The Hyatt Regency Seattle Downtown is the newest Hyatt property in Seattle. The 45-story property cost almost half a billion dollars to build, and opened in December 2018 to modest fanfare. Unfortunately, it was just getting on its feet when the pandemic started, so had a bit of a rough go for its first few years.
Since I live in the area, I don’t get a chance to patronize many Seattle properties, but a late-night concert and plans the day afterwards gave us a reason to spend the night downtown. The Hyatt Regency is the only one of the “true” downtown properties that you can use a Category 1-4 Certificate for, so we wanted to check it out. It was surprisingly uneven.
Hyatt Regency Seattle Bottom Line Review
The Hyatt Regency Seattle has a lot to recommend it. It’s a new (and quite attractive) property with a good location in downtown Seattle. The rooms and VIP have great views, and it’s a Hyatt Category 4, so it’s the only major Hyatt in downtown Seattle where you can use a Category 1-4 Free Night Certificate. Unfortunately, when my wife and I visited, it wasn’t hitting on all cylinders.
There were odd friction points. Keys issued in the evening had to be returned and replaced in the morning. Parking, while included for Globalists on award stays, couldn’t be validated proactively, requiring a call to the front desk each time you wanted to leave. The lovely lounge is bizarrely underutilized, with no staffing or real food service. The bed was laughably uncomfortable, leaving both my wife and me physically sore the next day.
This could be a great property, especially for the points price. It didn’t quite make it there on our visit. One Thumb Up/One Down
- Price: A Hyatt Category 4, 12K/15K/18K points off-peak/peak/standard. Like many hotels in Seattle, the cash price varies quite a bit, depending on the time of year. When I was there in June 2025, the cash rate was ~$375/night for a midweek stay. We used a Hyatt Category 1-4 free night certificate for our stay.
- Value: During high season, this is an excellent “value” redemption, often providing over 2 cents per point in value. In the off-season, it often is half that.
- Location: Downtown Seattle is fairly compact, so most hotels have a reasonably good location. The Hyatt Regency is ~8 blocks from Pike Place Market and about a five-minute walk from the convention center.
- Room: I was upgraded to a 320 sq ft King Room on a high floor. The hotel is relatively new, so the various furnishings, while no one’s idea of high-quality, are in pretty good shape. A significant downside for us was the bed, which was one of the most uncomfortable I’ve ever had in a Hyatt; both my wife and I were sore from it the next morning. It felt like something you might find at a discount mattress store, which was surprising given how new this property is.
- Parking: Self-parking only, via a paper ticket in a semi-attached garage, is $54+tax/night. Parking is waived for Globalists on award stays, but when we were there, they had no way to validate the ticket in advance, so you had to manually call each time to be let out in order not to pay.
- Resort/Destination Fee: None.
- Internet: Surprisingly poor in our room, but good in the lounge and in other public spaces.
- Service: Weird. We arrived at ~11 pm, and the front desk seemed understaffed, so there was a bit of a wait, and the check-in agent seemed to know very little about elite benefits. For some unknown reason, they issued every guest who checked in after a certain time in the evening a permanent “master” key for the room. Then, the next morning, you had to go to the front desk again, return the key that you were given the night before, and have another key made…and wait in line behind other guests who were doing the same thing. The front desk agent in the morning complained about the process, saying that he’d worked at several Hyatts and had never seen such a thing. Restaurant service in the morning was fairly chaotic.
- Turndown service: None.
- Dining:
- Andare: Primary hotel restaurant serving quality breakfast daily from 6:30 am to 10 am M-F (10:30 am on weekends), lunch from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm M-F (3:30 pm on weekends), and dinner from 4 pm to 9 pm M-F (from 3 pm on weekends).
- Market: Grab-and-go counter offering espresso drinks, pastries, and sandwiches. Open daily from 6 am – 11 pm.
- Daniel’s Broiler: This is a long-standing Seattle steakhouse chain that’s located within the hotel. It operates as a completely separate entity, and purchases cannot be billed to your room. Open daily for dinner only between 4 pm and 9 pm.
- Spa: None.
- Fitness Room: There is a nicely-sized fitness area with a good selection of cardio machines and weightlifting equipment to go along with a nice view.
- Hyatt Globalist Benefits:
- Room Upgrade: I booked a standard room and was upgraded to a high-floor room with a view of the city and Mt Rainier. The room was a fairly standard Hyatt Regency King, but with an exceptionally uncomfortable bed.
- Free Breakfast: Served a la carte at Andare or takeaway from Market. Globalists can choose to order off the menu or partake of a modest breakfast buffet. My bagel with lox was very good, as was my wife’s Eggs Benedict.
- Lounge: Unlike many US Hyatt Regencies, the property has a beautiful lounge for elite guests…and it’s actually open. There’s a large outdoor deck with copious seating and terrific views, and inside, there’s more seating with a gas fireplace. Unfortunately, it’s not staffed, and there’s no real catering provided, outside of a coffee machine and N/A beverages. It’s effectively like what you find in a normal club lounge in between breakfast and happy hour services, but with no concierge or lounge staff. Because they don’t provide service, they refer to it as a “VIP Lounge,” not a club lounge.
- Late Checkout: Given 4 pm upon request.
- Parking: Self-parking is free on award stays.
- Would I stay again? Doubtful. It’s a good value as a high-season points redemption, and a category 4, so it can be a useful option. For me, there were enough irritating features to make me look elsewhere the next time that I need to stay downtown.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Good location in Downtown Seattle, especially if you’re at a convention.
- The only one of the major Hyatt properties in Downtown Seattle that’s a Category 4.
- Lovely views from most of the higher-floor rooms.
- Beautiful “VIP” lounge.
Cons
- For those who would enjoy it, there is no spa or pool on the property.
- Overall, the hotel staff was shaky.
- There were strange friction points with parking and issuing keys.
- The bed was incredibly uncomfortable.
- The impressive lounge doesn’t offer any food or beverage outside of snacks and coffee.
Image Gallery
Hyatt Regency Seattle King Room
Hyatt Regency Seattle “VIP” Lounge
Hyatt Regency Seattle Restaurant & Breakfast
Hyatt Regency Seattle Public Areas
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I stayed there in September and had a really good experience (though I didn’t park a car). I used 3 FNC’s and points for a 4th night. I mainly used mobile key, but my key was programmed once for the full stay and it worked.
they gave me a $40 property credit for declining housekeeping, and I like that you can bill from the olive 8 and the grand Hyatt to your room, I went to the seafood place at olive 8 and ate there for free from that $40.
Sorry you had a bad stay Tim. We stay there a couple times a year when we catch a show at the Paramount and have a FNC to burn. Never had a problem with the key or parking, so maybe that is a new management thing? I don’t remember the beds being an issue, could be just personal preference.
I feel that this hotel is a great example of a good big city center HR. Each year when Hyatt changes category’s I fear for this getting bumped up to a cat 5.
Bummed the stay wasn’t better for you. We’ve stayed probably a dozen times over the past few years and enjoy it. Definitely disappointed about the lounge and the lack of offerings in there as it is a beautiful space. Summer rates are crazy expensive there and we’ll use points or a FNA to stay. In the winter it’s mid-upper $100’s and then take off the resort fee. We haven’t been in a few months, but I think in addition to breakfast in the restaurant (or the Market), you also get a $10 or $15 credit to be used at the market.
My biggest complaint as a Globalist is not getting upgraded to suites there. Seems the standard upgrade is high floor king room, which have gorgeous water views if facing west.
When prices are cheaper in the winter we’ll also stay across the street at the Olive 8 too. They just started this past year with Globalist breakfast in their restaurant. Used to be you could get a bagel at the coffee place inside or coupon for Andare. It’s Cat. 5 so no use of FNA there.
They stopped offering the $15 off daily at The Market.
The parking is usually activated at the front desk on your room key and you just do in and out of the garage by swiping your room key.
Hyatt as a corporation has been so focused on expanding and acquiring resorts that they’ve completely neglected the brands that made Hyatt.
Specifically, Hyatt Regency. Also, this isn’t the case of a bad franchisee. This property in Seattle is managed by corporate.
Your experience reminds me of the newish Hyatt Regency in Salt Lake City. At least their lounge is only with food, but only for breakfast. Meanwhile, the Hyatt Regency St. Louis, also corporate-operated, has a lounge but it’s closed with no alternative offered. Ditto for the Hyatt Regency at the Orlando airport, the Hyatt Regency off-airport in San Francisco and the Hyatt Regency at Dallas/Fort Worth airport. The lounge benefit has become totally useless.
Beyond the lounge, standards are really declining. The furnishings and decor in that room look like a Hyatt Place. Hyatt Regency used to be more upscale. I used to think of it as somewhere between a Sheraton and Westin. Increasingly, it’s more like somewhere between a Holiday Inn or Delta and Marriott.
Biggest problem is being in Seattle. It’s become dangerous and overrun with homeless due to horrible woke policies. Oh and don’t ever think of parking on the street as your windows will be smashed in within minutes.
I don’t live in Seattle and I suspect you don’t either.
I went there for a business trip a couple months ago and it was safe and enjoyable.
My windows weren’t smashed.
I suggest you lay off Fox “News” and see things as they actually are.
I work in San Francisco, a city with a similar reputation. It bothers me that news outlets and social media tell such a concerted horror story in recent years about how these cities have “fallen” because it simply isn’t true. From what I gather, the vast majority of these stories are driven by people who (a) love to hate on the left-leaning politics, or (b) are desperate to create sensational content at someone else’s expense.
There have been negative changes since COVID, sure. Lots of store closures in the financial district have make life more difficult for office workers like me. However, posh places selling $15 cocktails and $100 sushi dinners continue to thrive. My wife and I had a nice dinner date in the city last night. Rent remains high. Many of my coworkers still prefer to live in the city than moving out to the suburbs. Those are not things you’d see in a dangerous city.
As for homelessness, I hate seeing it too but it’s genuinely sad when people automatically equate poor people with dangerous criminals. I’ve spent a lot of time walking through Tenderloin. Most people who live in tents and squat on the sidewalks are just… people. Most are polite, some are understandably grumpy, and while a small percentage have mental health problems, it’s rare to see one that can be characterized as dangerous. I tried to imagine not having proper shelter or amenities for day and realized that most of these people had done an excellent job at keeping things together.
What do other cities do to “clean up” their streets? Many simply send their homeless population to hide under a bridge or relocate to a west coast city.
Homelessness is an issue in Seattle, but imo this area of downtown is more businessy and feels very safe.
its Not the city it once was. I looked to traveling there and Portland on business but no longer. Hopefully the residents will wake up and take their cue from San Fran as it’s starting to come back.
I guess you must hit rock bottom first.
You don’t live here. You don’t know what you’re talking about. Believe what you want based on your anecdotal experience & clear confirmation bias but have the decency not to talk bs on a miles & points forum.
I travel often to Seattle , about 6 times a year and the city has fell apart since Covid. I used to look forward to coming , now I don’t.
I cannot walk from my hotel the few blocks to my point of business it’s just not safe anymore.
Your fear & statement about your fear is OFF TOPIC.
It’s a good thing we live in a free society and can post what we like. I respect your opinion so respect mine.
I too travel to Seattle for work pretty frequently and spend almost all my free time out and about while on business travel. I stay in a pretty well-defined area from lower Queen Anne to Pioneer Square and have stayed at a variety of hotels in that area.
Homelessness is indeed a problem and it’s unquestionably gotten worse since COVID. That being said, it’s not really a safety issue. In the 15 years I’ve been traveling to the area for work I’ve never – not once – had a safety issue. And I’m usually walking alone at all hours of the day and night. There is virtually nothing to worry about, although a few of the corners where the homeless congregate are admittedly unpleasant to be around.
That being said, the city has not ‘fallen apart’ and it’s not dangerous. It’s still one of the best cities in the country IMO.
I’m sorry you don’t feel safe, and it is true that you are entitled to your opinions. But feelings are often irrational, and what the commenters here have been trying to say is that there’s no objective reasons to fear.
I know someone who claims that San Francisco is so dangerous that he doesn’t feel safe driving into this city without wearing a bullet proof vest. Plenty more wouldn’t get on an airplane because they fear it’d crash. These are real feelings, but statistics support the opposite.
I have lived and worked here for years, and traveled frequently to Portland for both pleasure and work. I’ve parked on the street thousands of times and never had a break-in…but I have had a rental car stolen in Columbus, Ohio, and car break-ins in Dallas and Orlando. I never leave anything of value in my car when I park in the street, but I think that’s a common-sense precaution that’s necessary in most US cities – and that didn’t help me in Columbus, the kids were just out for a joyride :(.
Not trying to say that you shouldn’t feel the way you do; homelessness is indeed a problem, but I do find that to be the case in most US cities that I visit these days.
All that to say, sorry that you feel unsafe, especially if you have to travel to Seattle for work several times a year. I hope you can find someplace to stay/eat/exist that’s more comfortable the next time that you’re here.
I was there for a week in September and ran into nothing of the sort.
The decor and menu look more like a Caption by Hyatt than a Hyatt Regency. Overall, sounds like a disappointing stay. Hopefully they’ll get enough complaints, and they’ll shape up.
LXR Hotel 1000 is my go to whenever I brave a visit to SEA, but quite honestly I do not enjoy downtown any longer, too sketchy for me.
Great username. Abide.
My wife and I stayed there in September last year for our first visit to Seattle. It was okay but we weren’t impressed. The lounge situation was just as you said. The neighborhood was more of a business area and didn’t have much to offer to tourists. The concierge was pretty clueless, at one point suggesting brunch at two places that were closed. The Market was decent and the room was nice enough but unless you want to plant yourself in the hotel there’s just not much in the area to be a draw, unlike Pioneer Square.
The description of the bed as ‘uncomfortable’ is subjective. Different people prefer different beds. It would be helpful to say if the bed was too hard or too soft.
Stayed there six months ago and had a dim recollection of it being very hard.
“Unlike many US Hyatt Regencies, the property has a beautiful lounge for elite guests…and it’s actually open. There’s a large outdoor deck with copious seating and terrific views, and inside, there’s more seating with a gas fireplace. Unfortunately, it’s not staffed, and there’s no real catering provided, outside of a coffee machine and N/A beverages. It’s effectively like what you find in a normal club lounge in between breakfast and happy hour services, but with no concierge or lounge staff. Because they don’t provide service, they refer to it as a “VIP Lounge,” not a club lounge.”
This is essentially what the HR in Rosemont, IL, just outside of Chicago’s O’Hare airport and next to the convention center, did but I don’t even think they had coffee, N/A drinks and snacks(?). I stayed there a couple of years ago and they sold it as part of the premium upgrades that people could buy, along with rooms in the executive tower/wing. It was basically a place to sit down. A complete joke to call it a lounge.
The Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars has done such scams since they opened. For the longest time they advertised a lounge that didn’t exist. They just gave you privileges in the lobby bar. Then they finally opened a lounge but it was basically a cloak room behind the restaurant. You weren’t allowed to select food. They served you whatever they had and that was it. One serving. Nothing more and no choice.
Tim, very sorry to hear you had such an uneven experience.
We lived in Seattle until 2022, and stayed at the HR Seattle several times. We even had my daughter’s 18th birthday party overnight there, where they pulled out all the stops for her.
Pre-pandemic, the service in the Regency club was exceptional. Provided food exceeded many Grand Hyatts in quality. But they effectively shut it down for covid, and never reopened. My family was very saddened by that loss.
We never had any issues with weird keys or uncomfortable beds.
I wonder if they recently went through a management turnover or something? It’s a bit baffling why they misfired for you in so many ways. I will reach out to my old contacts from there to see whether they might have an explanation.
It’s same ownership and I agree the club used to be top tier for anything else I’ve seen in the USA unfortunate we are local and stay once or twice a year. Keys never work in morning after regular check out time always have to go back it is a pain.
Why bother staying there? Just to Grand Hyatt Seattle.
Our last stay at the Grand felt like the room was in top shape for the 1990’s. That place needs to be renovated. It was a couple years ago, but the lounge breakfast was pretty poor.
I was there in Spring 2024. My suite hardware was fine and breakfast and evening offering were quite OK for the USA – not the very top but certainly better than Marriott or Hilton hotels with lounges in Seattle.
Did they ever stock the lounge with any food? We were there for three nights in August 2023. The only food there was a few bags of snacks and some chocolate energy bars. The front desk didn’t even tell us the lounge existed–we found out about it on our last day. I got the feeling they weren’t telling anyone about the lounge back then. Absolutely gorgeous but no one there. Seemed like such a waste. Totally agree with your review–nice with great views from our two rooms, but it could have been much better.
Yes it was fully staffed with more or less full meals it was one of the best in the country. Not anymore
Thanks. Really is a shame that they built out that beautiful space and just let it go unused.
Pretty much the same food offerings when we were there, with some pre-packaged cookies and the like.