After leaving Las Vegas and our much larger resort-style accommodations, we arrived in Seattle for a completely different hotel experience—and I'm really glad we did.
We're staying at Hotel Theodore, a historic boutique hotel right in the heart of downtown Seattle and part of Hilton's Tapestry Collection.
And this place has personality!
It's eclectic. It's historic. It's a little quirky. It's beautifully designed.
And I love it!
First, What Is Hilton's Tapestry Collection?
I hadn't really paid much attention to Hilton's Tapestry Collection before staying here, but now I understand the appeal.
Tapestry Collection is essentially a collection of independent boutique hotels that get to keep their own identity while being part of the Hilton family.
Instead of making every property look and feel the same, Hilton describes Tapestry hotels as having their own original stories, with the personality of each location reflected through its design, décor, art and food.
In other words:
You get the personality of an independent boutique hotel with the benefits of Hilton behind it.
That also means Hilton Honors members can still earn and redeem points and receive applicable Hilton Honors benefits.
I really like this concept.
When I travel, I don't necessarily want to wake up in a hotel room and have to remind myself what city I'm in. I want the hotel to feel like it belongs to the place I'm visiting.
Hotel Theodore definitely does.
Hotel Theodore Has a Story
This isn't a new hotel pretending to look old.
The building opened in 1929 as the Roosevelt Hotel and was designed by prominent Seattle architect John Graham Sr. The 18-story building was actually Seattle's tallest hotel for decades.
After extensive renovations, it reopened as Hotel Theodore in 2017.
Today, the design mixes the building's history with a much more modern, industrial, eclectic style.
Even the artwork has a Seattle connection. The hotel's collection was curated in partnership with Seattle's Museum of History & Industry and celebrates the city's history of makers, builders, inventors and innovators.
Once I learned that, the unusual décor made even more sense.
This hotel isn't just decorated.
It's telling a Seattle story.
The Location Is Fantastic
This is one of Hotel Theodore's biggest wins for me.
We're right in the heart of downtown Seattle and were able to walk to Pike Place Market.
For the way I like to travel, that's huge.
I love being able to walk out of a hotel and immediately start exploring instead of figuring out transportation every single time we want to do something.
Restaurants, coffee, shopping and some of Seattle's best-known attractions are right around us.
For a Seattle sightseeing trip, the location is hard to beat.
The Rooms Are Small—And That's Okay
Our room is definitely smaller than the accommodations we just left in Las Vegas.
But comparing the two wouldn't really be fair.
This is a historic downtown boutique hotel built in 1929. I'm not expecting a giant resort-style room with an enormous kitchen and sprawling living space.
What matters more to me is whether the space works.
And ours does.
It's comfortable, thoughtfully designed and continues that eclectic style found throughout the rest of the hotel.
We also have an espresso machine in the room, which earns immediate bonus points from Lucia.
Because Seattle.
Coffee feels mandatory here.
We Slept!
It was quiet.
For a hotel in the middle of downtown Seattle, we had a surprisingly peaceful night's sleep.
After four days of walking all over Las Vegas and then traveling again, a comfortable, quiet night was exactly what we needed.
Sometimes the best hotel amenity isn't something glamorous.
Sometimes it's simply sleeping really well.
The Staff
The staff has been incredibly friendly.
That's one of those things that can completely change the feeling of a hotel stay. You can have beautiful décor and a perfect location, but if every interaction feels cold or transactional, it affects the entire experience.
That hasn't been the case here.
Everyone we've encountered has been welcoming and helpful, which fits the relaxed boutique feel of the property.
Lucia Tested the Fitness Center
Lucia used the hotel's fitness center.
I did not.
I currently have a slipped disc and pinched nerve, so you will not find me voluntarily entering any room containing exercise equipment during this vacation.
I have places to go.
I cannot afford to go down now. 😂
Possibly the Cutest Pet Policy Ever
I don't have pets with me on this trip, but I have to mention Hotel Theodore's pet policy because this made me smile.
The hotel welcomes pets with a pet bed, bowls, a toy, a treat and a list of local pet resources.
That's not just "pets allowed."
That's basically:
Welcome to Seattle, tiny furry traveler. Here's your stuff.
I freakin love this!
This Hotel Has Earned Some Recognition, Too
Hotel Theodore's personality hasn't gone unnoticed.
The property has previously been recognized by Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards, including recognition among hotels in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, and it has appeared on U.S. News & World Report's Best Hotels in Seattle and Best Hotels in Washington lists.
And after staying here, I can understand why.
So, How Do I Rate a Hotel Like This?
I've decided I don't want my hotel ratings to be comparisons between properties.
That wouldn't make sense.
A giant Las Vegas vacation resort and a historic boutique hotel in downtown Seattle are designed to provide completely different experiences.
So going forward, my rating is going to answer one question:
How well did this hotel deliver the experience it promised?
For Hotel Theodore, I'm giving it:
9/10
Location: Excellent
Walkability: Excellent
Personality & Design: 10/10
Staff: Friendly and welcoming
Sleep: Quiet and comfortable
Room Size: Small, but appropriate for this style of hotel
Coffee Situation: Espresso machine in the room = yes
Pets: Welcomed like Family!
Would I stay here again? Absolutely.
The only suggestion I have is to change out the bath towels. They are small and rough.
What stands out most to me isn't one particular amenity.
It's that Hotel Theodore doesn't feel generic.
It feels like Seattle.
There's history here. There's personality. There's interesting art and décor. You can walk out the front door and explore the city. And when you return at the end of the day, you're coming back to somewhere that feels a little different from anywhere else you've stayed.
That's exactly what Hilton's Tapestry Collection is supposed to be.
And Hotel Theodore absolutely understood the assignment.
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