Review: Thompson Hotel Seattle

There is a lot to like here but that bed looks kind of tragic. And why are hotels increasingly moving from carpeted floors to cheap laminate flooring, with no rugs under beds (as pictured here) or tables?

Given the breakfast prices, how is the $25 credit applied ? Is it $25 worth of items before tax/tip ? Essentially one entree and one drink ends up at $25. That’s quite a stretch to offer this little as a Prive breakfast benefit.

Your review confirmed that I made the right choice to stay at the Grand Hyatt during my last Seattle visit. I was undecided between the Thomson and Grand Hyatt Seattle. We also had a nice stay with lovely service at the Fairmont Olympic Seattle - very much recommend.

Rugs trap dust. Hard surface flooring is easier to clean and very much welcome in all hotels.

I'd strongly prefer the hotel provide disposable slippers and wrapped, sterile cups in the bathroom for toothbrushing. There's just too high of a chance that cups like the ones pictured were wiped down with the same rag that just cleaned the floor and the toilet. I'm writing this as someone who has been battling a bacterial infection for the last 3 weeks (and my doctor refuses to prescribe antibiotics).

I had a similarly lackluster experience at this hotel. Feels very dingy and run down.

I agree with this review. That lobby is so cramped and when there's all these after-workers waiting in line, it takes forever to get to your kinda-boring room. One note, one of Seattle's BEST restaurants, Le Pichet, is half a block away.

Hotel 1000 is nice, but it's too far away from everything. Doing anything will require a long walk. I usually end up staying at the Hyatt Regency - sure it's HUGE, but the room's are well designed, it's immaculate and close to everything. Inn At The Market used to be nice, but it's DESPERATEY in need of a refresh. DESPERATELY. The Pan Pacific Hotel is about to be redone and turn into a Kimpton property, so that's exciting. Hotel Andra is boring. Four Seasons is SO OVERPRICED for Seattle it's hard to wrap my head around. Sorento is fun - but then you're up on Capital Hill far away from downtown.

Honestly, I think Citizen M is well done in Seattle. I don't love it other places - but the public spaces are well designed and it has a fun location: SLU. Avoid the Westin - it's TRAGIC.

Tried it twice in the past few months as well and came to the same conclusion. It misses and is just not at all in the same league as the Texas properties. I won't return again. This one and the DC property are the two weakest in the Thompson portfolio in my opinion. Both feel very cramped and thrown together to me.

Good review, Ben. The Thompson is a decent hotel and definitely a fun place to stay if you're new to Seattle since the location is perfect for tourist things, but if you're willing to do a bit more walking and/or pay for Uber rides, it's definitely worth spending just a tad extra for Lotte, which -- in addition to easily being the nicest hotel in the PNW -- is probably one of the best properties in the USA period.

I also find the elevator access "area"(?) to be a bit awkward at the Thompson. Sounds like an odd thing to complain about but it's just not well designed.

One quick thing I should add -- since Thompsons are fairly rare, this hotel is easily worth one night if you're trying to climb the Hyatt brand explorer ladder.

Good tip about Citizen M -- I'll check that out. Four Seasons Seattle is shockingly overpriced even on a Tuesday night in the middle of February... it baffles me how anyone can justify staying there when there is such great competition in Seattle.

You nailed all of the essentials in Seattle. My go to is the Pan Pacific and has been for years. I have tried all the others and also the new Lotte (felt too impersonal and valet parking is a nightmare). SLU is honestly the best area of the city for hotel stays...totally agree.

Ben, your review really resonates with me; had similar feelings about our stay there in the summer of 2022. The hotel is very dark and a bit cold and depressing, and although the staff was friendly, I also felt like they were mailing it in a bit. Your comparison to a W is spot on. I prefer the Hyatt Regency to the Thompson, even though it is farther away from the waterfront and huge; it's brighter, at least. We're staying at Hotel 1000 for the first time this August (on points); I hope I enjoy it as much as you do. I've stayed in a lot of hotels in Seattle, and the Four Seasons is still my favorite by a large margin, although the bold pricing others mention has kept me from returning post-pandemic. I know, not a points hotel.

Actually just talked to the doorman at Pan Pacific. It’s going to become a 1Hotel. Not a Kimpton. Renovations and name change take place in late September.

Wow, Ben, I've never disagreed with you on a review as much as this one. My take is colored by the fact that this was my home away from home from 2018-2022 (during the travel-allowed times). The staff were warm and wonderful and always greeted me by name, starting with my first visit.

This was the first Thompson I ever stayed at, and I have sought them out ever since, though none of them have risen to the level of Seattle in my experience. I don't know what's up with the instant coffee, that's new since the last time I stayed in that room (which I have done more than once), it used to be a pod espresso machine (which I like about as much as instant coffee, so not a huge loss for me).

There are still doormen/valet parkers, don't know where they were when you checked in. I agree the the hotspot vibe on the Nest makes it less attractive, I only go up there during quiet times, the. bartenders know what they're doing. I dream about the avocado toast, and love the service and the food in the lobby restaurant. I like the finishes in the the room, I appreciate the stocked mini bar (a rarity these days), and I particularly like the decor and finishes in the bathroom. The gym is small, but I have only ever shared it with one other person and I appreciate the bands and pulley machine, which is not terribly common in hotels in my experience. I also love that I am two blocks from one of the best running routes in the world, along the bay.

The thing we agree on is the view. And it gets better with each higher floor. I have turned down suite upgrades (I'm a Globalist) for rooms on a higher floor. The one time a last minute booking put me in a room without a view was bad, there would be no reason to return to the hotel if that's what the rooms were.

I live just a couple blocks away. Seems like you didn’t need a reservation to get into The Nest?In the summer, reservations are essential. You have to start looking on the website at least 2-3 weeks out and hope you can find a date and time opening that will work with your schedule. And hope the weather holds out.

Quick reality check: most people aren't up at 5am.

While this is true, a hotel that apparently considers itself more or less a luxury property (although based on the pics, I do wonder how) should be able to serve coffee and snacks 24/7.

I know iPhone pictures are notoriously good at either making things look good or bad but I agree from some of the pictures it does look tired, the carpet in the corridor to your room is very worn in the high traffic area, same as the couches in the lobby, those deep scratches on the laminate flooring in your room too need attention.

Oh yay - avacodo toast, again.......................

Wrapped sterile cups for toothbrushing?? And where are these supplied?? How about putting your mouth under faucet like most people do
Glasses are replaced by cleaners, not touched with a rag. What is your point about 3 week infection that your doctor won't treat?? Sounds like you have paranoia issues.

Mouth under faucet? I’m afraid at 6’5” that’s a physical impossibility. I’m surprised nobody has come here to tell me that some dentists recommend not rinsing at all to keep fluoride on the teeth for longer. Those dentists are misguided, by the way.

I don’t have paranoia issues. Bacteria and fungi may cause infections in humans that last 3+ weeks. That’s simple science.

For Hyatt properties in Seattle, I prefer to stay in Olive 8. It may not be as modern as Thomspon but I enjoy a much better workout and more attentive customer service (their staff take care of Globalists very well based on my past experience).

How is booking a rate that included full breakfast but then receiving a breakfast credit that doesn't even cover the cost of breakfast not fraud? The Prive full breakfast benefit should, at the minimum, be the same as Globalist. Buffet or main entree, orange juice, water, and coffee plus tip and tax.

Outside of the stocked mini-bar, the rest of the room looked on par with a Delta, Sheraton, Crowne Plaza, etc. And, frankly, the decor looked more like a residential apartment than a hotel.

On short business trips to the West Coast, I'd always stay on east coast time. Easier to deal with emerging work issues coming from home before leaving for whatever meeting I was attending.

On a “fraud” bender today? I just saw your comment on Gary Leff’s post about Priceline.

A $25 credit covers enough of a breakfast. Orange juice is unhealthy; it’s not the same as eating a whole orange.

I made Partner at my firm without any caffeine, or any other drugs. If I can do it, you can too. Abstain from coffee.

Olive 8 is the way to go in downtown Seattle!

"A TAXABLE 20% GRATUITY WILL BE ADDED TO YOUR BILL IN WHICH 17% WILL BE RETAINED BY THE TEAM MEMBERS WHO SERVED YOU TODAY AND THE REMAINING 3% WILL GO TO THE HOTEL ADDITIONAL GRATUITY CAN BE ADDED"

That is so sleazy that not all of the gratuity even goes to the restaurant staff. Gratuity, by definition, is a tip given to a service worker, not additional margin collected by a company...

It shouldn’t be taxed either. This money grab alone would stop me from ever eating at the hotel.

And sales tax in Seattle is 10.35%.

Good job booking the Thompson for $236. I've been to Seattle 4 times this winter/spring and have been trying to stay at the Thompson for my brand explorer credit. It's never been under $300. When the Olive 8 has been $200, I can't justify the extra $100-$150 for the Thompson to turn in for the expense report.

They have a Fellow pullover kettle, which is not cheap stuff for coffee.
They should have some pre-grounded packs, or drip bag coffees. Could be a perm cost down, or just one time stocking fluke.
I’d call to ask about the coffee situation.

I'm failing to see a good use of the $100 Privè credit. There are many better restaurants nearby and the crowd at Nest makes it seem unpleasant.

I just stayed at the Hotel 1000, which was far more intimate and genial than the experience you described. Excellent rooms with a Nespresso machine, excellent beds and good views of Puget Sound. Absolutely delightful, personalized service, too. It’s well worth a visit.