Arctic Club Hotel (The Arctic Club Seattle)
by the TopOfHotel team
The draw here is the beautifully preserved 1916 building — terracotta walrus heads on the facade, a stained-glass northern-lights dome in the Dome Room, attentive DoubleTree service with a warm cookie at check-in, and a central spot you can walk from to Lumen Field, traded against some old-building rooms that run small and a neighborhood that goes quiet after dark.
The draw here is the beautifully preserved 1916 building — terracotta walrus heads on the facade, a stained-glass northern-lights dome in the Dome Room, attentive DoubleTree service with a warm cookie at check-in, and a central spot you can walk from to Lumen Field, traded against some old-building rooms that run small and a neighborhood that goes quiet after dark.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The charm of the Arctic Club Hotel starts before you even step inside. Walk up to the front on 3rd Ave and you look up to see terracotta walrus heads lined along the old brick facade, tusks jutting out as if alive — the signature that Seattle locals recognize instantly. The building went up in 1916 as the home of the Arctic Club, a social club for the prospectors and businessmen who came back rich from the Klondike gold rush in Alaska and the Yukon in the late 1800s, and the exterior is dressed in ivory-glazed terracotta tiles in the style of the day. Open the door and it feels like stepping back in time: a marble lobby, high ceilings, classic lighting, and woodwork and plasterwork that have been carefully restored. The building is a registered city historic landmark, and it now runs under DoubleTree by Hilton, which blends big-chain comfort with the character of the old structure. Inside the rooms, that history shows up in a way you will not get from a new build. Each room type varies in size and layout following the original building, many with high ceilings and large windows, decorated in warm old-world tones with just the right amount of Hilton comfort layered in. Beds come with soft linens that several reviews call easy to sleep on.
Food and amenities
If there is one thing everyone mentions about a stay here, it is the Northern Lights Dome Room, an old ballroom topped by a stained-glass dome patterned after the aurora. When light filters through the glass, the room takes on a glow more like a chapel than a hotel — it is popular for weddings and parties, and a spot many guests come specifically to photograph. The hotel also has a bar in the lobby for a drink in the building's quietly grand old-world setting, a good stop before or after a game or a walk around town, plus a fitness center for after a day on your feet. And the detail nobody forgets: the warm chocolate-chip cookie handed over at check-in, a DoubleTree signature that makes you feel welcome from the first step. Staff draw frequent praise in reviews as friendly and helpful, from recommending restaurants in the area to pointing the way to the stadium. The amenities here are not the full spread of a big resort, but what you get instead is charm, atmosphere and service that turn a stay into something you remember.
Location and getting there
The location is central, on the edge of Pioneer Square next to Downtown. It is about 0.6 miles to Lumen Field, home of the Seahawks and Sounders, a 12-15 minute walk, and T-Mobile Park, home of the Mariners, is walkable too — so on game days you skip the parking scramble. The Pioneer Square Link light rail station is a few minutes' walk away, with the train running straight to SEA airport. The old town, the Elliott Bay waterfront and Pike Place Market are all within easy reach on foot.
Things to know before booking
Straight talk to help you decide. First, this is a 1916 historic building converted into a hotel, so rooms vary in size and layout — some are roomy with high ceilings, others are compact or have small windows following the original structure. If you expect the consistent, roomy floor plan of a new build, check the room type and real photos when booking, or upgrade to a larger room. The character of an old building sometimes comes with small things like pipe noise or sound between rooms, which is natural in a building over a century old. Second, price: because it is central and distinctive, rates swing with the events calendar. Ordinary weekdays can start around $155, but with big Seahawks, Sounders or Mariners games, concerts and major events in town, rates can climb several times over toward $345. If you are coming during a peak, book well ahead and lock in the price. Third, the area at night: daytime is fun for wandering Pioneer Square and Downtown, but after dark many shops close early and the streets go fairly quiet, and some reviews note homeless people around — normal for the center of a big US city. Stick to busier, well-lit main streets walking back. Finally, as a city hotel it usually carries parking fees and extra charges, so check before booking and add them to your budget, especially if you drive in.
Our take
After reading through plenty of real reviews, the Arctic Club Hotel sells one thing with a character that is hard to match: the charm of a 1916 historic building, attentive DoubleTree service, and a central location you can walk from to the stadium. If your trip picture is waking up to walrus heads on the facade, passing through a marble lobby and stopping by the stained-glass dome in the Dome Room, taking a warm cookie at check-in, then walking 12-15 minutes to Lumen Field or hopping the Link light rail from Pioneer Square into the city, this is a fitting and memorable pick. It suits couples, culture-minded travelers drawn to old buildings, and sports fans who want to stay within walking distance of the stadium. But if you need a roomy, standard floor plan like a new build, or a lively area with late-night spots to wander, the old-building feel and the quiet of this neighborhood after dark may not be the best fit. Overall we give it 8.8/10.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- A historic hotel in a 1916 building that was once a club for prospectors made rich in the Klondike gold rush. The original details are beautifully preserved, from the terracotta walrus heads on the facade to the marble lobby and high ceilings, and reviews agree it has a character that is hard to match.
- The Northern Lights Dome Room is a ballroom with a stunning stained-glass dome inspired by the aurora. It is a photo spot and the standout feature that sets this place apart from a typical chain hotel.
- Run under DoubleTree by Hilton, so you get a warm chocolate-chip cookie at check-in, and plenty of reviews praise the staff as friendly and attentive.
- A central location on the edge of Pioneer Square, next to Downtown. It is about 0.6 miles (a 12-15 minute walk) to Lumen Field and within walking distance of T-Mobile Park, so on game days you skip the parking scramble.
- Close to the Pioneer Square Link light rail station, a few minutes' walk away, with the train running straight to SEA airport. The old town, waterfront and Pike Place Market are all walkable too.
- This is a 1916 historic building converted into a hotel, so the rooms come in a range of sizes and layouts. Some are not large, or have small windows that follow the original structure. If you expect the consistent, roomy floor plan of a new-build hotel, check the room type carefully and consider upgrading before you book.
- Prices swing hard with the events calendar. On ordinary days rooms can start around $155, but during big Seahawks, Sounders or Mariners games and concerts in the city, rates can climb several times over toward $345 a night. Book well ahead and lock in the price.
- The area around the hotel is fairly quiet at night, many shops close early, and some reviews note homeless people around the streets, which is normal for the center of a big US city. If you are not used to it, the late hours can feel unfamiliar, so stick to the busier main streets walking back.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Explore the common areas from the moment you check in. Do not miss the marble lobby and the walrus heads on the facade, and if you get the chance, ask to see the Northern Lights Dome Room, the stained-glass dome that is the highlight here and a photo angle you will not find at a typical chain hotel.
- On game days for the Seahawks, Sounders or Mariners, or when there is a big event in the city, book early and lock in the price, because rates spike with demand. It is about a 12-15 minute walk from the hotel to Lumen Field with no parking to hunt for.
- Because it is an old building where room types vary, ask about or pick the room type that suits you when booking. Use the nearby Pioneer Square Link light rail station as your jumping-off point straight to SEA airport, which is more convenient and cheaper than calling a car.