The hotel is housed in a landmarked Victorian/Romanesque red brick building erected in 1914 that fits well with the historic character of the surrounding Pioneer Square area. Each of the four floors is elevator accessible and the small, mostly functional lobby has an antique charm and includes a small parlor area with green upholstered armchairs, a fireplace, shelves with antiques and books, and lots of natural wood details throughout. It's a nice place to read or enjoy a free coffee, though the only other area for guests to mingle is in the generic breakfast room over the free continental breakfast. The hotel mostly draws tourists, including couples and families, who like the intimate and historic atmosphere (not to mention the hotel's ghost story), though business travelers stay here as well. 

Seattle's lively Pioneer Square historic district is filled with shops, art galleries, restaurants, and bars, though the area can feel slightly dodgy at night and some guests may feel uncomfortable with the heavy presence of panhandlers throughout the day. Pioneer Square itself is a block east of the hotel, where guests will find the quirky and popular Bill Speidel's Underground Tour of the city. Elliott Bay and the Washington State Ferry terminal (with service to Bainbridge Island and Bremerton) are also a five minute walk from the hotel, and continuing northwest along the water leads to souvenir stands, shops, and restaurants, as well as the Seattle Great Wheel and Seattle Aquarium (both 10 minutes on foot). Pike Place Market, home of the famous fish toss, is a 15-minute walk from the hotel, and outstanding views of the city are available at the historic Smith Tower (a five-minute walk east). The hotel is ideally located for Sports fans, with CenturyLink Field (Seattle Seahawks) and Safeco Field (Seattle Mariners) 10 and 15 minute walks from the hotel, respectively. Seattle Center, home to the Space Needle and many other cultural attractions, are 10 minutes away by taxi or car, though the Seattle Monorail departs for the area from Westlake Center, a large shopping mall a 20-minute walk (or eight-minute drive) from the hotel. Sea-Tac International Airport is a 20-minute drive from the hotel and Amtrak trains depart from King Street Station, a 10-minute walk (or five-minute drive). 

Spread throughout four floors, the 100% non-smoking guest rooms are clean and have a well-kept, if slightly dated, antique appeal. Tan-and-green paisley carpets, floral drapes, white walls, natural wood period-style furniture, and Neo-Impressionist art give rooms a comfortable elegance that's a step above many three-pearl, chain properties. Beds are good, with white duvets, wood headboards, and gray bed runners and there are variety of room sizes throughout, from snug 300 square foot (28 square meter) Standard King Rooms to spacious 400 square foot (37 square meter) Deluxe Rooms. All rooms come with irons, hairdryers, desks, coffee/tea makers, and 32-inch (or larger) flat-screen TVs with expanded cable and HD channels, though no HBO or other premium movie channels. Additionally, mini-fridges are only available upon request. Higher category bookings, such as Deluxe City View Rooms have extra seating areas with floral-print armchairs, as well as iPod-dock alarm clocks and balconies with views of historic Smith Tower down the street. Well-lit bathrooms are exceptionally clean, with white mica vanities, a full array of toiletries, and bathtub/shower combos. Most rooms are quiet, though some may experience noise issues due to the hotel's location near the traffic-heavy Alaskan Way Viaduct.

As a relatively small hotel in a historic building, the BEST WESTERN PLUS has few on-site facilities, and lacks a pool, sauna, steam room, restaurant, or bar. The hotel's signature amenity is its free continental breakfast, featuring fresh Belgian waffles, pastries, cereals, and juices, and free coffee is available throughout the day. Guests receive free passes to a fitness center in Smith Tower, a five-minute walk from the hotel and the adjacent Italian restaurant provides room service for lunch and dinner. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi throughout, uniformed bell service, laundry service, and 24-hour front desk service, and there is also an attractive meeting room with antique accents. Self-parking with unlimited in-and-out privileges is available at a nearby facility for a fee, though it can be expensive.