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Alexis Hotel
Category: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Hotels [Edit]
1007 1st Ave(between Madison St & Spring St)
Seattle, WA 98104
Neighborhood: Downtown
(206) 624-4844
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 12 am - 12 am
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
110 reviews for Alexis Hotel
Review Highlights
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"Close to Pike Place Market and various restaurants." In 10 reviews -
"The Library Bistro is good too." In 6 reviews -
"Front desk and bellboys were very helpful." In 19 reviews
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110 reviews in English
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Review from Celeste A.
San Francisco, CA
5/24/2012
I just got back from a trip to Seattle. I stayed at the Alexis for two nights.
There was a bit of a booking mix-up when we got there, but it was resolved so quickly, I'm not entirely sure what it was. Still, they upgraded our room to this epic executive suite to apologize. However, the suite wasn't quite ready, so we went to the bar (which is adorable, go to it) to wait. We were having so much fun at the bar that it took awhile to realize that they'd probably forgotten about us, so we inquired at the front desk - oopsies, indeed they had. No harm, no foul, we were having fun anyway. The next day, they sent us some wine & a cheese plate to apologize!
Neither of these mishaps were a big deal, even a little deal, but the way ANY and ALL customer service (nay, even passing interactions) with the Alexis Hotel staff was handled blew us away.
On top of that, the hotel was nice & adorably stylish.
We will DEFINITELY be visiting them again! -
Review from Liliane D.
Spanaway, WA
5/21/2012 6 photos
My boyfriend and I stayed at the Alexis for a black tie party at the Showbox. From the moment we checked in, our room was upgraded without us asking. Through and through, we were treated like and felt like royalty.
We opened the door to our room, and were immediately blown away. The Symphony suite was absolutely gorgeous.
Not many hotels give me this level of comfort and ease. Something about actually having full sized bottles in the bathroom instead of the dinky travel size...make it feel like less of a hotel. Such a small detail makes a world of difference.
I can honestly say I don't think I've ever stayed at a Kimpton hotel, but will from now on go out of my way to stay at these hotels. I suspect this elegance and class is something I can find at any of their hotels. -
Review from Dana Y.
Lacey, WA
5/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
We love the Alexis hotel! We've stayed at all three Kimpton family hotels in Seattle and all are good, but the Alexis is our favorite by far. The location on 1st and Madison is great for walking distance access to Pike Place Market. Pioneer Square, and one of our favorite steak restaurants, the Metropolitan Grill. The beds are always super comfy, the staff from the bell man, to the bartender, to the front desk are always so friendly. We also enjoy the complimentary wine hour from 5-6pm which features a Washington red and white wine for enjoyment. I highly recommend joining the Kimpton rewards program, it is free, and you get a $10 mini bar credit and can eventually earn a complimentary stay.
This particular stay (on April 28th) was to celebrate my husband's 37th birthday. I emailed the concierge, Keith Dowsing, just to say it was my husband's birthday and mentioned that he really enjoyed craft beers, especially a good IPA. Keith was in email communication with me before our stay suggesting a couple of IPA's from Pike Place Microbrewery and some fresh mixed nuts from the market on the house. He had a great personality about him in his emails, was even funny making a "hoppy" joke :-) We went to check in and they said our room wasn't quite ready but they gave us a couple drink vouchers for the Bookstore Bar which is right in the hotel and we love that place. We went and had a beer and the front desk agent (I can't remember her name but she was extremely nice and hospitable) called me not too much longer to say our room was ready. We went up to our room and they had surprised us with an upgrade to a spa suite! When we came back from dinner and going out on the town the turn down service had left the mixed nuts and IPA's which was so nice. Woke up the next morning and had breakfast in the Library Bistro which is always so tasty. They have the best restaurant coffee and fresh squeezed orange juice!
Thank you Alexis Hotel and to all of your fabulous employees for yet another truly memorable stay and we look forward to our next return! -
Review from Michelle C.
Burien, WA
4/27/2012
Overpriced for how rundown the hotel is.
Staff and location are terrific.
Complimentary wine bar is nice.
Remember this is an old hotel - small bathtub, old building. Bedding was good. Little musty smelling.
Had party animals on our floor that caused a fire drill at midnight.
Spent money for incomplete night's sleep. -
Review from emily a.
Ventura, CA
3/2/2012
This hotel was absolutely amazing. ($375 for one night was a little spendy -- however did reserve a luxury spa suite)
the staff were great. They always addressed me by name (i swear this happened whenever ANY staff came in contact with me) the bed was soooo comfy, the room had awesome art in it, and of course our in-room-spa was priceless.
ALSO, we were surprised with a bottle of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries, which were to die for! the hotel is walking distance from pikes place, the waterfront, shopping, and some of my favorite bars!
valet wes great and even brought my glasses to my room for me! They also let me keep my car in their garage for HOURS after check-out free of charge!
the place is simply amazing.
I plan to stay here and recommend a spa suite to anyone looking for a place in downtown seattle!Comment from Jenne N. of Alexis Hotel 4/5/2012
The Alexis was recently voted as the best place to spend… More » -
Review from Rho T.
1/29/2012 10 photos
We stayed in the Alexis One Bedroom Suite. Visually one of the dopest suites I've ever stayed in. Approx. 1000 sq. ft, included a four poster king bed w/a feather duvet, 42" flat panel LCD tv, jetted tub and seperate shower, a living room with a pull-out queen sofa sleeper, another 42" tv, a half bath, honor bar, mini kitchen w/a sink and fridge. About 75% of the walls were brick.
All that glitters is not gold, though. Upon arrival, the TV in the bedroom was not working, and the shower and sinks were only running cold water. As much as we loved the brick walls, the view of a brick wall and a hanging scaffold parked right in front of our living room window. We addressed our concerns early, and by the time we returned to our room in the evening, the TV and water had been fixed. Nothing they could do about our scaffold view though. We were assured that the painters were off-duty for several days. Oh darn. I'm sure we could've given the painters a show.
At any rate, because of all the disappointment, we were only charged 1 nite instead of 2. Conveniently located some blocks down from Pikes Place. -
Review from Lola D.
San Francisco, CA
4/19/2012
Best three nights in a hotel. Staff was amazing...room was cozy but not ordinary. The wine social hour was fun and the other guests seemed to be just as happy as we were to stay at the Alexis. Will definitely stay here next time I return to Seattle.
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Review from Brad G.
Houston, TX
2/8/2012
For the price and location I don't really think this place can be beat in downtown Seattle. I stayed 3 nights for $160 per night in FEB 2012. The location is great as it is right in the middle of tons of great hotspots in downtown, which means you can walk just about anywhere if the weather is nice.
The staff was awesome overall and very helpful. The rooms are actually quite nice and rather roomy, while the bathroom is enourmous by hotel standards. This is a small, 4 story hotel that has a very homey feel to it, and I believe most rooms (if not all) have double-glass doors that open up to either the street or courtyard.
Internet is free, but they do require you to go through a signup process to access it, which was quick and easy to do. -
Review from Kim M.
Seattle, WA
1/3/2012
We had an amazing time at this hotel both on our honeymoon and then a year later when we celebrated our 1st anniversary in December of 2011. They went above and beyond to make our experience special.
This year, we had both our cat and dog with us. We arrived to find food bowls, a litter box, and a big comfy dog pillow waiting for them, along with champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries for us :)
They even went the extra mile for breakfast. I ordered a raspberry scone - they called back and said they were out, so I asked for apple instead. When room service was delivered they had given us fresh raspberries free of charge to make up for it.
It's a bit on the pricey side, but there was no extra charge for the pets unlike some other local hotels. A great way to celebrate special occasions! -
Review from Jeff M.
Monmouth, OR
3/31/2012
Of all the Kimpton hotels, this is my favorite. Being an In Touch member I was upgraded to a beautiful spacious 4th floor king room on the 1st st side. I've stayed, at one time or another, at all of the major Seattle hotels, and the Alexis has, time after time, proved to be the classiest, with an outstanding location, and an unmatched staff. Spa tub, luxury amenities, and all of the usual Kimpton perks give you the quality of a five star hotel, at a much more reasonable price. The hotel even offers free passes to exhibits at the Seattle Museum of Art to In Touch members! Of course $36/night plus tax ($46 total - or $51 with tip!!!) for a night of parking is daunting, but there's a full service overnight garage on 1st within a block.
Comment from Jenne N. of Alexis Hotel 4/5/2012
Thanks for the review! We offer the passes to SAM for all… More » -
Review from J O.
St Clair Shores, MI
4/9/2012
Great Location, super friendly staff. We booked last minute and got a gpod rate. Our King room was very roomy and had a huge outdoor terrace. We sort of looked at another building, and there was just the right amount of springtime street noise. I found it charming.
A shortage of bedside electrical outlets.
Also, a dimmer switch in the bathroom should be a no brainer, no?
The Library Bistro had a fanTAStic breakfast!
I would recommend highly.Comment from Jenne N. of Alexis Hotel 4/16/2012
Thanks for your review! We are actually in the process of… More » -
Review from Eileen C.
12/19/2011
Normally, I'm in love with every boutique hotel I've stayed at at from Kimpton, like a genuine home away from home where I can settle in with my Panda Bear, Cute & Cuddly, but this one was just...fine. For some reason, Alexis feels cold and dare I say...a little snooty. Maybe it's all that gray.
The location is great and within walking distance to Pike Place Market, the Art Museum and Public Library. We found a wonderful restaurant 2 blocks away with an all night happy hour and tons of deep fried seafood. Yum! The rooms are quite tiny, like San Francisco and NYC small but certainly not a problem. Perhaps it seemed smaller in contrast since our suite the night before at Hotel Monaco in Portland was so spacious.
Food and booze can be ordered at the Library Bar and taken upstairs to avoid the exorbitant room service fees.
There are 2 other pet-friendly Kimpton hotels within 2 blocks and with cheaper price tags to boot so despite Alexis' amenities, I would likely not be staying here again if a return trip to Seattle was in order.Comment from Jenne N. of Alexis Hotel 12/19/2011
Thank you so much for posting your review. I'm sorry to… More » -
Review from Norlie L.
Arlington, VA
1/6/2012
Stayed one night on Dec. 28. Was really excited especially when we were upgraded to a suite on the 6th floor. The suite was huge and odd. Looked like it was converted from an apt? Bathroom did have a very nice deep hot tub :-)
Decor in the suite was inconsistent/ clashed and didn't really flow. Surprised I was in a Kimpton Hotel. Lobby was nice... probably wouldn't return. -
Review from Ken N.
San Jose, CA
9/28/2011 3 photos
I had an amazing stay here recently. Well, other than the person that kept stealing the privacy sign on my door so the maids kept knocking! I'm just going to blame the suite next to mine. Jerks.
GF and I enjoyed the lovely spa suite for 2 nights. After a long day of walking around the city, the luxury of being able to relax in a jetted tub with a bottle of wine was priceless. Sure beats watching TV for a few hours.
GOODS:
- Located a few blocks from Pike Place Market and easy walk to everything else
- Service. Front desk and bellboys were very helpful.
- Free internet just by being a Kimpton member (free to sign up)
- Spa suite was very very spacious for 2 people. 3 couches for me to throw random clothes on. Oversized bathroom.
BADS:
- Floor by the room entrance creaks a lot. Sounded real hollow
- The horrible elevator smell. I don't know if it's their cleaning solution but *shivers*
- $36 +tax overnight parking but that's common for any major downtown area
Overall, satisfied and would recommended. -
Review from Vang H.
Atlanta, GA
10/18/2011
True to the Kimpton name, this hotel was absolutely fabulous. We stayed here on our 4 day trip to Seattle and it's proximity to the different tourists sites made it even better.
The hotel and room are very clean (a little prissy, but I like that :) ); staff extremely friendly.
On our next trip, we will def be staying here again. -
Review from Jenn W.
Tinley Park, IL
7/12/2011
We stayed at the Alexis for two nights last week and I can't say enough good things about it! I love Kimpton hotels anyway, but our stay at the Alexis solidified that love and cemented my loyalty.
When I was filling out the on-line reservation form, I requested an early check-in. In the box that asked if there was anything the Alexis staff should know about our stay, I mentioned that this trip was to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary - really, I was just hoping this fact would give us priority for the early check-in, but the Alexis went above and beyond. Not only did we get the early check-in, but they upgraded us to a premier suite and the concierge sent up champagne and fresh fruit while we were partaking in the happy hour. Also, as a Kimpton In-Touch member (free to enroll), I got free wi-fi and a $10 credit towards the mini-bar (which doesn't buy you much, but hey, it's free).
The room was amazing with a separate entryway, living room, and large master bedroom with another seating area. The room even had more televisions than we do at home (not really saying that much as we only have one tv...lol). Everything in the room was clean and well-maintained. Oh, there was one coffee mug that had lipstick stains on it, but that didn't really bother us as we weren't going to use it.
We had breakfast in the Library Bistro one morning and it was good. We also had breakfast sent to our room another morning so we could enjoy our suite and it was fine.
The location of the hotel was fantastic - walking distance to almost every place we wanted to go.
Every single employee we had interactions with gave top notch customer service.
Love the Alexis! -
Review from Becky N.
Olympia, WA
I can honestly say that I have only had great experiences staying in Kimpton Hotels. I've stayed at the Alexis several times and tonight they've upgraded us to a huge suite in room 246 (KMTT Suite). It's literally the size of a condo, complete with a spacious living room, a dining room that fits an 8 seat dining room comfortably, 1 full bathroom, a powder room, 3 closets including a huge walk-in closet, and separate bedroom. The walls are adorned with cool artwork and even a glass enclosed guitar that belonged to Coldplay and Bo Deans. The ceilings are high and has a retro/contemporary/urban decor that is tastefully done. This place is pet friendly and always prides itself in superb customer service. I've stayed in many fancy hotels (Ritz, The Four Seasons, The Waldorf Astoria, etc.), but there is something very special and unique about the Alexis. It's located in a great location, close to many attractions. I highly recommend staying here if you are looking for a place to stay in the downtown Seattle area.
Comment from Jenne N. of Alexis Hotel 4/5/2012
The KMTT is by far my favorite room at the Alexis! It is a… More » -
Review from Jeanne Z.
Walnut Creek, CA
9/16/2011
This hotel was just okay. In my opinion, it's not worth the exorbitant price, and I got it $100 cheaper on Hotwire. The room was very clean and fancy, well-furnished, great location in the midst of downtown, and good accomodations. The staff was very friendly and helpful.
I ordered room service for dinner and got the clam chowder. I was not impressed. For the price, there was very little chowder. The taste was nothing spectacular either. At a fancy hotel, I expect more from the food. If money is no object, stay here. If you need/want to be situated right in downtown, stay here. Otherwise, you can get a pretty good hotel for way less. -
Review from Jodi S.
Seattle, WA
4/25/2011
We recently had to stay at The Alexis Hotel after being displaced by a condo fire for about a month; and I have nothing but positive things to say about the staff and the hotel itself. Elegant without being snobby; and super pet friendly.
Upon arrival, not only was our dog's name on the welcome board near a bowl of doggie treats, awaiting us in the room were free drink vouchers, copies of all of the local restaurant menus, AND a dog bone with our pug's name frosted on it. SERIOUSLY! So thoughtful!
Work out room is adequate...steam room is nice. Roomservice food is so-so to be honest...but you're so close to walking to other restaurants it wasnt a big deal for us. WIFI was kind of slow...but there was a plug in internet option which was quite fast.
Plus, they have free happy hour wine tastings every night...I would definitely recommend for out of towners. -
Review from Michael C.
San Francisco, CA
1/21/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Everything about the stay was perfect. The front desk people were knowledgeable about the local scene, and happy to give travel advice.
The location is on First and Madision - the heart of downtown. Walk North on the sea walk for sick ocean views, or head West towards several museums and the epic Seattle Public Library.
The attached bar - Bookstore Bar - is awesome. It has plenty of plush seating, and excellent mixed drinks. There are books, too, though that's not what brings me to a bar.
When I visit Seattle again, I'll stay at Alexis. (This is a Kimpton hotel, which is awesome since Kimpton has a great rewards program. E.g., upon checking in, they gave me a $10 voucher to cover two mini-bar items.) -
Review from Peter T.
9/19/2011
I was looking for a nice, somewhat high-end local hotel for a recent "staycation" with my wife, and after a bit of searching here on Yelp settled on the "spa room" at the Alexis Hotel based on the photographs on the Alexis Hotel website which represented the room as the height of decadent opulence. It was a bit spendy, but, I *hoped*, that the extra expense would translate into a quality experience. Unfortunately, it was not to be so.
I understand that the Alexis is an an older building, but that really doesn't excuse the fact that the room was extremely underwhelming. The layout of the room was very cluttered with chairs, tables, objets d'art, cabinets, etc. gathered together in clumps in various corners of the room. Bad fung shui! And, the room itself had a very run-down feeling with the uneven floor, dingy carpets, flaking paint on the walls, and chipped furniture. The room features a very large jetted tub set in a large platform in the admittedly very large bathroom, but again, the access panel on the lower left of the platform didn't close properly and ragged caulking oozed hapharzardly from around the four edges. The tub itself didn't feel especially clean either - good thing we didn't get in it right away as clumps of hair from previous residents emerged from the jet system and swirled around in the tub. Ick. The bed was uncomfortable with a big dent running down the center of it, and the room was very stuffy and hot, and didn't feel like it was ventilated properly. My wife described it as just not feeling very fresh or clean.
We were also stirred from our slumber at 2:30 in the morning by a group of drunken idiots running around the hallways screaming and riding up and down the elevators, apparently lost. Did the front desk not notice the group of loud drunk people walk past and not ask them to be quiet and respectful?
We had room service the night we were there, and since it was after 10:00 the kitchen was closed so I had a grilled cheese. It was just okay. We had breakfast delivered the next morning - my wife had pancakes, and I had an omelette that was filled with corn salsa and cojita cheese that was also just okay.
Based on the amount that I paid for this room (north of $500) I would really give the Alexis one star since I really don't feel like I got good value for my money. We didn't have a bad stay, but, we didn't really have a experience that justified the expense. I've had nicer rooms in places likes San Francisco that cost less than half of what we paid for our room in the Alexis, and I guess my expectation was that a higher priced room in a city like Seattle would be a really extraordinary experience. Both I and my wife felt a bit ripped off because the room really didn't live up to the promise of the highly stylized and staged photographs on the website.
The second star is because the service was actually quite good and friendly, and perhaps if we had stayed in a regular room we would have felt better about staying at the Alexis. However, I can't say I will ever be back.Comment from Jenne N. of Alexis Hotel 2/6/2012
I am so sorry to hear that you did not enjoy your stay at… More » -
Review from D L.
Seattle, WA
10/13/2011
We stayed at the honeymoon suite on our wedding night. wink.
What we loved:
The suite was awesome, four-poster bed (fun!), jacuzzi hot tub with salts and bubbles (funx2!!). Cool vibes & art work. Eclectic but it worked for us! Room service was pretty good, but nothing to write home about. But what made everything was "chef concierge" Russell Hathaway. Totally felt like he went out of his way to accommodate our requests and even had sparkling wine + chocolate covered strawberries sent to our room! ++++
What was lacking:
Was greeted at the front desk by a robot. She was pleasant enough but it was our wedding night, we're in the honeymoon suite... some warmth would push your service from good to wow. Hotel itself is starting to show its age. The bathroom in the suite had cracked tiles and the carpet in the room had some stains, dust on pictures... minor details that take wow factor away. Our room service was delivered by a nervous robot... obviously new on the job.
But overall we loved our stay. Minor details take away a potentially flawless stay. My parting comment is Russell Hathaway is the bomb. If you are out of town, or even in towner and need help, Russell will see to it.Comment from Jenne N. of Alexis Hotel 12/19/2011
Glad we were able to be a part of your special night *wink*.… More » -
Review from Charlie W.
Seattle, WA
12/20/2011
Great hotel. Near Pike Place Market and other downtown attractions.
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Review from Sheryl F.
Los Gatos, CA
12/23/2011
My new home away from home - because it's like coming back to good friends.
I've now stayed at The Alexis for 6 nights, two separate occasions, in the last 30 days. And it hit me on this last trip why I like The Alexis so much - one of the remaining free things we can offer each other is a little bit of humanity, with each interaction we have. From David the Bellman/Valet, to Lisa behind the front desk, to Lindsey and the rest of the staff - they do this effortlessly.
If you want to win my heart and loyalty - you do this just because. If you want to forever impact me - you also treat my daughter this way when she accompanies me. And they do this - and it is a bit like coming 'home'. So if your'e looking for more than a bed and somewhere to rest your head - come home to The Alexis. -
Review from John C.
Gillette, WY
12/16/2011
Just returned from a six night stay and could not be happier with this hotel. Received an upgraded room upon checkin which was a great start to our vacation. Every person we dealt with at this hotel were as friendly and pleasant as can be.Our room was very spacious and the hotel is in a perfect location within walking distance to everything.If or when we come back to Seattle we will with out a doubt stay here again.
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Review from Rachel J.
Portland, OR
8/1/2011
I went to this hotel with high expectations, and was severely disappointed. I'm a little more than surprised at all the raving reviews here on yelp, to be honest.
It might just be that 'boutique' hotels are not my thing (this is the first I have stayed in), but nevertheless I believe you should get quality when staying in a high-end hotel.
1) The walls in the rooms are paper thin, so you can hear everything... from street noise, to dogs barking (did not realize that it was pet friendly before getting there) to people coughing in the next room. We definitely got to know our neighbors very well. At one point we thought we were hearing people talking right outside our door, but upon further investigation discovered it was from a group of people on the opposite side of the hotel (same floor, though). All this noise made it difficult for it to be the romantic weekend we were hoping for.
2) Housekeeping was minimal. They basically just made the bed and replaced some towels. They didn't pick up dirty dishes, clean the floor... the floor in the bathroom was sticky for our entire visit. At one point it looked like one of them had left behind some hair products (found bobby pins and ties on sink one afternoon that weren 't ours).
3) For the price you should get more for your money. The rooms were fairly small and there wasn't really anything special. Also, the amenities were cheap, but expensive. As in if you want to take the shampoo bottle home? $15. Want to take the bed socks home or even wear them? $15. Want to listen to music in your room? $10 for 2 hours. Want to park your car? $40/day after tax. The robe was also of very low quality (not comfortable) for how expensive it was.
Probably the one good thing I have to say about this hotel was the 2-person full body jet soak tub was divine, and very unique. I have never seen a two person tub that could fill up to your chin in a hotel room before. This was truly amazing, and really helped us feel more satisfied with the hotel.
Summation: This hotel is a pretty nice hotel. However, when we are paying $600-700/night we have fairly high expectations. We have stayed in MANY hotels over the year, and this ranks among our more disappointing experiences. Just not what we were expecting for the price.
However, for a hotel that caters to pet owners, it is pretty cool. If we were travelling with dogs it would be a great choice for them. But, if you are not with your animals I wouldn't bother. We will surely not be staying here again.Comment from Jenne N. of Alexis Hotel 12/20/2011
Hi Rachel - so sorry to hear that you didn't love your stay… More » -
Review from Andee D.
Bothell, WA
12/30/2010 1 photo
Loved this hotel. Only complaint: There was a hole in the ceiling above the shower. Looked to be where some old piping used to belong. Creepy.
I'm not sure if this is standard in your higher end hotels but my debit card had a hold of $100 on it until a few days after we checked out of the hotel for amenities. If your not expecting this charge it's easy to think they've made a mistake.
Otherwise excellent hotel. -
Review from Lisa I.
1/15/2011
I wanted to be absolutely in love with this hotel, but I'm just not. This was the first Kimpton property I have stayed in, although I have admired them from afar. I knew this was a boutique hotel, rather than a big box hotel, but I did not think that the quality would go down.
I booked an online special, and I think we got the Fireplace Suite for $230 a night. After being in Seattle for 10 days for work, I was ready to splurge a little. I believe the room was originally 50% more than what we paid.
We love the fireplace after walking around the Market for a few hours in the rain and cold. I thought it was going to be a gas fireplace (who would think a hotel would risk real fire?), but they provide unlimited 3-hour clean burn logs. However, other than that, we are really just paying for a larger space and location.
The suite does not seem to have any one statement of decor...it is a little mish-mashed, but not in an artsy way. More like the hotel replaces items as they get old or worn out, and don't really care what the original design intent was.
For instance, our sitting area includes two highbacked chairs with a kind of Japanese print and studs along the arms, a wood table with glass top, a blah brown faux-velvet couch with red and blue pillows, a silver art-deco lamp, gray taffeta curtains, and a dark brown carpet. Kind of weird and cheap looking.
And with being the "art hotel" you would think our room would be artsy. There is a perfect huge space above the gigantic fireplace with no art! Maybe it is just this particular suite, because all of the photos of the regular rooms seem to be cohesive.
Our work had us staying at the Seattle Sheraton, which had a bed in which I would sleep like the dead. It was either a super pillow-top or had some memory foam on the top, because it was awesome. The bed here feels hard and cheap by comparison. It feels more like a bed that you would find in a hostel (you know the kind you slept on in college, that was covered in plastic and not cloth). I like firm, but this is not good.
This building is definitely old. The bathroom does not have a window or automatic fan, so it does smell slightly moldy. That being said, it does not look moldy or old. There is a door that we cannot open in our room, which I think goes to a connecting room. The door is not plumb in any way, so someone stuffed a whole bunch of tissue paper in the crack above the door. I'm not sure if there was a breeze coming through, or if there was light showing through the crack.
I can hear a lot of the street action from our room. Traffic, loud groups outside, etc. I am writing this review in front of the fireplace, and I just heard someone cough in a room next door.
The view is of an office building, but we have to keep the curtains closed on our giant window because the building is so close I can almost read their paperwork. I'm sure they don't care, but that also means they can see us that well too.
Others have mentioned in their reviews of the Alexis that there was complimentary wine and other drinks during their stay. I was not informed of this upon check-in, so I'm not sure if this still exists.
The location is awesome, about 4-5 blocks from Pike Street Market. There are all kinds of restaurants around.
I probably would try another one of the Kimpton properties in Seattle before coming back here.Comment from Jenne N. of Alexis Hotel 12/20/2011
Hi Lisa - we did replace our mattresses right after your… More » -
Review from Tamara C.
11/20/2010
Parking the car was easy, how many people can say that about Seattle? Yes, we did use the valet service. The location of the Alexis is really great. I really value being able to walk to things I intend to do and see.
The hotel is on 1st and Madison and you can walk to the Pikes Market, and shopping at the big H&M. There is Pacific Place Shopping Center, which by the way, I think is a boring mall. However, there are a lot of very interesting independent boutiques in the area as well. Also within walking distance, is the Seattle Art Museum that is for a short time, featuring the works of Picasso. Go to the SAM and see the Picasso exhibit.
We were welcomed at the warm and friendly reception with a glass of wine, compliments of the company event we were traveling with. After the driving rain and the horrid Portland to Seattle traffic that most of us are familiar with, a glass of wine is the perfect welcome.
Check-in was a breeze. Hello sweet, spacious, elegant luxury. This fabulous room felt almost twice as big as my studio condo. I did not want to leave the room. There was a full-sized and very comfortable couch. I loved the art on the wall. There were some prints on the wall and I was reminded of the psychological Rorschach inkblot test. I saw a bat. What does that mean? There is art to be found throughout the hotel. You will find lovely, interesting, tasteful details everywhere from the lighting to seating.
I left my bag with the bellmen after check-out and we were able to valet the car for the entirety of the next day and enjoy the city and left about 5:00 PM. Everyone at the hotel was friendly and helpful.
Ah, if I could afford this luxury, I would be staying here regularly. It is truly fantastic. -
Review from Elizabeth M.
Lacey, WA
11/8/2011
I actually loved my stay at this hotel. Everything was amazing. So why the one star? The valet wrecked my car! And then forced me to move out of my parking spot while waiting for the rest of my party to come to the car! Then when I called FIFTEEN minutes later, they told me it was too bad and there was nothing they could do since I had left their parking space... yeah, the one the valet made me leave while waiting for the other guests. The would never let us see the tapes and just said OH! We looked, nothing happened. I will never spend another $400-700 at this hotel again. BOO for wrecking cars and not fessing up to your boo boo...
Comment from Jenne N. of Alexis Hotel 12/19/2011
All valet incident claims are investigated by the insurance… More » -
Review from Gabby B.
Kennewick, WA
4/4/2011 1 photo
My husband and I spent the weekend here a while ago and had an overall pleasant experience. The lobby is beautiful, a lovely mix of modern and contemporary with some extremely interesting pieces. Our room was nice and clean and very well decorated. The bed was extremely comfortable and I loved the books and the fireplace. The only disappointment was the lack of a bathtub (we don't have at home so I was really looking forward to a bubble bath). When I expressed my disappointment my husband called the front desk and they agreed to move us to a room with a tub (yay amazing customer service!). Although it had a tub the room definitely not as nice and we ended up next door to what I assume was a bachelorette party so it was pretty noisy. Other than that I really enjoyed the Alexis. I will be going back next time I am in Seattle
Oh the hallway smelled really strange...not a big deal but it was a bit off-putting -
Review from Chris M.
Oakland, CA
10/28/2010
Pluses:
* Great location within walking distance of downtown office buildings, the ferry terminal, and the Pike Place Market (a little far for Westlake Center compared to other hotels
* Rooms and lobby have character
* Nice bar off of lobby that is not just a boring hotel bar
* Computer at front desk for printing boarding passes
* Free wine hour when I was there
Minuses:
* Internet costs money
* In my case a TV that liked to turn itself on by itself (a ghost TV is not the worst thing in the world if you unplug it, however)
* You can be exposed to street noise--my colleague says she was kept up by trucks and management was nice enough to reduce her fee and move her)
* Parking is kind of expensive: $30/night; you can park on the street until 8am if you're feeling cheap
Overall: A nice place to stay that has some character. -
Review from Todd L.
Seattle, WA
12/11/2007 ROTD 3/2/2008
Camera fades in.....
Group of men in matching suits, gathered in a hotel bar. One looks repeatedly at his watch (in spite of the fact that he still has four hours to go). A gregarious bartender approaches and hands the time wary man a complimentary drink. Scotch, no rocks, 31 years old. The man takes a sip and seems to relax.
Camera pans out. Fleeting images of people gathered in an opulent waiting area. Images of a hallway. Camera focuses in on a group of women in black evening dresses posing for pictures. The attention seems to focus on one women in particular.
"We still have four hours", says the focus of the attention.
"Ladies, can we move over to the windows?"
" Ugh, when are these going to be done, I'm tired of posing"
"wooooooo woooooooooo" Sounds of yelling and laughing penetrate the room, some of the women roll their eyes.
"Jesus, listen to the guys"
" I know"
Focus Out
Four hours elapse in an instant, The camera focuses focus back in on a warm, flower laden room. A man stands in front of rows of nicely dressed people in rows of white chairs, also adorned with flowers.
Music starts. A procession of men, the ones who earlier were gathered in the bar, slowly file in. The first one stops by the man standing in front and turns to face the crowd. (......and his destiny)
A group of women then enter, they file in much the same way as the men before them, then a quiet grip the crowd. The silence and emotion are so thick it seems to hang in the air ......music starts again.
An older man escorts a beautiful woman down past the people, some are crying, but not out of sadness. Some have smiles, all are intent upon the event they are to witness this day.
"Ladies and gentlemen" It begins...........
-------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
Thank you Alexis, Thank you for a perfect day. The room that evening was amazing. I now realize I need a jacuzzi-tub in my bathroom and do not know how we ever got by without one. -
Review from Steve J.
Eugene, OR
11/3/2010 3 photos
They helped to make a bad situation into a bearable one. Their customer service is excellent.
We decided to not go out of CONUS to spend our honeymoon, and we wanted to stay somewhere where we could take a train with a sleeper car and not spend all day on it. Seattle was the choice we made.
The hotel is very nicely appointed. The room was decorated attractively, the beds firm (the way I like them), the linens were soft, and the turn down service was very good. The Library Bistro has outstanding breakfasts and the staff throughout is very attentive. The hotel location is convenient with walking access to the Waterfront, Pike St Market, Pioneer Square, and the Downtown District.
The only negatives are that the Fitness Center is free weights from 5lbs-15lgs and 1 set of 25lbs, 2 elipticals, 1 recumbent bike, a treadmill, and a weird ab-bench that has handles that prevent you from doing any other exercises. And there is no pool at their facility, although they can recommend a venue nearby.
Now comes the fun part, the reason why we will only stay at the Alexis from now on. Part way through our stay my new bride was using the Spa services offered through the Milagros Spa at the hotel. It is important to note that the Spa only leases space from the hotel and that they offer in-room services but operates independently from the hotel.
She got a massage one day (which she related was very good), and on the next day she went for a body wrap. Partway through the body wrap they told her to roll over onto her stomach. Well, the table had not been put together properly and the leg had not been screwed in. The table collapsed to the faulty leg throwing her off the table. She ended up on the floor after hitting a rolling mirror.
Well our doctor told us to have her rest for 24-48 hours and to see an Urgent Care facility in the local area. I know, right, great honeymoon. Well, that night while we were basically restricted to our room the cable went out. Well to say that I was annoyed was an understatement.
But the hotel staff showed that they are the best staff in Seattle. When we returned from the hospital the next day, there were flowers waiting for her along with a card. The concierge wrote a couple of nice sentiments and the hotel offered us complimentary room service. Mind you that they did not have to do anything, the Spa leases space from the hotel so the Alexis is not responsible for the mishap at the spa.
For them to go above and beyond what they needed to was appreciated and the reason why when we travel to Seattle, the only place that we will stay is the Alexis. -
Review from Don B.
9/21/2009
Kimpton has gone and outdone itself on this one.
The Alexis is an incredible hotel located on 1st and Madison right in the heart of downtown Seattle. Adjacent to Pioneer Square, Pike Place, and close enough to walk to the stadiums, they couldn't have picked a better location. The hotel sits inside a converted older building, and they did a great job of building a work of art (which is exactly what they were going for) out of this project.
The rooms at the Alexis are large, well-appointed, spacious, filled with fun furnishings and art, and as far as I could tell, each one is different. I visited numerous rooms during my recent stay and did not see 2 that were the same. Plush carpets, finer furniture, quality beds, Aveda bath prducts, flat screen TV's, the list goes on. The rack rate is higher than the Hotel Monaco (another funky Kimpton) but the value is defintely there. It's a big step up from the Monaco in terms of plush luxury.
Beyond the rooms themselves (many of which have a decent view of at least the street below or little courtyard-esque areas), the hotel offers some great staff and other fun amenities. The Kimpton standard 5pm wine hour is in full-effect, the hotel welcomes pooches and will bring up bed and a water bowl upon request, and the valets/bellmen are impeccable.
The hotel also offers both a bistro for breakfast and lunch dining, and a bar for evening drinks or dinner. Both of these were nice, well-designed, and classy, but the service in each were so incredibly slow that it seemed that they were in a permanent slow-motion time-warp. I think the fact that the über-slow service in the bar/bistro were such a stark contrast to the awesome hotel staff that it made even more of an impression. Either way, it's hard to blame the hotel itself for the sloth of the bar and bistro employees.
Overall, a great boutique hotel in an excellent location. After spending way too much to stay in other cramped boutiques, 5-stars is easy on this one. -
Review from Tiffany S.
Seattle, WA
9/26/2007
We went to a sneak preview of their remodel yesterday, and it is GORGEOUS. I understand from previous reviews that the bathrooms were scary but now they are stunning and you will want to move in. They've taken the hottest color in decades (that silvery-taupe, mmmm so serene) and matched it with dark woods and luxurious details.
Yes, they are still pet-friendly and now they'll park your hybrid car for FREE! Way to go Kimpton!
The bar and restaurant are both warm, cozy, and inviting (especially in this fall, Seattle weather), and the food was amazing. Simple but perfect. I can't wait to go back. Perhaps I'll stay a few nights! -
Review from phil h.
I really, really, really, really loved this hotel*! Great location**, awesome customer service*** and pretty reasonable rates****. Oh yeah, did I mention that they also have a free wine hour***** from 5-6pm every day?
I will definitely stay at the Alexis on my next visit****** to Seattle!
*special thanks to Katie C. for the rec!
**well, central enough location. Not a lot going on in the immediate area but easy enough to get everywhere we wanted to go.
***example: I called a couple of days before we checked in to see if we could upgrade to a suite - they were out but the agent on the phone said he would put my request in. When we checked in they still didn't have a suite available but the nice woman at the front desk bumped us up two room sizes for free.
****check the website site for great deals! We got 20% off the rack rate plus two glasses of champagne in the hotel bar
*****damn straight we took advantage of this!
******hopefully soon!Listed in: Three Days in Seattle
-
Review from Chelsea B.
Kennewick, WA
8/13/2008
The Alexis hotel has it all...great location, fabulously hip and fashionable decor, super comfy beds, good service, excellent atmosphere and much more.
As you can probably tell from my description I would highly recommend The Alexis hotel for a stay in Seattle. This boutique style hotel is right downtown and just minutes from Pike Place Market and other fun shops, bars, and restaurants. Rooms are decorated differently with stylish decor...great way to get ideas for your own home! The hotel also has a spa, which I wasn't lucky enough to go to, but I hear it is great and well worth the money!
Business or pleasure...The Alexis is the way to go! -
Review from Mortiche W.
Oakland, CA
6/15/2007
Lovely hotel, and very helpful staff. I stayed here for 5 days and was set up in an executive suite for a great price. The suite was bigger than my apartment at home- how sad! I asked for a room away from elevators, and although my room was rather close to the it, the bedroom was at the end of a loooooong hallway and I didn't hear a thing at night.
The bathroom had a frighteningly 'Venetian' look to it, and I mean frightening because BOLD red and gold striped wallpaper is not exactly what I want to see first thing in the morning, but the shower had decent water pressure, which is hard to find in most hotels no matter how reputable!
The bed was wonderfully comfortable, and the rest of the suite was furnished very nicely with a dining area, a living room area and a small office area. Free WiFi was fast and problem-free to connect. Their fitness room kicked ass- new, clean equipment, mounted flat panel screens with cable access and headphone jacks on each piece of equipment, an oscillating air conditioner, boatloads of towels and a water cooler made me able to endure working out longer (so I could have EXTRA fat at Le Pichet!) .
The location was great for everything EXCEPT catching a cab, which I had to do every morning to get to work, so you may have better luck calling one ahead of time as the hotel wil try to sell you on a their towncar service. I saw that they are a dog- friendly establishment, and that ups their four stars to five.
I've heard good things about the restaurant and bar downstairs but I already had my victuals planned this trip- next time I will stay close to 'home' so I can stumble back up to my room! -
Review from Rebecca H.
Dublin, CA
1/14/2008
Ehhh....I wish I could give it better review, but it was just ok. My sister and I stayed here for one night after a rousing evening of Gay Bingo, Vegas style, and after bingo drinks at Coastal Kitchen.
The room is small to start with, and there is so much crap in it, it just seems cluttered. Unmatched lamps, artwork everywhere, a really uncomfortable leatherish chair, a desk, chair, bed, big sofa....it was just too much. The walls are that now-popular combination of beige with robin egg blue accent wall. The linens were nice and comfy. The bathroom was fairly clean but what's up with the lukewarm shower water? Not even cranking the handle to hot gave me more than a warmish stream, which is too bad since it had the very cool huge showerhead which would have created a hot shower of steamy goodness. Aveda bath products are always nice. My sister slept on the sofa and said it wasn't bad. The TV channels are lacking, nothing premium.
It is NOISY. From the street noise (we were on the 2nd floor next to an alley), to the hallway noise, to the refrigerator cycling on and off every so often, it was just loud.
There are some nice bits, like the turn down service and robes. You can wear the plushy socks they leave in the closet for 11 bucks, or you can go to Costco, which has the same socks, and get a 3 pack for five bucks.
I went downstairs for coffee at 10:01 and there was no more, and coffee service ends at 10:00. My fault for being 1 minute late. No coffee for me.
My sister found the front desk a bit snooty and unhelpful. Her credit card wouldn't run, the front desk person told her it wouldn't work in that "Oh, your credit card doesn't work you loser" way, she called her credit card company, there was no problem and they suggested "operator error." Another desk clerk ran it and it was fine. Also, the first room reeked of chemicals and perfumes so we had to be moved.
The valet guys were really nice; it costs 30 bucks to park your car overnight.
Overall it was ok but it wasn't luxurious or mind blowing, it was just a hotel room in a city. They do accept dogs, so if I stay in Seattle and have my pooch with me I may stay there for that fact alone, but I would look at other options first.
