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Located less than 10 minutes by taxi from the Seattle airport and even closer to an Amtrak station, Hotel Interurban is a surprisingly hip place to stay in the midst of Washington State’s biggest shopping area.
Hotel Interurban is located in the Southside Seattle area, a region best known for its airport but one that is worth sticking around in for a while before or after a trip elsewhere in the state. Or when you’re building in a cushion of an extra night or two before a cruise from Seattle.
We were coming from the San Juan Islands, on a shuttle bus service that goes from Sea-Tac airport all the way up to the San Juans ferry terminal and back. We had an early flight out the next morning, so it didn’t make sense to stay in downtown Seattle and then get up even earlier for the long ride in the morning.
We also didn’t want to be stuck at an isolated airport hotel since we were getting to Sea-Tac in the early afternoon and would have some time to explore. So we made our way to this hotel in Tukwila since there were plenty of other options within walking distance for eating and drinking.
Interurban Hotel Dining and Drinking
The Rendition restaurant menu looked quite good once we arrived and checked in and it seemed like a better option than the mostly chain restaurants around, so we stayed on site for that. With both indoor and outdoor seating and a long, well-stocked bar, it’s also attractively decorated and inviting. Some of the outdoor tables have gas fire pits in the middle and there’s a lounge area inside with leather sofas.
There’s a daily happy hour that makes the place even more attractive. Running 4:00 to 6:00 on most days and until 10:00 p.m. on Sunday and Monday, the special is a simple $2 off on the majority of what’s on the menu: draft beer, wine, well drinks, small bites, and burgers.
The menu is a big step up from most hotel restaurants, serving “renditions” of classic American dishes, with an additional emphasis on seafood. I had an excellent clam chowder and a well-done fish and chips, while my wife went healthier getting a Miso Sable fish dish with bok choy, shitake mushrooms, and a daikon salad. Other interesting dishes include shishito nachos, braised short ribs with polenta, and a wagyu “cowboy burger” with a pile of fixings. There are five signature cocktails, nine wines by the glass, and rotating local craft beers on tap.
You can get a full breakfast at Rendition or opt for something smaller from the Urban Roast coffee shop. It serves coffee from local roaster Cafe Avole starting at 6 a.m. and serves house-made donuts, breakfast sandwiches, parfaits, and other goodies.
There are plenty of other dining options nearby, most of them familiar names, plus a Total Wine a couple of blocks away if you want to buy something to enjoy in the room.
Rooms at Interurban
This 19-story hotel is currently the tallest property in Tukwila, so you won’t have any trouble finding it. It holds 185 rooms, most with a high view of what’s around.
Each room has dark hardwood laminate floors, minimalist cabinets and drawers, a comfortable pillowtop mattress, and a nice leather armchair with a footrest. Two individual lamps are on each side of the bed, one with a more focused light for reading, and rooms have plenty of charging outlets. A 49-inch TV is mounted on the wall, the complimentary Wi-Fi is fast, and the included robes and slippers provide a bit of pampering. Safes are big enough for a laptop, plus there’s a mini-fridge and coffee maker.
Bright bathrooms with a sliding full-length mirror door have a lighted frame around the mirror over the sink and a good array of toiletries.
Pets are welcome in some rooms for an additional fee and if you come in an electric car, there are parking spots with chargers.
Other Things to Do in Tukwila
If you’ve got kids with your or want to swim some laps, there’s an indoor swimming pool that’s open all year. The hotel also has a fitness center open 24 hours. If you want to play a game, just ask at the front desk as they have a selection of them for some family fun.
If you’ve got time to shop, you’ll find a bit of everything in Tukwila. The Westfield Southcenter mall here is the largest in the Pacific Northwest. Other free-standing stores include REI, Target, Barnes & Noble, and DSW. The mall has a large AMC movie theater as well and Tukwila even has an indoor skydiving facility.
Book directly at the official website for Hotel Interurban or check rates online at Expedia. Rooms usually run between $110 and $260 per night before taxes, up to $340 for the suites.
See the Seattle Southside website for information on dining and things to do in Tukwila, SeaTac and the marina area of Des Moines, Washington. There are plenty of reasons to stick around a while at the beginning or end of your trip to the Washington State coast.
Review and photos by editor Tim Leffel, who was hosted one night at the property by Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority after a trip to the San Juan Islands. As always, all opinions are his own.
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