The Mediterranean Inn

Rooms and decor

Picture a small hotel painted in warm earth tones, terracotta and cream, with a Mediterranean feel, sitting at the foot of Queen Anne hill in the quiet Uptown neighborhood, yet right next to the buzz of Seattle Center. That is the first impression of The Mediterranean Inn: warm and informal from the moment you walk into the lobby. The building is not large or fancy, but it has the charm of a residential-neighborhood hotel, more like staying in a calm corner of the city than a tourist hotel downtown. The heart of why families love it is that every room has a kitchenette — a microwave, a usable fridge, a sink and a coffee maker. It sounds like a small thing, but for families with kids it is a real help: warm milk or a child's meal in the middle of the night, keep milk, fruit and snacks cold, and put together an easy breakfast yourself. Many reviewers say just being able to make breakfast and coffee in the room pays for half the room. The rooms are simply decorated in warm Mediterranean tones, clean and easy to use, with comfortable beds and enough space for a small family; some are studios that combine the sitting and sleeping areas, good for parents and kids who want to stay close.

Food and amenities

The in-room kitchenette is the standout for families — a microwave, fridge, sink and coffee maker in every room, so you can stock up from a Queen Anne supermarket or the nearby Trader Joe's and handle breakfast and kids' snacks yourself, a real saving on food in a high-cost city like Seattle. Beyond that, the amenities are kept simple: a 24-hour fitness room, free Wi-Fi, in-room coffee plus coffee in the lobby, and the hotel is pet-friendly for a fee. One thing to set expectations on — there is no swimming pool, so families who want the kids to swim should look elsewhere.

Location and getting there

Location is the strongest card here. The hotel sits right next to Seattle Center, the hub of nearly every landmark families want. The Space Needle is about 0.3 miles away, roughly a 5-6 minute walk, so you can step out and start sightseeing without getting in a car. The Monorail into downtown, the MoPOP pop-culture museum that older kids and teens enjoy, and Seattle Children's Theatre are all a few minutes' walk. Seattle Center itself has an international fountain where kids can run around, plus parks and open space for a full day out. The favorite, told with a smile in plenty of reviews, is the rooftop terrace looking out at both the Space Needle and the distant snow of Mount Rainier — free to use for morning coffee or sunset, and a photo spot better than the price suggests. With a bit more energy, walk up the hill to Kerry Park, one of the best skyline views in the city. For Link Light Rail you take the Monorail down to the downtown station or transfer, since the hotel is not directly on a line.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. The thing reviews mention most is parking — around $30-40 a night, on the high side, with limited spaces. If you drive or rent a car, budget for it and check ahead, or consider skipping the rental and walking plus taking the Monorail, since most landmarks are walkable. Second, this is an older, renovated building, so some rooms are fairly small and the soundproofing between rooms is not great — some reviewers hear the room next door, the hallway or the water pipes. If you or the kids are light sleepers, ask for an interior or quieter-side room when you book. Third, the kitchen is a small kitchenette built around a microwave, fridge and sink, and some rooms have no full stove, so it suits reheating and easy meals more than serious cooking. Come for the location, the in-room kitchen and the value rather than luxury or a full set of amenities, and you will be happier here.

Our take

From reading through plenty of real guest reviews, The Mediterranean Inn nails the combination of prime location, an in-room kitchen and value for families. If you want a place that is not pricey but a few minutes' walk from the Space Needle and Seattle Center, with a kitchenette for warming milk and kids' meals and making easy food to save money, plus a free rooftop terrace looking at the Space Needle and Mount Rainier, this is one of the best-value picks for a family trip to Seattle. But if you drive and don't want to pay steep parking, expect spacious well-soundproofed rooms, or want a pool for the kids, keep that in mind. Ask for a quiet room if you sleep light and make the most of the in-room kitchen. Overall we give it 8.5/10, best for families who value location and value, want to walk to Seattle Center and the Space Needle easily, and like having a small kitchen for the kids' meals.