lobby), you can request that a Keurig machine be sent up to your accommodations if you prefer your caffeine in-room.
In the standard rooms, you can choose either one king or two queen beds. Bathrooms are modern, with marble showers, brass fixtures, and illuminated make-up mirrors.
Premiere rooms, located on the upper floors, have peek-a-boo views of the Space Needle or the downtown waterfront. One-bedroom suites, measuring 450 square feet, are also available.
The Palladian is a short walk from Pike Place Market and other downtown Seattle destinations. You can hop on one of the hotel’s complimentary cruiser bikes if you’d like to explore further afield. Leave your car behind if you can; parking overnight at the Palladian will set you back $39/night.
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Even if I weren’t staying at the Palladian, I’d book a meal at the hotel’s Shaker + Spear Restaurant, where Executive Chef Carolynn Spence, formerly of Hollywood’s Chateau Marmot, is running the kitchen. Seafood is a specialty here, starting with fresh Pacific Northwest oysters or grilled octopus served atop white beans, and continuing with seasonal dishes like scallops in a savory lemon-caper sauce or arctic char paired with polenta and crispy sage leaves.
Shaker + Spear serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, as well as weekend brunch. The hotel also has a speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar, Pennyroyal, adjacent to the lobby.
Double room rates at the Palladian Hotel start at $212/night. Join Kimpton’s complimentary Karma Club frequent stay program to get free Wi-Fi; for non-members, the Palladian’s Wi-Fi costs $13.99 per day. You can also make reservations with Expedia, Booking.com or with IHG.
The opportunity to spend the night with Bill Murray, or tip your hat to Bill Gates, is available at no extra charge.
Hotel review by Vancouver-based travel, food, and feature writer Carolyn B. Heller, author of the books Moon Handbooks: Ontario (now available in a new 2nd edition) and Living Abroad in Canada. Her latest book, Moon Vancouver and Canadian Rockies Road Trip, will be published in 2016. Top photo courtesy of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. Other photos © Carolyn B. Heller. The Palladian hosted my stay for review purposes.
