Arctic Club Hotel

If you could take just one photo: Cubbies filled with old hats

The weekend I moved to Seattle, the only hotel with a vacancy was the Arctic Club. It was only after we arrived that I realized how lucky we were. The woman who checked us in (and gave us each a warm chocolate chip cookie) informed us that the hotel had once been a gentlemen’s club. Looking around us, it was remarkable to see how the present day-hotel hung onto remnants of its past, while maintaining a modern, up-to-date feel. Behind the front desk, were cubbies holding old hats and gloves of the original club members. Dark leather chairs lounged around the bar, where we could easily imagine distinguished gentlemen sitting and smoking cigars. However, the underside of the bar was lit by a vibrant blue light, which brought the scene into the 21st century. In short, it was the perfect introduction to Seattle: a glimpse of the city’s history, albeit with its foot firmly planted in the present day.

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