The Fairmont Olympic HotelvsHotel Ballard
Both hotels are recommended by writers. On balance, The Fairmont Olympic Seattle scores significantly better than Hotel Ballard. The Fairmont Olympic Seattle comes in at #1 in Seattle with endorsements from 18 publications such as Travel + Leisure, Jetsetter and DK Eyewitness.
The Fairmont Olympic Hotel Show All Reviews
411 University St., Seattle, WA 98101
From $146/night
- Pet Friendly
- Bar/Lounge
- Hot Tub
- Free Internet
- Room Service
- Shuttle Bus
Concierge
"Located in a 12-story Italian Renaissance–style building, the centrally located Fairmont is one of the most luxurious hotels in Seattle."
Fodor's
"Grand and stately... this old-world hotel personifies class and elegance." Full review
Oyster
Upscale
"It has a grand lobby with architecture that evokes the 1920s (the hotel opened in 1924), an impressive clientele list that includes JFK, and one of the oldest oyster bars in the city." Full review
DK Eyewitness
"The Pacific Northwest’s only fivediamond establishment, this landmark hotel has treated guests with the utmost elegance and personalized service since it opened in 1924."
Star Service
"It offers standout service, fine dining, extraordinary traditional surroundings and commendable accommodations. " Full review
i
Note: Guests can avoid paying expensive Internet charges by joining Fairmont's member program free of charge.
BlackBook
"Drink tea under ornate crystal chandeliers at The Georgian, walk up and down the grand mahogany staircase, and feel like royalty sitting in the Fairmont's grand European lobby."
Zagat
4.5
"The "grande dame of Downtown", this "stately" Italian Renaissance "landmark" "takes you back to a different, refined era" with "unbeatable" service and "spacious", "elegant" rooms."
Forbes Travel Guide
4 Stars
"Fairmont Olympic Hotel brings grand tradition and pampering service to downtown Seattle." Full review
Travel + Leisure
"If your preferred aesthetic is grande dame rather than high design, this historic property—which has hosted black-tie galas since 1924—is your only choice in Seattle." Full review
Afar Magazine
"The building that is now the Fairmont Olympic was once the original campus of the University of Washington." Full review
Hotel Ballard Show All Reviews
5216 Ballard Ave. NW, Seattle, WA 98107
From $187/night
- Bar/Lounge
- Free Internet
- Room Service
- Laundry Service
- Concierge
- Restaurant
Zagat
"As neighborhood hotels pop up in Seattle, the fanciest one is this indulgent Ballard escape in the middle of the historic area boasting cool shops and a weekend cocktail trail."
Gayot
"Located in the center of Ballard --- arguably Seattle's most interesting neighborhood --- this boutique hotel is steps from the area's thriving art scene."
Afar Magazine
"Hotel offerings in Seattle’s outlying neighborhoods are fairly limited, making the Hotel Ballard a welcome addition to this newly revitalized district north of downtown." Full review
Not For Tourists
"As Borat would say, "Very nice!"."
Travel + Leisure
"A luxury hotel brought much-needed accommodations and a splash of glamour to Ballard, a onetime fisherman's neighborhood that's become a food and shopping mecca." Full review
Oyster
Upper-middle-range
"Located in Seattle's trendy Ballard neighborhood, the Hotel Ballard is an upper-middle-range boutique hotel that opened in 2013." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler
"Not only is this 29-room boutique hotel one of the most luxurious stays in the neighborhood...but it's also in an ideal location, right on Ballard Avenue." Full review
Hideaway Report
91.0
"Boutique hotel standing in the heart of the stylish and rapidly gentrifying Ballard neighborhood, about five miles northwest of downtown." Full review
Fodor's
"In the heart of historic Ballard, surrounded by shops and restaurants, this chic boutique hotel features a modern take on baroque style, with gilded mirrors and sumptuous carpeting." Full review
Lonely Planet
Top choice
"Hotel Ballard has a lovely street profile, with its wrought-iron balconies blending in with the red-bricked edifices of yore." Full review