Hotel Theodore

The old neon Roosevelt sign still stands atop this building in downtown Seattle, but you can call it by its first name. Hotel Theodore is fresh off not just a name change but a thorough redesign as well, turning it into a proper luxury boutique hotel — the better to keep up with a city that’s quietly booming, and whose hospitality scene could use a corresponding upgrade.

To that end, the new proprietors, the Portland-based Provenance Hotels, engaged the services of local designer Susan Marinello, whose interiors are contemporary and understated in their stylishness. And they brought in some Seattle-focused art as well, a collection of images and objects from the Museum of History and Industry referencing this town’s maritime, aerospace, and high-tech roots.

The rooms are attractive, the bathrooms particularly lovely, and the honor bar features drinks by local makers. And the Theodore has made an impact on Seattle’s restaurant scene as well; Rider is an open-plan restaurant with a wood-fired grill, focusing on the Northwest’s extraordinary seafood as well as meat, dairy, and produce from local makers. Oh, and they’re serious about coffee here as well — Made roasts beans in a wood-fired roaster from the Forties, and serves a cup that’s tough to beat, even in this coffee-crazed town.