Skip to content

Seattle Culture

Staycation, Anyone?

These three Seattle hotels are perfect for a quick escape without leaving the city

By Claire Yurdin November 21, 2024

Three hands holding different drinks in cocktails and champagne glasses, with a stunning cityscape view in the background, capturing the essence of a perfect staycation.
Photo courtesy of Hotel Sorrento

Staying in a hotel in your hometown might seem unusual at first, but a mini staycation provides a change of environment, promotes mental wellbeing, and gives you an opportunity to reintroduce yourself to your home city. Here are three of our favorites for quick overnight or long weekend getaways.

 

Hotel Sorrento

A night at the four-star Hotel Sorrento can provide a refreshing break.

One of the oldest hotels in Seattle and on the National Historic Register, the independently owned Sorrento is thoughtfully renovated. The original 1909 carved wood moldings and paneling are preserved and refinished, combined with turn-of-the-century-style furniture, drapery, original art, and modern conveniences. Each room is different, and the bathroom includes a long porcelain tub, perfect for the luxurious soak you never have time for at home.

A brick building at night, adorned with string lights and a cozy courtyard with seating, invites you to unwind on your ultimate staycation. The welcoming sign reads "Hotel Sorrento.

The vibe is artsy meets cozy continental, with consistently thoughtful attentive service — a rarity these days.

I recommend staying Saturday night to catch live jazz in the lovely wood-paneled Fireside Room. Dine, listen, and enjoy the fire. The excellent hotel restaurant Stella serves coastal Italian-inspired cuisine. Return there Sunday morning for more jazz during brunch from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. The music plays a large part in floating you somewhere else, combined with the architecture, décor, food, and good service.

An outdoor restaurant table set for an idyllic staycation experience, featuring two dishes and a drink on one side; two hands sharing bread with various dishes on the other side.
Stella at Hotel Sorrento
Photo courtesy of Stella

Two blocks south is the Frye Museum, presenting contemporary art exhibits and a permanent collection of German artists, an homage by its founders to their homeland. Museum admission is always free. After browsing the exhibits, stop by the artistically decorated museum café for a Galician-inspired sandwich, salad, or snack with coffee, beer, or wine.

You won’t need to go home until late Sunday afternoon. The chores can wait.

 

Graduate Hotel

A U District fixture since 1931, when its unique combination of Art Deco style, modern concrete architecture, and height made it an instant landmark, the four-star Graduate Hotel’s cantilevered rounded corners make “every room a corner room.” The current owner, Graduate Hotels by Hilton, decorates its college-town hotels with a deep respect for local history and the nearby university community.

The Art Deco theme contains many UW touches, including sports team photos, both current and historical. The rooftop bar, the Mountaineering Club, has outstanding views of Lake Washington, the Cascades, and Olympics. A ground floor coffee shop offers breakfast, coffee, snacks, and space to hang out.

Experience the perfect staycation in our hotel room featuring a large bed, a stunning city view through a bay window, and a vintage photo on the wall. Relax on the couch by the window with a small table nearby for your convenience.

Rooftop bar with wooden tables and chairs overlooking a cityscape, perfect for enjoying under a clear blue sky during your staycation.
Mountaineering Club at Graduate Hotel
Photo courtesy of Graduate Hotel

Street parking in this neighborhood is sparse. Overnight hotel valet-only parking is $44, but worth it for this dose of luxury combined with collegiate nostalgia.

 

Mayflower Park Hotel

For a quintessential Seattle staycation, the Mayflower Park Hotel offers historic charm with European elegance. Opened in 1927, this independently owned hotel features beautifully restored interiors and Queen Anne-style furnishings that balance vintage character with modern comfort.

The hotel exterior boasts a U.S. flag and a green flag, inviting guests for the perfect staycation. A circular door canopy proudly displays "Andaluca Restaurant," with steps leading to a grand entrance flanked by elegant planters, promising comfort and luxury.

A delightful staycation treat: a seafood dish with shrimp, mussels, and clams on a bed of rice in a black pan, elegantly placed on a white plate with folded cloth napkins beside it.
Seafood Paella at Andaluca
Photo courtesy of Mayflower Park Hotel

Dine at Andaluca, where seasonal Northwest ingredients meet the flavors and spices of Spain and the Mediterranean. The restaurant serves traditional breakfast daily and dinner Tuesday through Saturday, offering dishes like marinated olives with fragrant herbs, seared scallops with lime-cilantro vinaigrette, and a hearty Andaluca Paella packed with prawns, clams, chicken, and saffron rice.

Afterward, visit Oliver’s Lounge — Washington’s first daylight bar — for a perfectly crafted cocktail.

Follow Us

The Pulse: Full Speed into May

The Pulse: Full Speed into May

Taco season is upon us and tidepool creatures are putting on a show

The sun’s out and the pollen is rude, but it’s almost Cinco de Mayo. My grandpa was Mexican and ran a restaurant, so we always mark the day with a party at our place — carnitas and Pacifico. I’ll be cooking. The kids will be slamming horchata. What about you? Are you celebrating? Here’s what’s…

A Big Win for Pioneer Square’s Small Businesses

A Big Win for Pioneer Square’s Small Businesses

New grants fuel neighborhood establishments as downtown changes and pressures mount

The federal government is pulling funding from important community services, research and nonprofits. Across the region, organizations are scrambling to stay open — or closing for good. Small businesses are getting hammered by tariffs and recession fears. But in Seattle’s oldest neighborhood, there’s a different story unfolding. The Alliance for Pioneer Square, a nonprofit focused…

The Pulse: Smells Like Spring

The Pulse: Smells Like Spring

Surveillance debates and a Jurassic-sized surprise

It’s been warm enough to eat outside, so we did: enchiladas and cucumber salad on the deck last night, with a light chicken manure breeze for ambiance. No shade to the neighbors — it’s garden season, and I support it 100%. Here’s what’s going on around town… Spice Waala’s soft serve flavor this week? Turmeric…

Spot. Snap. Identify.

Spot. Snap. Identify.

Help Seattle win a worldwide wildlife challenge just by taking pictures

Grab your phone, open your camera, and start looking for bugs. Or birds. Or that weird plant you always see but have no idea what it is. Seattle-Tacoma is back in for the world’s largest bioblitz, kicking off April 25. Around here, spotting an eagle during the afternoon commute or a strange mushroom on the…