Welcome to Checking In, a review series in which our editors and contributors rate the best new (and revamped) luxury hotels based on a rigorous—and occasionally tongue-in-cheek—10-point system: Each question answered “yes” gets one point. Will room service bring you caviar? Does your suite have its own butler? Does the bathroom have a bidet? Find out below.

In three words: Seattle-style luxury

What’s the deal: 1 Hotel Seattle is the first Pacific Northwest outpost for this brand that lives under the U.K.-based Starwood Hotels banner—and the company did its best to channel the ethos of the Emerald City throughout the property. Seattle is a city immersed in nature and shot through with an spirit of conservationism, and 1 Hotel has fully embraced that eco-conscious culture in its design and service. But more on that in a moment.

Instead of being located downtown, the 153-room (including 45 suites) property is perched in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood, making it easy to access the Seattle Center and Lake Union, but still not far from Pike Place Market and the Puget Sound’s waterfront that has been re-imagined in the wake of the double-decker Alaskan Way Viaduct being removed.

Longtime Seattle residents can remember a time in the not-so-distant past when there wasn’t much going on in South Lake Union—that was until the late Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen kickstarted development in the area earlier this century. The building boom only increased when Amazon moved its headquarters from Beacon Hill to a series of buildings that are all within walking distance of the hotel, including Amazon’s Spheres, the glass domes breaking up an expanse of office buildings. The 1 Hotel Seattle resides inside a tower originally built by Allen, and itself is kind of drab on the outside, exemplifying the slightly uninspired architecture of Seattle in the 2000s. But the team at Starwood transformed the inside beautifully, headlined by the gorgeous, two-story living wall sculpture of Mount Rainier. Local artist Rebecca Sheedy and her studio Floraform blended moss and reclaimed wood to craft this show-stopping installation that towers over the lobby.

The wood-ensconced rooms have a Scandinavian-inspired feel, fitting for a city with a deep Nordic heritage as people from Norway, Denmark, and Sweden were the largest ethnic group in Washington state at the turn of the 19th century. And throughout the rooms you see little touches of 1 Hotel’s committment to sustainability, from Nespresso machines with recyclable pods, to water carafes and cups made from recycled glass bottles, to little timers in the showers to keep you mindful of how much water you’re using, to chalkboards being available for taking notes instead of using paper.

The best room: 

The Alder House is a stunning suite bathed in blonde wood and flanked by windows that offer a beautiful, unobstructed view of the Space Needle from both the living room and the master bathroom. You can soak in the tub as you turn your head to see the sun set behind the Emerald City’s most iconic landmark. The 1,190-foot, one-bedroom, 1.5-bath suite is anchored by an ample living room and dining room that’s flanked by a two-seat bar. If you happen to be traveling with friends or family, this suite would be the ideal place for everyone to gather around the large dining table.

The Rundown

Did they greet you by name at check-in? 

No, but front desk staff was always polite and attentive.

Welcome drink ready and waiting when you arrived? Bonus point if it wasn’t just fruit juice. 

There was no welcome drink.

Does the hotel have a standout perk?

At the property there are two Audi Q6 e-Trons that are available to guests and are used for planned excursions around the city like a trip to the Seattle Art Museum followed by a tour of Pike Place Market and the Seattle waterfront. Since the hotel’s opening it has also added a partnership with Wild Haus Floating Saunas where guests can bob across Lake Union while unwinding in a sauna and taking in stunning views of Capital Hill to the east, Queen Anne Hill to the West, Gasworks Park to the north and the Space Needle to the south, all while seaplanes land and take off from the water surrounding you.

Private butler for every room?

No.

Is there a heated floor in the bathroom? What about a bidet?

No heated floors.

Are the toiletries full sized?

Toiletries are full-sized and specially formulated for 1 Hotel by Bamford Spa.

Is there a private pool for the room’s exclusive use? How are the spa and gym?

While there is no pool at the 1 Hotel, the gym is well appointed with Pelotons, free weights, kettle bells, and Life Fitness treadmills and ellipticals.

Are the restaurants worth their salt?

This is one of the strongest aspects of the hotel, a restaurant you’d gladly go to even if you weren’t staying there. La Loba from James Beard finalist chef Oscar Amador Edo draws on his Spanish heritage and Pacific Northwest ingredients—as well as some Japanese influences—to craft a tapas-filled menu that also serves outstanding pastas and mains like lamb loin asada and pan roasted black cod.

Do you want to spend Friday night in the lobby bar?

Absolutely, as would a good chunk of Seattle, it seems, as the bar at the restaurant downstairs was full each of our stay.

Would you buy the hotel if you could?

While it’s not the most beautiful building we’ve seen on the outside, what 1 Hotels has done to the inside would make us glad to have this one in our portfolio.

The Verdict

The 1 Hotel Seattle doesn’t have all the trappings of a mega-resort like an expansive pool, but for an urban hotel it’s the kind of well-equipped and stylish spot you want to return at night after exploring the city.

Score: 8

What Our Score Means: 
1-3: Fire your travel agent if they suggest you stay here. 
4-6: Solid if you’re in a pinch—but only if you’re in a pinch. 
7-8: Very good. We’d stay here again and recommend it without qualms. 
9-10: Forget booking a week. When can we move in permanently?