Michelin’s rating system may be best known in the culinary world for its restaurant stars, but its newly released Michelin Key awards tackle a different tourism + hospitality industry giant — hotels.
Three hotels in the Seattle area have finally put the Emerald City on the Michelin map (we have yet to earn a Michelin Star of our own). Each of the hotels earn one out of three possible keys.
Here’s what the French tire company had to say about the crème de la crème of Seattle’s local lodgings.
🔑 Hotel 1000
This hotel is recognized for its woodsy, natural decor — something that distinguishes it from the usual modern and industrialist vibe expected in a downtown hotel. Features include a rainfall faucet for the bath, Molton Brown’s luxury bath products, and a spa.
Hotel 1000’s cozy and clean interior design is underpinned by high-tech embellishments. From infrared sensors alerting housekeepers for turn-down to home-theater sound systems, the behind-the-scenes enhancements ensure a cushy visitor experience.
- Price: Rates begin at $210 per night
- Location: Downtown Seattle
- On-site dining: All Water Seafood and Oyster Bar
🔑 Lotte Hotel Seattle
A relatively new name in the US, the Korean brand’s downtown Seattle location seamlessly blends modern luxury with historic charm. The 1908 Beaux-Arts Sanctuary — a former Methodist church — now serves as an elegant wedding venue.
Extending 16 floors above the original historic structure, the rest of the hotel is made of glass and offers views of the surrounding city and Elliott Bay. Maximalist designer Philippe Starck tailored his signature whimsical style to the PNW stay by using organic materials, like the reception desk constructed from a 3,000-year-old sequoia.
- Price: Rates begin at $425 per night
- Location: Downtown Seattle
- On-site dining: Charlotte Restaurant & Lounge
In 1977, the St. Edward Seminary building and the majority of the land were sold to the State of Washington to become St. Edward State Park.
Photo by Joe Mabel
🔑 The Lodge at St. Edward State Park
Embedded in the 300 acres of lakeside forest that is St. Edward State Park, The Lodge offers a getaway from busy city life with easy access the greater Seattle area.
A historic landmark, the hotel was designed by notable local architect John Graham Sr. in 1931 — once serving as a seminary for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle. Since then, it has been renovated into the existing luxury boutique hotel with nods to the structure’s historical significance.
Rooms are decorated with architectural blueprint-inspired murals, nature photography, and views of the surrounding park’s green space. Miles of trails in the area make for the perfect escape for bikers, hikers, or just nature enthusiasts.
- Price: Rates begin at $309 per night
- Location: Kenmore
- On-site dining: Several restaurant and bar options
