1 Hotels, the mission-driven luxury lifestyle brand founded by Barry Sternlicht, has opened 1 Hotel Seattle in the South Lake Union neighborhood.
“Seattle is a city where nature and innovation coexist beautifully—and that’s exactly what we aimed to capture with this property,” said Sternlicht, founder of 1 Hotels and chairman of Starwood Hotels. “This city has long been a pioneer in sustainability, environmental stewardship and progressive thinking. With 1 Hotel Seattle, we wanted to create a haven that not only pays homage to its forests, waters and creative spirit, but also reflects the city’s deep-rooted commitment to living in harmony with the planet. It’s a place where conscious design meets the soul of the Pacific Northwest.”
Raul Leal, CEO, Starwood Hotels, added, “We’re proud to open our doors in one of the country’s most forward-thinking cities. From the locally crafted furnishings to the reclaimed materials and moss art installations, every detail is designed to inspire both comfort and consciousness.”
The hotel is close to Seattle’s waterfront, the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, the Climate Pledge Arena and Amazon’s headquarters.
Upon arrival, guests are welcomed by a driftwood sculpture by local artist Alison Stigora. The lobby is anchored by a lush living wall and a sculptural winding staircase fashioned from reclaimed timber and stacked stone featuring a railing hand-stitched with domestic leather. Overhead are massive Douglas fir beams—a nod to Seattle’s maritime and industrial past.
The 153 guestrooms, including 45 suites, are spaces inspired by the Pacific Northwest’s forests, shorelines and mountains. The spaces are layered with organic textures and handcrafted materials like reclaimed wood walls, pebble stone floors, Chiara quartzite counters and live-edge furnishings from Seattle’s Tirto Furniture. Wallcoverings with nautical motifs and curated plantings line the corridors. Many of the rooms and suites have views of the Space Needle or city skyline.
Sustainable touches include in-room water filtration systems with carafes made from recycled wine bottles, 100% organic linens, Nespresso machines with recyclable pods, yoga mats and Bamford bath products infused with essential oils. Other eco-friendly elements include chalkboards replacing paper, bamboo-based tissue and energy-saving smart thermostats. Guests can also take part in the 1 Less Thing program, which encourages leaving gently used clothing behind for donation to local nonprofit Mary’s Place.
Food and beverage outlets include the signature restaurant La Lob and Drift café and bar just off the lobby. Six event spaces can be found on the second floor.
1 Hotel Seattle is targeting LEED Silver certification, with strategies that range from advanced air quality systems and UV water filtration to a 37% reduction in water use. Additionally, more than 70% of construction waste was diverted from landfills.
The building uses sustainable, low-VOC materials, and the property participates in a True Zero Waste program in partnership with Foodprint Group, aiming for 90% waste diversion across all operations. Single-use plastics have been replaced by reusable glassware, compostable packaging and upcycled materials, including hangers made of recycled paper and amenity trays crafted from sustainable wood.
