From the editors of Condé Nast Traveler:

The hotel chain’s first new-build in the United States anchors a master-plan development in South Lake Union slated to contain condo buildings, biotech research firms, and a waterfront park. Just blocks from Seattle's retail hub and Experience Music Project, the 160-room hotel offers eye-of-the-Space Needle views of the city. Inside, the modern-organic decor strikes the right balance between high design and cushy comfort, with zebrawood, vivid art, a Jerusalem limestone fireplace, and a welcoming lobby bar. Rooms come equipped with luxe niceties—Villeroy & Boch basins, a soaker tub (some with shoji), a chaise longue, and plush bedding—as well as free Wi-Fi. Marazul, with its Cuban, Caribbean, and Indo-Asian cuisine, is a fresh addition to this food-obsessed city; in a pinch you can also grab a snack at Whole Foods, just downstairs.

When to go: On the Fourth of July, you'll have a front-row seat for two spectacular fireworks displays. 

Which room to book: The executive king, for a balcony facing both the Space Needle and Lake Union.

Amenities: 24-hour Room Service, Bar/lounge