SCENE
Rock ‘n’ roll history set in a Northwest fishing lodge
You may not know The Edgewater by name, but if you know rock ‘n’ roll lore, you’ve definitely heard its stories. The hotel on Seattle’s Pier 67 tasted rock notoriety when it hosted The Beatles in 1964, who, intrigued by how the hotel jutted out into Elliott Bay on stilts, took the opportunity to fish out their window. Someone took a picture and it became one of the most iconic photos in rock history. Fast-forward to the early ’70s, and Led Zeppelin put their own stamp on The Edgewater, catching a reported 30 mud sharks from Elliott Bay, trashing their room and doing some unmentionable things with said sharks in the process.
While the hotel embraces its wild history, it still maintains its vibe as a cozy Northwest lodge. The lobby could be on an island in southeast Alaska, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the water and the green islands beyond, and a massive stone fireplace where you can warm up after a rough day touring downtown. The rooms have the same motif, with wood walls, stone floors and fireplaces in their seating areas.
But make no mistake, The Edgewater is still in the center of the action. Its location on Seattle’s bustling waterfront means rooms can have views overlooking the water and the skyline. The Edgewater also offers impeccably easy access to everything from restaurants to sports to the Space Needle. There’s a reason rock stars have been staying here for decades, and it doesn’t have much to do with the mud sharks.
LOCATION
Seattle’s only hotel on the water sits in the thick of downtown
The Edgewater is perhaps the most strategically placed hotel in Seattle: It’s the city’s only hotel completely on the water and set on the centrally located Pier 67. Once you step off the pier, however, Seattle is your oyster, with the narrow, historic streets of Pioneer Square and the modern towers of downtown only a few blocks away. You can also stroll to some of the city’s most famous waterfront attractions too, whether that’s the Pike Place Market, Olympic Sculpture Park or the Seattle Aquarium a few piers down.
The downside, of course, is that if you want to check out some of Seattle’s cooler neighborhoods or the nature outside the city, you’ll have to escape downtown. On many days, that’s no easy feat. Still, if you came to the Emerald City to immerse yourself in its waterfront scenery and urban core, you’re not going to find a better hotel option than this rock ‘n’ roll icon.
Here are a few things to do that are delightfully close to The Edgewater:
- Watch the famous flying fish and shop for fresh flowers and other souvenirs at Pike Place Market, a pleasant 15-minute walk from the hotel along the water.
- Catch a live show at the club that launched a thousand Seattle bands, The Crocodile, which is a half-mile from the hotel.
- For a bigger venue, see which bands are on the bill at Neumos, about two miles away from The Edgewater in Capitol Hill.
- See Dale Chihuly’s largest exhibit — in his hometown — at Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle Center, about 15 minutes away from the hotel on foot.
- The Space Needle, Pacific Science Center and Museum of Pop Culture are also in Seattle Center, a 15-minute walk away.
- Catch live baseball, football or soccer at Lumen Field or T-Mobile Park. The homes of the Seahawks, Sounders and Mariners are a little over a mile away.
- Glimpse Seattle from the top of its iconic Great Wheel less than a mile down Alaskan Way.
ROOMS
Cozy cabins where you’ll sleep over Elliott Bay
If you’re looking for budget accommodations, The Edgewater is not your gal. While you can find rooms under $200 here on the right nights or during the right season, this is not the place to penny-pinch. The true Edgewater experience is getting a water-facing room with a gas-burning fireplace and a place to sit, then almost fooling yourself into thinking you’re exploring the wilds of the Pacific Northwest after your day touring the city.
If you want to immerse yourself in rock ’n’ roll history, The Edgewater can make that happen too, with a number of suites devoted to favorite bands. You’ll also find turntables with vintage vinyl and guitars you can borrow. All rooms come with, at the very least, a fireplace, 50” LCD TV, Keurig machine, slate stone bathroom floors and refrigerators. Here’s the breakdown of what else you’ll get:
City View Rooms – These entry-level rooms still boast a nice enough view of the Seattle skyline, and some even catch a glimpse of the Space Needle, but they can be a little on the small side and noisy at night.
Water View Rooms – The ultimate Edgewater experience will be in these rooms, which put you right on Elliott Bay, many with eye-level views of the cruise ships passing by. They all clock in at 350 square feet, with balconies and Adirondack chairs so you can enjoy the sunset over the water.
Suites – For families or people who just need a little more space, The Edgewater has plenty of options, ranging from the 450-square-foot Junior Suites with balconies to the 700-square-foot Executive Over Water Suites with sleeper sofas. All come in city or water view options as well.
Beatles Suite – Yes, you can stay in the same room John, Paul, George and Ringo did when they took their iconic fishing picture, now dubbed The Edgewater’s Beatles Suite. The 750-square-foot palace is decked out in Beatles memorabilia and comes with a stereo stocked with Beatles CDs. There’s also a glass waterfall shower and plaid carpets for the ultimate throwback in English design.
Pearl Jam Suite – Eddie Vedder had a major hand in the design of this PJ-themed room, complete with tour posters and a Fender guitar — with amplifier. Try not to keep your neighbors up too late while you enjoy the 750-square-foot space, full balcony and ’90s-era furniture.
Penthouse Suite – Though the band-themed suites might be the coolest rooms in The Edgewater, they are by no means the largest. That title goes to the spacious, loft-style Penthouse Suite, a 1000-square-foot space that feels like a ski condo in the sky. The stone fireplace is topped with a 50” television, and a fold-out couch makes space for the kiddos to sleep away from the master bedroom and its four-post king bed.
AMENITIES
Guitars and records on loan and a music festival off your balcony
Perhaps the coolest amenity at The Edgewater isn’t one you’ll find there most of the year. The annual Rock the Dock festival is a full-on rock show held on a barge in front of the hotel. It’s fully viewable from your balcony and held during Memorial Day weekend.
Parties aside, there are two things you should know about if you’re planning a stay at The Edgewater: the parking is valet only and costs a staggering $52 a day, and there’s a daily resort fee, which is $30 plus tax. The fee, however, does include some pretty cool stuff.
For example, The Edgewater has a guitar loaner program that allows you to jam out with guitars from bands like Van Halen and Pearl Jam. If you’d rather listen to the pros play, The Edgewater will also loan you a turntable and any number of vintage vinyls ranging from The Rolling Stones to Seattle’s own Macklemore.
Other stuff included in your resort fee include:
- Daily local newspaper
- 24-hour fitness center with weights, cardio equipment and a lot more space than most hotel gyms
- Wi-Fi
Dining-and-drink-wise, you can grab a beverage on the water or eat at Six Seven, The Edgewater’s signature restaurant. Here, you’ll find an organic menu that shifts by season but is always big on Northwest seafood, oysters and vintage local wines. No, you can’t catch fish out your window and have the restaurant prepare it like back in The Beatles’ day, but with cedar plank king salmon and 18-oz. ribeye steak on the menu, nobody’s complaining. For those morning hours before Six Seven opens, The Edgewater’s coffee shop, The Brim, has coffee, tea and pastries.