The State Hotel

The State Hotel Overview

First Impressions

Walking into The State Hotel on 2nd Avenue, you immediately get that this is a place that knows what it’s doing. The lobby has this understated elegance — not trying too hard, but definitely polished. It’s one of those four-star properties that feels more intimate than the massive chain hotels you’ll find scattered around downtown. The staff actually remembers your name after the first day, which honestly surprised me given how busy this area gets.

Location & Neighborhood

Here’s the thing about staying in the heart of Seattle — you’re literally steps from Pike Place Market, and I mean you can smell the fish vendors from the hotel entrance on a good day. The waterfront is maybe a three-minute walk, and you’ve got easy access to the ferry terminals if you want to explore the islands. What I really appreciated was being able to walk to most of the major attractions without dealing with the headache of downtown parking. The location score of 9.7 makes total sense when you realize you can hit the Space Needle, Seattle Art Museum, and about a dozen great restaurants without needing a car.

The Room Experience

My room faced 2nd Avenue, and while there’s some street noise (it’s downtown, after all), the windows do a decent job of muffling it. The design feels contemporary without being cold — think clean lines but with enough character that you don’t feel like you’re sleeping in an office building. The bathroom was surprisingly spacious for a downtown hotel, and the shower pressure was actually impressive. You know what really stood out? The little details, like having enough outlets near the bed and blackout curtains that actually work.

Dining & Amenities

The hotel’s restaurant serves solid Pacific Northwest fare — nothing groundbreaking, but the salmon was perfectly cooked and they source locally, which you can taste. Breakfast isn’t included, but there are so many coffee shops within a block that it’s hardly an issue. Actually, being this close to the original Starbucks is sort of fun, even if the lines are ridiculous. The fitness center is compact but has everything you need, and the business center came in handy when I needed to print boarding passes.

Why Guests Love It

What makes this place work is that balance between being right in the action but not feeling chaotic. Couples especially seem to love it here — and I can see why, given how easy it is to stroll down to the waterfront for dinner or catch a show at one of the nearby theaters. The staff genuinely seems to care about making your stay smooth, and the location really can’t be beat if you want to experience Seattle on foot. It’s the kind of place where you spend less time in your room because there’s so much to explore right outside, but when you do come back, everything just works the way it should.

The State Hotel Accommodations

Reviews of The State Hotel

• Kan from Canada – 11 May 2025 (10/10)

  Location is great and within walking distance of everything we wanted to do.
  Rooftop to see the great wheel..
  
  What could be improved: No mini fridge or microwave in the room.

• Baneza from United States – 17 March 2025 (10/10)

  The rooms are pricey but I enjoyed the extra benefits the rooms came with that were unexpected like the $15 credit to Ben Paris, 50% admission to SAM as well as other benefits. I enjoyed having restaurant/lounge in the same building. And when it was time to stroll the city, the location was great as it provided walking distance to many places I wanted to check out.
  
  What could be improved: I didn’t know about the discount for parking if you book parking ahead of time. I couldn’t find where to book parking. But regardless parking fees weren’t too crazy and it was a short walk from and to the parking garage.

• Ashley from Canada – 30 December 2024 (10/10)

  Very clean and amazing location

• Gleb from United States – 26 December 2024 (8/10)

  Loved the decor (very special wallpaper, leather accents on the room) and the top-floor terrace with great views of Pike Place Market, Elliott Bay and downtown. The restaurant (Ben Paris) is also notable, with the smart 15-dollar credit in the form of a casino token. The bed was very comfortable. The kettle-based in-room coffee service is a refreshing departure from the ubiquitous Keurig.
  
  What could be improved: This hotel suffers from what I call the 4-star syndrome: no microwave (somehow it’s considered plebeian for 4-star hotels) and a castrated no-freezer fridge – but wait, there was NO fridge at all at State, in-room or otherwise, and it was a real bummer. Yes, folks, the rich also refrigerate!
  
  But the most outrageous thing was $22.07 for 2 small bottles of boxed water. They had small, gray and inconspicuous stickers on them: "Available for purchase, $10". Each bottle was pint-sized (500 ml to be precise). I didn’t notice the stickers and drank this liter of wine-priced water, finding out only later from my credit card bill. BEWARE THE BOXED WATER! Nobody will turn it into wine for you.

• Gale from United States – 15 December 2024 (10/10)

  The Staff were the most friendly

• Alexis from United States – 9 December 2024 (10/10)

  The location was perfect! Loved the deck on the 8th floor. The complimentary snacks + hot cocoa were a nice bonus. I also loved the interior design of the room + the smell of the body wash and shampoo.
  
  What could be improved: N/A

• Lori from United States – 23 October 2024 (9/10)

  Convenient location for walking and catching the monorail. Staff helpful and friendly. Clean. Good coffee in lobby😀
  
  What could be improved: Room was a little too small, bathroom sink too narrow, water kept spilling over. Coffee in room tasted horrible.

• Mario from United States – 8 October 2024 (10/10)

  Location was perfect.clean hotel room and very nice towels.
  
  What could be improved: The shower was nice but sprayed water onto the floor no matter where you stood in the shower

• Robert from United States – 1 September 2024 (10/10)

  Great location. Walking distance to most attractions.
  
  What could be improved: Not a very safe area after dark. A lot of homeless, mentally disabled and very open drug users outside.

• Thomas from United Kingdom – 19 August 2024 (10/10)

  Hotel was really stylish and room extremely comfortable. Loved the little touches such as water and snacks in reception, free postcards, tea and coffee in the rooms, great robes. Toiletries provided were great quality. Excellent location just a few minutes walk to Pike Place marketplace. Staff were super friendly. Rooftop terrace has great views. Bar and restaurant on site is really nice and has a great happy hour.

Surroundings

Facilities