The property is grand, and what a great seafood restaurant downstairs! Service staff if attentive and hushed. The only thing that would push this one up to the level of the Grand Hyatt or Four Seasons would be to modernize the rooms. It feels like you're staying at grannie's.

Like many in the Fairmont chain (The Palliser, Chateau Lake Louise) this hotel's architecture is been well preserved. Staff are knowledgeable and very professional. Stayed in a suite for 2 nights - try and get a higher floor to minimize street noise. Would definitely stay again - join the President's Club; love being able to have the doorman give us our room keys - no stops for checking in!

Over my decade of visiting Seattle I've stayed at many hotels including the Marriott Waterfront, Edgewater, Silver Cloud, Marriott Residence Inn etc...but clearly The Fairmont Olympic is the grandest of them all! While few rooms have much of a view (unlike the Marriott Waterfront where most rooms have a good to great view of Elliot Bay) the Olympic is simply old-world elegant. The rooms are spacious, he halls quiet, the service excellent. The fitness club was outstanding and the coffee shop was quite good. the concierge staff was also very helpful. Best of all was the hotel's location--one block from Benaroya Hall, across the street from the Fifth Avenue Theatre, and in the heart of the downtown shopping district. Public transportation was exceptionally easy with local and express buses stopping within a block or two. The waterfront and ferries were a 10 minute walk downhill (slightly longer uphill). The Seattle Art Museum was a few blocks away as was Pikes Market. The outstanding WIng Luke Museum (an affiliate of the Smithsonian) was a few minute bus ride away (free bus rides in the downtown core) and with its location in Chinatown/The International District it is not only a great museum trip but also an eating fest. Three tips: first, if staying at this Fairmont (or any Fairmont for that matter) join the FAirmont President's Club and get free wifi access as well as free use of the health club. Second, if in Seattle visit the free Olympic Sculpture Park which is at the north end of the waterfront...a beautiful walk of about 30 minutes from the hotel. Second, visit the Wing Luke Museum--rated # 1 in Seattle and take the tenement tour (much like the west coast's answer to the NYC tenement tour). Third, use Seattle's outstanding public transportation including taking the light rail in from the SEATAC airport which de[posits you 1 block from the Olympic. Over the course of my 9 day trip I spent grand total of less than $15.00. Parking at the Olympic is very expensive ($43 per day)! If I had rented a car for this trip parking alone (with taxes) would have been over $400.00

Came for a girlfriend getaway and had a great time - close proximity to shopping, and had a good time just hanging out at the pool and spa. The room was nice, although the TV was in a weird place and didn't get great reception (although we didn't really use it so it didn't bother us too much).

Oddly, there were never any doormen at the entrance - not a huge deal, but when it's raining and crowded, it would have been nice.