Ballard's glittering designer hotel, which opened in May 2013, exemplifies the neighborhood’s upward rise. The seduction begins outside: Hotel Ballard has a lovely street profile, with its wrought-iron balconies blending in with the redbrick edifices of yore. Inside, it’s even more opulent (upholstered headboards, funky chandeliers, super-streamlined bathtubs), but stays faithful to the neighborhood’s Scandinavian heritage with Nordic murals.
Guests get free use of the equally fancy Olympic Athletic Club next door.