The Alexis Royal Sonesta Hotel Seattle

In a world where luxury hotels constantly crow about exclusivity, Seattle’s 121-room Alexis is that rare, confident voice making the case that, in the hospitality business, it’s okay to be hospitable. It turns out that a stylishly appointed boutique hotel, even one with an artistic bent, loses none of its luster by accommodating a wide range of guests — from business travelers to families to the occasional rock star. They’ll even lay a doggie bed out for your St. Bernard, if your pooch has a taste for fine hotels.

There’s a wide range of rooms and suites to choose from, all with Frette linens and goose-down comforters on the beds, city or neighborhood views, and comfortable desks with ergonomic chairs. The regular suites are nothing to sniff at — one features a living room with a marble fireplace, another a two-person soaking tub and dual walk-in shower — but the specialty suites are the standouts. They’re inspired by the Seattle arts community, among them the Canlis suite with hand-blown glass by Jean-Pierre Canlis and life-size photos of the artist at work, and the Experience Music Project suite with blown-up black-and-white concert photos and classic album covers adorning the walls.

Outside, the neighborhood is an excellent one for business and leisure travelers alike. The waterfront is just three blocks away, and the business district, Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square are all within a mile. Even closer, of course, is the hotel’s own Bookstore Bar & Café. With ceiling-high book cases and plenty of dark wood, it turns out a bookstore is a pleasant place to drink, especially when it’s got a vast whiskey library to supplement the literary offerings.