Sheraton Grand Seattle
by the TopOfHotel team
The Sheraton Grand Seattle is a big hotel in the most central shopping spot downtown, with a hidden 35th-floor indoor pool that opens onto full city and Puget Sound views and an easy walk to Pike Place Market — the location and the high pool view are the draw, though it's a giant convention hotel that gets crowded and feels less private than a small place when there's an event on.
The Sheraton Grand Seattle is a big hotel in the most central shopping spot downtown, with a hidden 35th-floor indoor pool that opens onto full city and Puget Sound views and an easy walk to Pike Place Market — the location and the high pool view are the draw, though it's a giant convention hotel that gets crowded and feels less private than a small place when there's an event on.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Because this is a large Sheraton with over 1,000 rooms across two towers (Union Tower and Seattle Tower), the rooms run roomy by central convention-hotel standards. The decor is calm and easygoing in a solid business-hotel way — organized and easy to use rather than boutique and one-of-a-kind. For families, the rooms have space to add a rollaway or crib and to set down several bags without feeling cramped, with the basics covered: a desk, a small fridge, a coffee maker and a standard bathroom. A high floor on the right side looks out over the city or Puget Sound, while a low floor or the inner side mostly sees the buildings next door.
Food and amenities
The headline that sets this place apart from the usual big hotel is the indoor pool, which isn't tucked in a basement or a courtyard but sits up on the 35th floor, high above the city. Take the lift up, open the door, and you find a warm pool in a glass room with a panoramic view of the skyline and Puget Sound — float in the water and watch the towers and the gray-blue water with ferries crossing in the distance. Many reviews call it unforgettable, and kids tend to get a kick out of swimming while looking out over the city from that height. It's a warm indoor pool, so it works in any season no matter how Seattle drizzles or chills outside, and it tops out around 4 feet deep, so kids can stand in the shallow end while adults soak. There's a fitness center on the same floor with the same view. On the eating side it's easy: the Daily Grill on site serves family-friendly American food, there's a lobby cafe for morning coffee, and the area outside is full of restaurants and malls.
Location and getting there
Picture stepping out of the lobby straight into the city's shopping district — that's the appeal of this corner. The Sheraton Grand Seattle sits on the corner of 6th Avenue and Pike Street, one of the busiest spots downtown, in two connected high-rise towers, ringed by Westlake Center, Pacific Place and brand-name shops you can wander all day. Walk about 7 minutes and you reach Pike Place Market, the legendary waterfront market with the fish-throwing stalls, flower stands, fruit sellers and the first Starbucks. The hotel is next to Westlake Center, the Monorail origin station that runs straight to the Space Needle, and near the Link Light Rail station that runs to and from SEA airport — so you can tour downtown with the kids almost without driving.
Things to know before booking
Straight talk to help you decide. First and most important is the size and the crowds — this is a giant convention hotel with over 1,000 rooms, so in high season or when there's a big conference on, it gets very crowded in the lobby, the lifts and at check-in, where you may wait in line, and it feels less private and warm than a small hotel. Most of the lukewarm reviews come from times the place was especially full. Second, the room view depends on floor and side: a low floor or an inner-facing side only sees other buildings' walls, while the good city and bay views are on high floors and at the 35th-floor pool — ask for a high floor at booking if you want a view from the room, or just use the pool view to save money. Third are the extra costs: valet parking per night and the destination fee run fairly high for a big central hotel, so families driving or renting a car should budget for it, and since the hotel is central and walkable, some skip the car to cut parking entirely. Finally, check the 35th-floor indoor pool's opening hours with the hotel so you can time the kids' swim.
Our take
After reading through a lot of real guest reviews, the Sheraton Grand Seattle nails what it sells at this price: a central spot in the city's main shopping district, a walk to Pike Place Market, a 35th-floor indoor pool with panoramic city and Puget Sound views, and a big-hotel setup with roomy rooms that handles families. If your picture is stepping out to shop and eat right away, walking the kids to Pike Place and riding the Monorail to the Space Needle, then coming back to swim with a city view on the 35th floor on a rainy day, this hits the mark and earns its keep. But if you don't love the bustle of a big hotel during a convention, or you accidentally book a low inner-facing room and miss the view, it may not feel as wow as it should. Overall we give it 8.4/10 — best for families after a large hotel in the heart of the shopping district, walkable and with a pretty indoor pool for the kids. And if you want a view from the room, don't forget to ask for a high floor at booking.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- The location is dead center in Downtown on the corner of 6th Avenue and Pike Street — step out the door and you are in the city's main shopping district, right next to Westlake Center and Pacific Place, with Pike Place Market about a 7-minute walk away, so you can take the kids out without really needing a car.
- The indoor pool is up on the 35th floor in a glass room that opens onto a panoramic view of the city skyline and Puget Sound — swimming while looking out over the city from that height is the kind of thing kids and adults agree on.
- It is a warm indoor pool that tops out around 4 feet deep, so kids can stand in the shallow end and the family can get in together in any season, without worrying about Seattle drizzle or cold. There's a fitness center on the same floor too.
- It is a large two-tower Sheraton with over 1,000 rooms, so the rooms run roomy by convention-hotel standards, you can request a rollaway or crib, and the amenities cover families traveling with several bags.
- There are restaurants on site to choose from, including the Daily Grill and a lobby cafe, plus the area around the hotel is packed with restaurants, coffee shops and malls, so finding a meal any time of day is easy and never far.
- This is a giant convention hotel with over 1,000 rooms, so in high season or when there's a big conference or convention on, it gets very crowded — the lobby, the lifts and check-in can mean waiting in line, and the feel is less private and less warm than a small hotel. Most of the lukewarm reviews come from times the place was especially full.
- Valet parking per night and the destination fee run fairly high, as is standard for a big hotel in the center of Seattle. Families driving or renting a car should budget for this and check at booking what's included in the fees.
- The view from your room depends heavily on the floor and the side — a low floor or a side facing other buildings only sees the neighboring walls, not the city or the bay. The nice view pool is on the 35th floor, which you go up to separately, so ask for a high floor at booking if you want a view from the room itself.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Head up to the 35th-floor indoor pool in the late afternoon when the light softens, so you can swim while watching the city skyline, Puget Sound and the sunset all at once — it's the spot both kids and adults love most. Just check the pool's opening hours with the hotel before you plan around it.
- If you want a view from your room too, ask for a high floor at booking, because low floors or the inner-facing side only see the buildings next door. If you're keeping costs down, using the view from the 35th-floor pool instead is the better-value option.
- The hotel is next to Westlake Center, the Monorail origin station that runs straight to the Space Needle, and near the Link Light Rail station that runs to and from SEA airport. Riding the Monorail with the kids is fun and saves a long walk up the hill, and Pike Place Market is just a bit further on foot.