Pan Pacific Seattle

Walk into the lobby of this sleekly designed hotel, and you’ll immediately notice the abundance of pale limestone, polished wood, contemporary art, and minimalist couches and chairs in a palette of earth tones -- all soaked in natural light -- which give the place a sophisticated midcentury-modern aesthetic. An elegant in-wall fireplace, architectural chandelier, purposefully unfinished wood table, and large-scale op art add to the lobby's graphic appeal. The hotel is situated in the middle of a multi-use complex that mingles condos, cleaners, and coffee shops, and while proximity to those vendors certainly make things convenient -- there’s everything from a Whole Foods supermarket to a Starbucks to a FedEx location steps outside the door -- they're hardly the kind of posh surroundings that would enhance a luxurious stay. On the other hand, if you book wisely, you’ll end up with a postcard-worthy view of the iconic Space Needle (a true score on New Year’s Eve, when it hosts an annual fireworks display), and that just may compensate for whatever ambiance is lacking in the immediate area.

It’s not that you can’t get to everything easily from this northern Belltown location (just below the border with South Lake Union location, a.k.a. "SLU"). It’s that, unlike some of the other downtown hotels, such as the Sheraton or Grand Hyatt, nothing is right out the door -- including all the charm the Emerald City has to offer, like the Pike Place Market, waterfront, and renowned art museum. In fact, the neighborhood in which the admittedly elegant Pan Pacific sits is downright business-oriented, so unless visitors have work-related meetings in the area, it's hard to see why anyone would choose this particular hotel over one that’s more attractively situated. With that said, the Pan Pacific does run a free daily shuttle service to and from the downtown area.- One block from the Seattle Street Trolley that will take you to the heart of downtown Seattle

• 11-minute walk to the Nordstrom Downtown Seattle, Nordstrom's flagship store
• 15-minute walk (or six-minute drive) to the Space Needle
• 15- to 20-minute walk (or seven-minute drive) to Pike Place Market, Seattle Art Museum, and shopping
• 22-minute walk (or seven-minute drive) to waterfront, ferries, and cruise terminals
• 26-minute drive to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

There's not a trace of clutter or gaudiness to be found in the 153 earth-toned guest rooms and suites at the Pan Pacific. Instead, clean, spare design dominates: understated wood dressers, soft blue bed runners, oatmeal-colored armchairs. The lighting scheme is impressive, with amber blown-glass table lamps, floor lamps with linen shades, and tiny chrome reading lights on either side of the bed. The striped blue, cream, green, and brown carpeting brings to mind the pattern of woodgrain. All rooms are equipped with Hypnos beds with 360-count Egyptian-cotton sheets (pillow menu available), desks with Herman Miller chairs, 42-inch LCD HDTVs, Keurig coffeemakers, and free Wi-Fi. The chic, peek-a-boo bathrooms have wide marble countertops, Japanese soaking tubs, separate walk-in rainfall showers, and separate water closets. Some may find that the peek-a-boo bathrooms lack privacy: A sliding screen opens so you can enjoy the view from the tub or watch TV, but the screen barely muffles sound when closed. Upgrade to a Balcony Studio Suite, which has a fully private bathroom with its own window looking outside, and it won't be a problem. Other conveniences in all rooms include personal temperature controls, minibars, USB ports, extra outlets, laptop safes, and in the bathrooms there are bathrobes, hairdryers, magnifying mirrors, and Embrace toiletries. Room service is available 24/7.

The Lobby Bar at Pan Pacific is a bit misleadingly named -- it's a lobby bar, yes, but it also acts as a full-scale restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as drinks and daily happy hours. More nature-inspired design elements are on beautiful display here: wood panels, stone details, saffron-colored walls, and an origami pendant light. The Lobby Bar has seasonal outdoor seating and offers 24-hour room service.The large gym is open 24 hours a day; its up-to-date equipment includes treadmills, elliptical trainers, bike machines, a rowing machine, a multi-use weight system, free weights, and a stretching mat. The main workout area features a large wall-mounted flat-screen TV (in addition to the TVs attached to many of the machines), chilled towels, and a filtered water machine. The fitness center includes men's and women's locker rooms, each with its own sauna, as well as showers, towels, magnifying mirrors, scales, and hairdryers. In a separate room is a tile-floored whirlpool, decorated with plants and Asian-inspired statues.The Pan Pacific has ample corporate conveniences, such as 5,000 square feet of function space (including a ballroom). Located near the front desk, a 24-hour business center features two semi-private work desks, each with an iMac computer and a printer. There is a Starbucks right next to the lobby, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Hourly and overnight valet parking is available for a fee. Pets are allowed in rooms for a deposit (no size limit), and the hotel provides dog beds, plus free treats and even one free walk.