Serving as the hub of the ceaselessly expanding lifestyle destination that Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood has become, the Hotel Ballard sits in the center of Ballard Avenue’s swarming scene. A boutique hotel style unique to North Seattle, the Hotel Ballard resides respectively in Ballard’s historic and Nordic atmosphere, with elegant yet modest architecture, four stories of guest rooms and a nonpareil rooftop that looks west to Puget Sound’s Shilshole Bay and south to Seattle’s cityscape.
The 29 luxurious rooms, including a number of suites that elevate the travel experience, are all appointed and furnished with sophisticated trimmings and décor from cushioned headboards to Juliet balconies.
Hotel Ballard might not have a restaurant to call its own but it does have a neighbor eatery tucked into its main, street-level floor—Stoneburner, one of the latest additions to restaurateurs James Weimann and Deming Maclise’s portfolio. Guests are greeted with Milanese-influenced adornments, including the bar’s woodwork that was once part of the Italian Embaassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, while the high-vaulted ceilings at the entrance are reminiscent of a barrel made from repurposed fir found in Ballard. Cuisine and beverage are also Mediterranean-inspired and on visual display, like the massive gas-fired stone oven that cooks pizzas and vegetables alike or the charcuterie station that slices fresh-to-order behind the host stand. Pastas are house-made and strongly recommended.
Nor does Hotel Ballard have an in-house gym, but guests do have free, full 24-hour access to the Olympic Athletic Club, adjacent to the hotel lobby with 50,000 square-feet of gym space completely with fitness classes, cardio and weight-lifting equipment, two lap pools and more.
If scheduling well in advance, book one of the Courtyard Suites for top-shelf, rooftop privacy. The individual suites can become a home away from home, with a cozy fireplaces, soaking tub, two high definition televisions, a parlor with a sleeper sofa, a king-sized bedroom, a personal outdoor seating area and access to the panoramic views of the neighborhood and city, just out the front door.
Hotel Ballard || 5216 Ballard Avenue NW, Seattle || hotelballardseattle.com
