Located on a busy downtown street of high-rise buildings, The Paramount Hotel has a tasteful, timeless look starting with its cream-and-rose-colored masonry facade. The lobby continues the look, with a long reception counter of dark wood, classy brown upholstered sofas and armchairs, an elaborately carved wooden fireplace, and many elegant lamps providing soft mood lighting. But note that the lobby area is scheduled to undergo a complete refurbishment in 2016. The hotel is popular with business and leisure travelers alike, but most of the guests who choose to stay here are couples exploring the city as tourists, or catching a show at the nearby Paramount Theater, after which the hotel is named. 

The Paramount Hotel is located on a busy street in the heart of downtown Seattle and within walking distance of several tourist attractions, restaurants, cafes, and many shops and boutiques. Most guests prefer to leave their cars at the hotel or in a nearby parking lot so they can explore the city on foot or by public transit.

• Two-minute walk to Paramount Theatre
• Two-minute walk to the Washington State Convention Center
• Five-minute walk to Westlake Center
• 11-minute walk to Pike Place Market
• 14-minute walk to Seattle Art Museum
• 12 minutes to Pioneer Square via public transit
• 13 minutes to Seattle Waterfront via public transit
• 15 minutes to the Experience Music Project Museum via public transit
• 17 minutes to Seattle Aquarium via public transit
• 17 minutes to the Space Needle via public transit
• 20 minutes to Olympic Sculpture Park via public transit
• 25-minute drive to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (40 minutes via public transit)

For a downtown hotel, The Paramount offers particularly spacious rooms: The Single King and Double Queen Rooms have 250 square feet of floor space, and some are corner rooms with large windows giving panoramic city views. Guests can choose a room with either a traditional king-size bed, or two queen-size beds (ideal for families). Decor is fresh and modern without being overdone, featuring soft tones of cream, white, and gray, attractive mahogany furniture, and light beige wall-to-wall carpeting. Elegant navy-and-white bed runners and purple and gray cushions contrast with the crisp white bed linens. Amenities include air-conditioning, 50-inch flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, safes, mini-fridges (but no minibar snacks), and irons and ironing boards. Other fancy extras -- dual docking speakers with Bluetooth and coffeemakers with Caffe Umbria coffee and Two Leaves tea -- add another layer of comfort. Beige-tiled bathrooms are also generously sized with shower/tub combos and granite sink tops. All come outfitted with free BeeKind toiletries, bathrobes, hairdryers, and magnifying mirrors. But past guests have complained of a few minor cleanliness issues and poor soundproofing. Light sleepers may want to consider a room on the upper floors, which are better isolated from street noise.

The Executive King Rooms are larger, and feature king-size beds, large comfy armchairs and ottomans, plus large bathtubs and separate showers in bathrooms. The hotel also has two top-floor Penthouse Suites (scheduled for renovation in 2016) with panoramic views over the city. These have separate sitting areas with double-sided gas fireplaces, wet bars, and dining and conference areas. The bathrooms are equipped with large bathtubs, separate showers, and double sinks.

The Paramount Hotel has the expected features of a mid-sized three-and-a-half-pearl property, but not everything is included in the room rates. An American-style breakfast is served (for an added fee) at the on-site Dragonfish restaurant, which is also open for lunch and dinner serving a menu of Asian-American fusion dishes. It provides room service as well. And guests can help themselves to free coffee and tea at reception.

The fitness center is in a dark windowless space, but it's open 24 hours and is well-equipped with weight machines, free weights, elliptical trainers, stationary bicycles, and stair machines. Use of the computers, printers, and high-speed Internet is free at the 24-hour business center, where fax and photocopy services are available for a fee. Business travelers can also make use of the two meeting rooms located on the second floor that can accommodate up to 45 people. Wi-Fi is free and available throughout the hotel as well. Other services available include dry-cleaning and laundry, and on-site valet parking, which is charged a hefty nightly fee.