Populus Seattle: Carbon-Positive Hotel

written by Lauren Kramer

If you worry about your carbon foot-print, you’ll want to spend a night at Populus Seattle, the Pacific Northwest’s first carbon-positive hotel. Opened in Pioneer Square in May 2025, the building was designed to sequester more carbon in biomass and soil than it will emit over its life cycle—no mean feat for a 119-year-old structure! 100 S. King St. began its life as a warehouse and later served as office space. In 2020, a five-year-long renovation began, transforming it into a forest inspired, environmentally forward, 120-room hotel that looks and feels brand new.

ROOMS

With exposed brick, handsome Douglas fir beams and large windows, the rooms at Populus are small but well designed for comfort. They come with king-size beds, beautiful linens and decorative touches including rice paper flowers, reclaimed driftwood and handmade ceramics. There are tea and coffee options in-room, bamboo paper products in the bathrooms and aromatic soaps, shampoos and lotions by Aesop for a decadent bathing experience.

ART

Populus invited thirty-five local, regional and international artists to a two-week, on-site workshop where they created more than 300 pieces of art for the hotel. These striking, unique canvases, on display in each bedroom and the hotel’s common areas, reflect Pacific Northwest landscapes and culture.

GREEN THUMB

Snags from the Olympic Peninsula set the tone for a nature-inspired experience at Populus, where greenery is just about everywhere. The lobby’s staircase is defined by a plethora of carefully arranged indoor plants. Stacked in layers, they add a sense of calm and tranquility, bringing the outdoors inside. That feeling continues in Salt Harvest, the restaurant at Populus, where a glass-wrapped solarium filled with hanging indoor plants creates a welcoming, bright environment for dining.

DINING

Dungeness crab leaf wraps at Salt Harvest. *(photo: Dina Avila/Populus Seattle)*

Populus has three dining options: a café serving hot beverages and artisan pastries; Salt Harvest, a full-service restaurant serving three meals daily; and Firn, its trendy rooftop bar, where small bites and cocktails are offered with views of the Seattle skyline. Salt Harvest has an innovative, carefully composed menu featuring organic and locally sourced dishes. It also offers a nine-person “chefside dining” experience where participants can watch a chef whip together a custom menu while discussing its ingredients, sourcing and preparation.

The stunning view from Populus Seattle’s rooftop bar, Firn. *(photo: Ric Stovall/Populus Seattle)*

AMENITIES

Populus has a gym outfitted with Peloton bikes, weights and treadmills; a well-stocked library where guests can read, work quietly and enjoy complimentary hot beverages in the morning; and a music and art room that will host artists in residence in the future. Plans for a range of boutique, complimentary experiences for guests include a workshop on crafting rice paper flowers.

100 S. KING ST.
SEATTLE
www.populusseattle.com