The Fairmont hotels have the innate capacity to instantly transport their guests to a posh soiree in “The Great Gatsby.” Although the men donning suits might be in their business attire more so than social get-ups and the ladies must have left their flapper garb at home, The Fairmont Olympic Hotel in downtown Seattle oozes ritz and glamor only seen in high-budget films and classic 20th century literature.
Nothing less than a three-piece ensemble and top hat will swathe the valet employees as they salute guests upon arrival at the spectacularly landscaped driveway of the Fairmont Olympic. Italian renaissance architecture, velvet carpeting and street-side boutiques greet patrons as they load their bags into an elevator up to the lobby, which itself is outfitted in high ceilings and draping crystal chandeliers. Surrounded by event and meeting halls to equal splendor, the lobby leads into The Terrace piano bar, where the countertop and bar seating is tucked into a dimly-lit cave and the vibrant and elegant lobby features the majority of the tables so guests can take their pick, mood-dependent.
At the bustling street-side Shuckers Oyster Bar, guests can choose from nearly 15 different oyster varieties served nine different ways, from Rockafeller to house-smoked and barbecued. As one of the city’s oldest and still open oyster bars, Shuckers provides a cozy, antique pub atmosphere for guests with its carved oak paneling and tin ceiling.
Maybe an afternoon $8 happy hour cocktail or oyster shooter isn’t your cup of tea. But a cup of tea would be just right—The Georgian Room restaurant offers traditional “Afternoon Tea,” which includes a selection of loose-leaf teas, tea sandwiches, savories and housemade scones from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (Saturdays and Sundays start at noon) for $39.
The Georgian Room, also adorned in high ceilings, magnificent, massive chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling Palladian windows, is French-inspired Northwest cuisine that dishes up for breakfast, lunch and dinner on the daily. Early risers can choose from an expansive breakfast menu that includes made-to-order, personalized omelets and the Olympic Buffet (endless flow of morning grub), lunch showcases their signature Lusciously Loaded Louie salad which is all that and more with mounds of shrimp or crab on top along with a wild King salmon burger with roasted garlic fries, while dinner steps up the game with an old school and vintage-chic menu, ranging from a “massive” prawn cocktail and foie gras to New York steak and lobster surf and turf and a roasted rack of lamb.
Bringing the same swagger of historic décor from the restaurants and lobby to the 450 hotel rooms and suites, guests can dive into the dapper digs including oversized lavish beds, restroom parlors, vanity desks and courtyard or city views from the large windows. All of the rooms are business or pleasure ready—complete with regular amenities for both causes, like wireless internet access and terrycloth bathrobes, respectively. Guests have access also to the health club, located on the second floor with more than 10,000 square feet to get fit in with a swimming pool, whirlpool, saunas, locker rooms and more. Pamper on a different level at Penelope & The Beauty Bar, a spa and wellness center that has European-designed body slimming machines, massage and sugaring stations as well as facials and nail treatments.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Fairmont Olympic Hotel has upheld its endearment as a Seattle landmark since 1924, timelessly preserving its elegance and grandeur.
The Fairmont Olympic Hotel || 411 University St, Seattle || fairmont.com/seattle
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