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Housed in a building that was once a telephone company switching center, the Monaco is one of downtown Seattle's hippest business hotels, attracting a young and affluent clientele. If you appreciate cutting-edge style, you'll go for the eclectic, over-the-top, retro-contemporary design here. The lobby has reproductions of ancient Greek murals; in the guest rooms, you'll find wild color schemes, bold striped wallpaper, stereos with CD players, and leopard-print terry-cloth robes. For a view of Mount Rainier, ask for room no. 1019, 1119, or 1219. Miss your pet back home? Call the front desk, and a staff member will send up a pet goldfish for the night. Sazerac, the hotel's New American restaurant, is as boldly designed as the rest of the place. Be sure to order the restaurant's namesake cocktail at the adjacent bar.

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