4* Hotel Sorrento

For a completely different Seattle stay, swap the big downtown hotels for this handsome early-1900s house in Capitol Hill. Seattle Gaslight Inn has just nine individually styled rooms, giving it an intimate bed-and-breakfast feel, with beautiful original woodwork, inviting shared spaces and a surprisingly lovely heated outdoor pool and patio. The location is particularly good for LGBTQ+ travellers. You’re already in Capitol Hill, with the main gay bars, clubs and queer nightlife around Pike/Pine within walking distance, while Capitol Hill light rail makes trips into downtown straightforward. Rooms range from more affordable options using a detached shared bathroom to larger rooms and suites with private facilities, so it’s worth checking exactly which category you’re booking. GayMapper tip: This is the one to choose if you want to actually stay in the neighbourhood rather than travel over from downtown each night.

For somewhere with real character rather than another contemporary city hotel, Hotel Sorrento is one of Seattle’s loveliest options. This independent landmark has been welcoming guests since 1909, with just 76 individually styled rooms and suites filled with period details, vintage furnishings and marble bathrooms. The First Hill location also works particularly well for LGBTQ+ visitors. Downtown is close by, while Capitol Hill and the main gay nightlife around Pike, Pine and Union streets are within easy walking reach. Back at the hotel, STELLA serves coastal Italian food, the atmospheric Fireside Room is ideal for cocktails, and the garden becomes a particularly inviting spot in warmer weather. There’s also a 24-hour fitness centre. GayMapper tip: Come here for atmosphere. The historic rooms, fireside drinks and easy access to Capitol Hill give the Sorrento considerably more personality than most large downtown hotels.

Grand Hyatt Seattle works especially well if you want the comforts of a large luxury hotel right in the middle of downtown. Pike Place Market, shopping and the Seattle Convention Center are close by, while Capitol Hill’s main LGBTQ+ nightlife around Pike/Pine is easily reached when you’re ready to head out for the evening. Rooms start high above street level and make good use of the views, with large windows, generous space and spa-style bathrooms; many have both a soaking tub and separate shower. The hotel’s substantial fitness centre is a real plus, with Peloton bikes, weights and cardio equipment alongside a sauna, steam room and jetted tub. Despite its size, the rooms feel calm and comfortable rather than corporate. GayMapper tip: A particularly good choice if a spacious room and proper wellness facilities matter to you, while still keeping central Seattle conveniently on the doorstep.

A practical option for travellers who would rather spend their money exploring Seattle than on a flashy hotel room. Hilton Garden Inn Seattle Downtown sits on the eastern side of downtown, putting you conveniently between the main city sights and Capitol Hill, where most of Seattle’s LGBTQ+ nightlife is clustered around Pike and Pine streets. Rooms have the straightforward modern style you’d expect from Hilton Garden Inn, while the indoor swimming pool is a useful bonus in famously changeable Seattle weather. There’s also a fitness centre, restaurant and bar, and the hotel is within walking distance of the Seattle Convention Center and several downtown transport options. Its location is particularly useful: you can head west towards Pike Place Market and the waterfront during the day, then east towards Capitol Hill in the evening. GayMapper tip: A sensible all-rounder if location and useful facilities matter more than boutique styling.

Colourful, stylish and a little less buttoned-up than many downtown hotels, Kimpton Hotel Monaco Seattle is a good fit if you like your city stay to have some personality. The hotel has recently been renovated, with bold contemporary interiors and a central Fourth Avenue location convenient for Pike Place Market, the waterfront and Seattle’s main downtown sights. Rooms are generously equipped, and the usual Kimpton touches add to the experience: yoga mats, a fitness centre, pet-friendly accommodation and a complimentary evening social hour. It feels lively without being a party hotel, making it an easy base for both sightseeing and evenings out. Seattle’s biggest concentration of LGBTQ+ bars and clubs is over in Capitol Hill around Pike/Pine, rather than downtown, but it’s straightforward to reach from here. GayMapper tip: The evening social hour is worth taking advantage of before heading over to Capitol Hill for the night.

For a polished downtown stay close to both Pike Place Market and the waterfront, Hotel 1000 is a particularly smart option. Now part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, the hotel has 120 contemporary rooms and suites with large windows overlooking either the city or Elliott Bay, while many of the bathrooms come with wonderfully indulgent freestanding tubs. There’s a full-service spa, fitness centre and excellent food and drink without having to leave the building. All Water Seafood & Oyster Bar majors on Pacific Northwest seafood, while Rosebay is the place for cocktails. Pioneer Square, Seattle Art Museum and the waterfront are all easily walkable. For Seattle’s main LGBTQ+ nightlife around Pike/Pine and Capitol Hill, it’s easier to take a short ride from downtown. GayMapper tip: A strong choice if you want proper luxury and sightseeing on your doorstep rather than staying directly in the gay neighbourhood.