Hotel Review: Weekend Trip in Seattle at the Inn at the Market

This blog post was made in collaboration with the the Inn at the Market. All my opinions are my own.

It has been awhile since I explored Seattle. Living just outside of the city, I tend to take the area for granted. Areas like Pike Place, Space Needle or Chihuly are all places I never think to check out as they are typically visited by tourists. However, I got the opportunity to spend a weekend downtown doing things I never make the time to do!

WHERE IS THE INN AT THE MARKET LOCATED?

Address: 86 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101

More about the Inn at the Market: The Inn at the Market has 79 rooms and is located right at Pike Place market, making it an ideal location to be able to explore downtown Seattle all on foot. The Inn at the Market also boasts amazing views of Pike Place, Seattle’s Waterfront, the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. The Inn at the Market has also been recently renovated.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM MY STAY AT THE INN AT THE MARKET

The Location

I have been yelling praises on my Instagram about the location of the Inn at the Market. This hotel is literally right in Pike Place Market and right next to Post Alley!

The Hotel Room

I definitely wasn’t expecting anything more than an amazing view of Pike Place and the ocean from my hotel room, but my expectations were exceeded when I walked in and saw that we also had a giant rooftop deck shared with only one other room! If you want to book the same room we had, book the “Deluxe Water View Deck Room”

The Rooftop

Don’t worry, if you don’t book the deck room, you still have access to an amazing rooftop deck that all hotel rooms have access to. The rooftop is huge and there are also a few firepits. We ended up bringing our lunch back to the rooftop to enjoy the views with no crowds! In the summer they also have some lounge chairs where you can soak up some sun.

The Staff

From the moment we checked in to the moment we checked out, the staff were super friendly and attentive. Parking is valet and was a seamless process. Check in was quick and when we came down to grab a drink from the front desk, they went above and beyond to bring a glass of ice to the rooftop for my husband’s whiskey.

WHAT ARE THINGS YOU CAN DO NEAR THE INN AT THE MARKET?

EXPLORE PIKE PLACE MARKET: 1 MINUTE WALK

As mentioned, the Inn at the Market is the most ideal hotel if you want to be able to easily explore Pike Place. Some of the highlights of Pike Place for me are:

Ellenos Yogurt: Did you know Ellenos Yogurt is Seattle based? Now you do! The only storefront they have is located in Pike Place market. They have 14+ different yogurt flavors you can get and they are scooped out of pans similar to an ice cream shop! I did a few collaborations with Ellenos earlier this year (collab 1, collab 2) and made it a point to stop by their shop when we were staying downtown. I stuck with my staple flavor: Passionfruit, because I love the texture of the seeds.

The Original Starbucks: It is normal to see super long lines out of this Starbucks. I recommend getting there early, because honestly it’s just another Starbucks. Take a photo from the outside and use the order ahead option on the Starbucks app so you don’t have to wait in line.

The “Pink Flowers” Wall: This is actually more of a painted stairwell. You can find the pink flowers wall next to Kasala Furniture.

The Flying Fish: Due to the current situation, I am not sure if they are doing the flying fish demonstration. They weren’t the few times we walked past. However, if they are, it is definitely a cool thing to see!

The “Fish” Wall: There is a really cute fish mural wall right next to Old Stove Brewing near the elevators.

Rachel’s Ginger Beer: This was the first time I visited this location. If you like ginger beer, you will love Rachel’s Ginger beer. They have a bunch of different flavors, they have CBD ginger beer and even have cocktails!

Gum Wall: Chances are you probably already have this spot on your list as you will find it in every Seattle blog you read. Check it out, but don’t spend too much time here. People put their chewed gum on the wall. It isn’t very pandemic friendly.

Kells Irish Bar: I went to Kells when I was younger and it is definitely a place to hang out on a Saturday night. However, now it is a fun spot to grab a drink. When I visited in January 2021, they had outdoor seating (some covered).

Pike Place Chowder: This is a good one and only steps from Inn at the Market down Post Alley. I got the seafood special in a bread bowl. The seafood special is always changing based on seafood they currently have. Mine ended up having lobster and corn. The market special is just $1 more than the price of the other chowders.

NEARBY BREWERIES: LESS THAN 5 MINUTE WALK

If you know me, than you know I love breweries. Naturally, I had to find a few within walking distance to Pike Place.

Old Stove Brewing: Old Stove is still a part of Pike Place and is in the newer addition of the market. Old Stove currently has outdoor seating, but they have a great system. You order at the door, take a number and then find a seat. We didn’t have to wait too long in line.

Cloudburst Brewing: Cloudburst is only a few minutes from Pike Place (near Cost Plus World Market). They typically have a tasting room, however, they are currently only doing cans to go. We grabbed a 4 pack and enjoyed back in our hotel room.

Pike Brewing Company: I was sad that Pike Brewing was closed due to the pandemic and current no indoor dining rules. I went here a few years ago and it has such a cool atmosphere. Keep checking their site for current hours.

EXPLORE THE SEATTLE WATERFRONT: 5 MINUTE WALK

The waterfront has some pretty cool spots to check out. The waterfront is just on the other side of Pike Place so it takes a few minutes to walk down all those stairs. Some highlights of the waterfront are:

The Seattle Aquarium: The is a great spot to visit for all ages. It is currently closed, but keep checking back on their site for their re-opening.

The Great Wheel: The Great Wheel is now an iconic part of the Seattle skyline! I went on it a few years ago and it was a cool way to see Seattle from the air. Tickets are $15 per person.

Wings over Washington: Have you ever been to Disneyland and gone on “Soarin’ over the World?” The Wings over Washington is the same concept: you are airborne and a giant screen is projecting iconic sites in Washington while also pumping out gusts of wind, certain smells and more! This experience is currently closed, but keep checking their website for an opening date!

SHOP AT WESTLAKE CENTER: 6 MINUTE WALK

I hadn’t been in Westlake Center in quite a few years, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that it looked like it got a facelift. Westlake is a shopping center with cool places to eat, drink and shop. Some of the highlights for me are: Zara, Nordstrom Rack, any of the food spots in the food court! This is also where you can catch the monorail to head to the Space Needle.

VISIT THE SPACE NEEDLE & CHIHULY: 6 MINUTE WALK + 3 MINUTE MONORAIL RIDE

Space Needle and Chihuly can easily be accessed via a 3 minute monorail ride taken from Westlake Center. If you live in the Seattle area and have an Orca card (card used to tap and pay for public transportation), you can take the monorail for free. Otherwise, the cost is only $6 round trip.

I recommend buying the Space Needle + Chihuly Gardens combo ticket for $49 per person.

Visiting the Space Needle in January 2021

To get the most up to date guidelines for visiting the Space Needle, be sure to visit their website

When you purchase a ticket, you select a time range for when you would like to enter. We waited for maybe 5 minutes in line and also prior to a brief security screening, we went into this machine where we slowly rotated for 30 seconds. It was this “UV-C” cleaner. They have a very helpful graphic as you wait in line that explains what exactly it does.

The ride to the top is only 47 seconds. They let you off the escalator on the top floor where there are some amazing views! Don’t forget to walk down a flight to get onto the slow moving glass floor! We spent about 30 minutes here and it was cool to check.

Visiting Chihuly Gardens in January 2021

To get the most up to date guidelines for visiting Chihuly, be sure to visit their website

The entrance line was similar to the Space Needle. We went through that same UV-C cleaner. Chihuly is currently operating under a 25% capacity. It ended up working out for us because it definitely didn’t feel super crowded and made it easier to enjoy the art from up close.

I recommend grabbing a drink from the bar and hanging out in the outside garden. They do live glass blowing demonstrations; times are posted near the demonstration area.