Loews Hotel 1000 Review

Loews Hotel 1000 located in the heart of downtown Seattle is a hidden gem. Located just a few blocks away from the Pike Place Market, Elliot Bay and Pioneer Square, the hotel is located in the perfect place to walk just about anywhere.

Loews Hotel 1000

The most notable thing perhaps about Loews Hotel 1000 is that is just underwent a multi-million dollar renovation in the fall of 2017. From the lobby to the guest rooms, the hotel was completely renovated from top to bottom. If we had to describe the vibe of this hotel in the heart of the big city it would be organic meets industrial. And we loved it.

Our Room

The Loews Hotel 1000 is like your smaller boutique hotel properties with just 120 guest rooms and suites. Every single room has been given a new palette following the renovation. The rooms feature a color scheme that reflect the city of Seattle with soft grays, rich greens and a hint of rose giving the rooms a warm and home-like feeling.

The room featured sleek modern surfaces with industrial light fixtures and organic textiles tying it all together. And let's talk about the incredible views of Elliott Bay, a glimpse of the city and of Seattle's Great Wheel. We could just stare out the windows for hours!

The bathroom was a spa-inspired bathroom with a luxurious free-standing tub that fills from the ceiling, yes the ceiling! And the bathroom has also has a walk-in shower and toilet room that are divided by glass enclosures.

Dining

The on-site restaurant at Loews Hotel 1000 is All Water Seafood & Oyster Bar. For seafood lovers, this restaurant is known for their boat-to-table cuisine. Featuring flavors from the Pacific Northwest in the dishes they are cooking up. We went to breakfast at All Water and were impressed. The ambiance is very warm and inviting with an industrial and mid-century modern feel. We opted for the Classic Benedict that was actually served on a biscuit and The Classic breakfast, both of which were delicious!

Amenities

There are plenty of amenities at the Loews Hotel 1000 such as the on-site spa, fitness center and golf simulator all of which are located on the lower-level. You forget you are right in the heart of the city when utilizing these amenities.

We used the fitness center to grab a quick workout in between drinking too much delicious Seattle coffee. And while it is on the small side, it has everything you need to get a good workout in. There are plenty of free weights, a cable machine and cardio equipment to get your sweat on.

And remember, if you book with a travel agent like Virtual Travel Gurus, you’ll get extra benefits like complimentary breakfast, a $100 food & beverage credit, room upgrade, early check-in and late check-out!

Weekend Wanderings: Seattle Guide

Seattle is one of our favorite places to spend a long weekend. Despite the fact that Seattle has a reputation for rain and more rain, it's not quite as bad as people make it seem. Summers are often warm and dry in Seattle. And the dry weather often starts in the spring.

Where To Stay

Thompson Seattle: The 158 room Thompson Seattle, twelve story boutique hotel opened in the summer of 2016. The Thompson features floor to ceiling windows with incredible views of Pike’s Place Market and the waterfront. The first floor of the hotel is home to restaurant Scout PNW and the hotel has a rooftop bar and lounge, the Nest.

Some of our other favorite hotels include the Grand Hyatt Seattle and Hyatt at Olive 8. Plus the soon to open The Charter Seattle, Curio Collection by Hilton Hotel.

Where To Eat

Biscuit Bitch: This funky Seattle biscuit shop known for gravy-drenched, cheese-topped hangover cures is a must stop for breakfast, for a snack in general for any biscuit lovers. Be prepared for crudeness followed up by delicious biscuits. In fact when you order, they'll likely ask "Bitch, what would you like to order".

Il Corvo: Il Corvo is located in the Pioneer Square area of Seattle where Chef Mike Easton prepares fresh pasta using artisanal techniques and the finest ingredients. They are only open for lunch and you'll wait in a line even if you get there when they open at 11 AM. And you can't grab a table until you've ordered, it's a strictly enforced rule. But they do serve some of the best pasta we've ever eaten and we would wait for their delicious pasta each and every day.

The Pink Door: The Pink Door is an independently owned restaurant that has been quietly dedicated to fresh & local Italian food since 1981. The Pink Door serves delicious, uncomplicated Italian-American food during lunch and dinner with many offerings derived from long-lasting family recipes.

And with the recent expansion, The Pink Door's new space has incredible views overlooking Pike Place Market.

Where To Get Coffee

Seattle has a world class coffee scene. And you'll find coffee shops on nearly every corner. Here are just a few of our favorite places to get caffeinated when we are spending a weekend in Seattle.

Starbucks Reserve Roastery: The Starbucks Reserve Roastery is the Starbucks immersive, dramatic, theatrical expression of coffee craft and the ongoing pursuit of the world's rarest small-lot coffees. Plus the Reserve Roastery is housed in an iconic building that was originally a car dealership that opened in the 1920s. The Reserve Roastery in Seattle is a great chance to try Starbucks coffee drinks you won't find anywhere else.

And as a bonus the Reserve Roastery serves up Seattle's famous Beecher's grilled cheese. So enjoy a cup of delicious, small-lot coffee and a tasty grilled cheese.

Caffè Vita: Caffè Vita was founded in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood in 1995. And Caffè Vita has been named one of the top ten places "to get the best coffee in America. Rightfully so, because they serve up some of our all-time favorite coffee.

Moore Coffee Shop: Moore Coffee has two coffee shops near Pike Place Market in Seattle. And while the coffee and espresso at Moore Coffee is good, the latte art is even better. Plus the family owned coffee shop with a loungey vibe serves up delicious sweet and savory waffles.

Where To Go For Dessert

Indi Chocolate: Experience a whole new world of Chocolate at Seattle's Indi Chocolate located near Pike Place Market. Indi Chocolate is a bean to bar chocolate shop. They source cacao beans directly from farmers and cooperatives to make small batch, single origin, dark chocolate.

In addition to their delicious chocolate, you'll find a wide range of cacao based products including teas, spice rubs, and body care products made from cocoa butter. And they also serve up delicious coffee drinks including mochas made with their small batch chocolate.

Top Pot Doughnuts: Doughnuts aren't just for breakfast. And we don't ever need a reason to eat a donut. But they do make a good snack or dessert. Luckily Seattle has some incredible doughnuts shops. One of our favorites is Top Pot Doughnuts. And they do things the old-fashioned way with their hand-forged gourmet doughnuts.

What To Do

Pike Place Market: Pike Place Market is Seattle's epicenter of fresh produce, specialty foods and independent businesses. Within the nine-acre historic district you'll discover dozens of farmers, a bustling crafts market, and more than 200 unique owner-operated shops.

Pike Place Market has more than 80 restaurants to tempt you, from take-out counters specializing in donuts to fine dining establishments. So you'll definitely want to bring your appetite when you are exploring Pike Place Market and savor some of the delicious food options.

Seattle Space Needle: Built in 1962, the Seattle Space Needle has since become the symbol of Seattle, and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The Space Needle has an observation deck at 520 feet and the rotating SkyCity restaurant at 500 ft.

The downtown Seattle skyline, as well as the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Elliott Bay and surrounding islands can be viewed from the top of the Needle.

Smith Tower: Smith Tower is a historic, iconic skyscraper in Pioneer Square. Completed in 1914, the 38-story, 484 ft tower is the oldest skyscraper in the city, and was among the tallest skyscrapers outside New York City at the time of its completion.

The great thing about the Smith Tower is not only does it offer stunning 360-degree views of the Seattle Skyline but you also have an opportunity to capture great views of the Seattle Space Needle.

Conclusion

Seattle is a vibrant, culturally rich city with an incredible food scene. On sunny days, there is plenty to do in Seattle including catching great views from the Seattle Space Needle or Smith Tower. On those rainy days, grab a cup of coffee at one of Seattle's craft coffee shops. And if coffee isn't your scene, Seattle is also known for amazing craft beer and cider.

Thompson Seattle Review

Whether you are looking for an awesome hotel for a weekend in Seattle or are just visiting for one night, The Thompson Seattle is an excellent choice. Located right by Pike’s Place Market, this swanky hotel is very modern and makes you feel right at home.

THOMPSON SEATTLE

The 158 room, twelve story boutique hotel which opened in the summer of 2016 features floor to ceiling windows with incredible views of Pike's Place Market and the waterfront. The first floor of the hotel is home to restaurant Scout PNW and the hotel has a rooftop bar and lounge, the Nest.

The Thompson Seattle is one of the best located hotels in Seattle. Centrally located next to the historic waterfront quarter of Downtown Seattle, the hotel is a short walk from Pike's Place Market. The Thompson Seattle is located within close proximity to excellent Downtown Seattle shopping, restaurants and the monorail which connects downtown to the Seattle Space Needle.

The package we booked included a room upgrade, free breakfast at Scout PNW, two cocktails at the Nest and one-way transportation from the airport. When we arrived at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport just before noon on Saturday, our driver was waiting for us. It's about a twenty minute drive from the airport to the Thompson Seattle.

When we arrived at the hotel, the modern was modern, yet elegant and inviting. We were told our room would be ready within thirty minutes so we took the opportunity to grab a quick breakfast at Biscuit Bitch, located directly across from the Thompson Seattle (it's worth the wait - trust us).

THE ROOM

After breakfast when we arrived in our room and we were pleasantly surprised to see that we had been upgraded to a corner suite. The room had an incredible view of of Pike's Place Market and the waterfront (even through the low clouds).

The suite was warm, yet modern and featured two separate rooms, a bedroom and living room. The room also had two full bathrooms.

The living room had several chairs, a comfortable couch, coffee table, flat screen television and minibar.

The bedroom had an extremely comfortable king size bed with two night stands. For the proximity to a busy area of Downtown Seattle, we didn't notice an excessive amount of street noise which definitely made for a good night of sleep.

Both bathrooms had that industrial modern look with a vanity, walk-in shower and toilet. The bathrooms were quite functional however felt a bit sterile and cold compared to the rest of the room. But the design was still aesthetically pleasing.

Thompson Hotels including the Thompson Seattle have a special line of toiletries curated from D.S. Durga. The toiletries were top notch. They did have a slightly more masculine scent than most hotel toiletries (matching the feel of Thompson Hotels).

DINING

One of the best features of the Thompson Seattle is the NEST, a rooftop bar and lounge.The NEST boasts itself as the highest rooftop bar and lounge in Seattle. We did enjoy a late night cocktail at the NEST.  The drink was great and the views are outstanding. The space is on the smaller side and about half of the rooftop bar and lounge is dedicated to an outdoor patio which is unusable a good chunk of the year.

The next morning we went down to PNW Scout for breakfast. Breakfast was the only meal we had at PNW Scout but it was honestly less than stellar. For a five star hotel, the on site restaurant left a little to be desired. Service was fairly slow, our meals weren't great and the bacon that was served with both of our entrees looked like it came from a truck stop and should have never been served at a restaurant of this caliber. After we said something about the bacon, they brought us out another order of bacon which wasn't much better. The manager, who was chatting with a guest right next to our table, noticed the bacon and the replacement order of bacon yet never once bothered to check on us. We were definitely disappointed in the breakfast and service.

AMENITIES

While we didn't get a chance to try it out, the Thompson Seattle does have a gorgeous, state of the art fitness center that is open 24 hours a day. The fitness center has floor to ceiling windows overlooking 1st Avenue. There is no pool or hot tub at the Thompson Seattle.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Other than breakfast, we enjoyed our stay at the Thompson Hotel. The location of the hotel is perfect and the room and bathroom couldn't have been better. The hotel service was also what you would expect from an upper end hotel. And as great as the rooftop bar was in November, it's likely incredible on a sunny day in the summer.

Extra Benefits

And when you book with Live Luxe Travel Co. through our Hyatt Privé partnership, you’ll get complimentary extras like a $100 property credit, daily breakfast for two, a room upgrade at the time of booking and a welcome amenity.