Coast Seattle Downtown Hotel by APA — 4-Star Downtown, 3 Minutes to Light Rail, Family-Friendly Rates

The name Hilton Seattle still appears on enough platforms that guests occasionally book without realising the rebrand happened. In 2024, APA Hotels — a Japanese hospitality group — acquired the property and renamed it Coast Seattle Downtown Hotel by APA. The 24-storey tower at 1301 6th Ave is physically unchanged: same lobby footprint, same room layouts, same location advantage. What the rebrand does mean in practice is that the property often shows lower rates than competitors of equivalent standard, because the new name has not yet built the same volume of search history. Booking.com shows 8.5/10 from 940+ reviews — a solid result for a full-service downtown hotel at this price tier.

The location case is clear. The hotel sits on 6th Ave with University Street Station a 3-minute walk. From there, Link Light Rail runs directly to Lumen Field — the World Cup 2026 venue — in roughly 10 minutes, and continues south all the way to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in around 40 minutes. On match days when Uber demand spikes, this rail connection is a meaningful advantage. The hotel also has an underground pedestrian tunnel connecting directly to the Seattle Convention Center — genuinely useful in a city where it rains reliably. Pike Place Market is about a 10-minute walk downhill along 1st Ave, passing the original Starbucks and the market's main arcade.

Room options are straightforward and priced honestly. A Standard Room runs $139–210/night for couples or solo travelers. The Family Room with two Double beds goes for $169–250/night — four people sleep comfortably without squeezing. If you need two rooms that connect, Connecting Rooms are available at $270–400/night, which makes sense for larger families or groups traveling together. The building dates to 1970, and guests do note that some rooms have not been renovated as recently as the lobby refresh that followed the rebrand. If you need uniformly modern interiors, the Westin or Sheraton Grand Seattle will suit better. For most families focused on location and value, the rooms are well-maintained, clean, and functional.

On-property facilities include a 24-hour Fitness Center, complimentary Wi-Fi in all rooms, a hotel restaurant, luggage storage, and on-site parking (charged separately, as is standard for downtown Seattle). The fitness center gets mentioned positively across reviews by guests who keep a morning routine while traveling. There is no pool — a fact worth knowing before booking, especially if you are traveling with children who expect one.

Some honest context before you book: this is a 50-year-old building and not every room has been refreshed. Reviews occasionally mention older furniture or fixtures that feel behind the current four-star standard. The lobby was updated after the rebrand, but rooms are variable — if room condition is a priority, upgrade to the Westin or Sheraton. Second: there is no pool. If swimming matters to your family, look at the Hyatt at Olive 8 or Sheraton Grand Seattle instead. Third: the rebrand means some platforms still list the property under Hilton Seattle — if you are searching and not finding availability, try the new name or the address (1301 6th Ave) directly.

Straight talk: Coast Seattle Downtown Hotel by APA is the right choice if you want a four-star downtown Seattle address, a three-minute walk from Light Rail, at a price that leaves budget for tickets and meals. More than 940 guests have verified it works. It is particularly well-suited to families using Light Rail for World Cup matches, travelers connecting through downtown, and anyone who wants to walk to Pike Place rather than pay for an Uber. If you need a pool, brand-new interiors, or are traveling without price being a factor — this list has other Seattle options worth considering.