Arctic Club Hotel

A review of the Arctic Club Hotel, a beautifully restored historic hotel in the heart of Seattle's financial district

Hatched in 1908 as an exclusive gentlemen's club, the Arctic Club Hotel was conceived as a fraternal networking society for newly minted Klondike gold rush tycoons. In need of a suitably opulent clubhouse, the group hired stalwart Seattle architect A. Warren Gould to design a building that would reflect its members' wealth and thirst for far-flung adventure.

Completed in 1917 and occupied by the club until the early 70s, this landmark 10-story building was restored and relaunched as an offshoot of the Hilton brand in 2008. Opulence still dominates, starting in a lobby that features Alaskan marble staircases and tiles, warm oak panelling and a portrait library of esteemed and intrepid men in formal dress.

The foyer gives way to a gorgeous lounge that mirrors the property's wealthy, worldly past: more dark wood, whiskey-toned leather and posh furnishings. There are nautical flourishes galore, from circular lights and mirrors that mimic portholes to faded maps that cover tabletops, lampshades and even whole walls. Perhaps the most visible—and iconic—nod to the Arctic Club's heritage are the walrus heads that stand out against the building's cream-coloured terra cotta exterior.

The walrus motif is echoed on number plates outside of the hotel's 120 guestrooms and suites, and the upscale explorer theme carries on inside—a lamppost composed of wooden buoys, a rope-framed mirror, a side table designed to look like a vintage luggage trunk. Modern amenities also anchor the guest experience, with big cushy beds, HDTVs with DVD/CD-ready stereos and French-pressed Starbucks coffee. Many rooms feature wide Jacuzzi tubs with ample room for an intertwined couple, and the eight suites on the 10th floor boast rooftop terraces with views of the harbour area and other century-old buildings in the business district.

Back down on the first couple of floors, guests will find a fitness centre and free Internet access at a couple of desks in the lounge. The hotel's meeting facilities are crowned by the magnificent 4,800-sq.-ft. Northern Lights Dome Room. Should you be in search of an elegant meal or an artful nightcap, the JUNO dining room overlooking the corner of 3rd Ave. and Cherry St. is tough to upstage in this part of the city.

Rooms start at US$199.