Hotel Max

You don’t have to love art galleries, vintage-boutique shopping, or indie-rock concerts to enjoy staying at the Max—but it sure helps. Equidistant from the downtown shopping district and Belltown’s party avenues, the 163-room hotel is hipper-than-thou, and known for giving the region’s edgier artists a place to hang their works (if your gray-walled room and its careful selection of local art is too minimalist, you can always wander down the hall, where each door is its own canvas showcasing the work of a local photographer). Your room might be so small that you’ll risk tripping over its enormous bed, but at least you’ll make a comfortable landing; of all the hotels in town, the Max gets the “most like cappuccino foam” award for its ridiculous pile of fluffy linens and pillows.

Tip: Be wary of the special packages offered on the hotel’s Web site. They’re cleverly conceived, but the extras aren’t always worth the extra price—some, like a late check-out time, can be arranged without committing to a package; others, like concert tickets to Experience Music Project (one of the city’s least-exciting music venues) aren’t worth it.

Room to Book: Dog-lovers like room 1007 for the wonderful John Armstrong photo Dog Sign that covers its door (pooches up to 75 pounds are welcome at the Max). This corner room is also one of the largest in the hotel, with great views of the Space Needle.