I've been working in Seattle off and on for quite a while and I've stayed at a lot of the 3 and 4-star hotels in the central area. Hands down, my favorite is Hotel Ändra, and I stay there a lot. From the moment you walk into the warm but modern lobby, you are greeted by friendly, professional staff and the enticing smells of garlic, salmon, and Ouzo from Lola, the adjoining restaurant.
Because the hotel was formerly an apartment building the rooms are more spacious than you would expect. I stay most often in what they call a Superia King and unlike many inner city hotels where you must inch around a king bed, the rooms at Andra are so spacious the bed is not the slightest impediment. There's even room for a couch, a coffee table and end table, a very nice work area and sometimes a wet bar. A lot of these rooms have walk-in closets and they all have super efficient and stylish bathrooms.
If you find you need room service, you get it from Tom Douglas's restaurants, the aforementioned Lola (mediterranean) or Serious Pie (foodie style wood-fired pizza). I like to get a cocktail from Lola and enjoy it in the excellent lobby or on the mezzanine. Starting last week the wi-fi is now free - you just have to ask for a code for each device you'll be using. The gym is small but pretty well-appointed and usually I have it all to myself.
As for location, it's three blocks to the downtown shopping area, six blocks to the famous Public Market, three blocks the other way to Belltown's hot bars and restaurants, one block to the classic Cinerama theater, and another block and a half to Top Pot Doughnuts. In other words, you couldn't be in a better spot.
Speaking of doughnuts, one other don't-miss at Hotel Andra are the doughnuts from Dahlia Bakery across the street. A bag of fresh hot doughnuts is shaken with cinnamon and sugar and served with whipped mascarpone and local jam. Your cardiologist recommends you at least walk across the street and get them but you can order them from room service, too.
What brings me back to this hotel time after time is the feeling that the folks who work here actually care about the guest's experience in a way that I just don't get from even the best of chain hotels. Truly a unique and satisfying place to hang your hat.
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