Chambered Nautilus Bed and Breakfast Inn

Located on a peaceful hillside in the University District, this charming and elegant Seattle bed and breakfast is a quiet urban oasis, just minutes from downtown Seattle. Offering relaxation and comfort and perfectly equipped for business, this elegant B&B in Seattle, a classic 1915 Georgian Colonial home, features lovely rooms, beautiful gardens, personalized service, and amazing 3-course gourmet breakfasts.

Situated in the heart of Seattle, within easy walking distance to the University of Washington, this Seattle inn is only minutes from the many wonderful downtown attractions. Enjoy a pleasant walk to campus, museums, Husky Stadium, the UW Medical Center, restaurants, University Village shopping area, the Burke-Gillman jogging trail and the Ravenna Park.

Named by USA Today as...
Top 10 Inn for Business Travelers
Top 10 Urban Bed & Breakfast

Best Places to Kiss - Northwest 2009

Check out our "kisses" in this the 10th edition! "the most kissably romantic room is the Crow's Nest Chamber...", "...with any luck their famous stuffed French Toast will be on the menu."

A gently sloping staircase leads the way to this Seattle B&B, with its spacious, peaceful and comfortable Guestrooms, filled with lovely amenities, business lodging necessities, cozy fireplaces and porches! Across the garden you'll discover the spacious University Suites. These 1 and 2 bedroom suites feature private entrances, cozy fireplaces, comfortable living rooms and kitchens.

Begin each day with a delicious 3-course gourmet breakfast, plenty of fresh roasted Seattle coffee, good conversation and warm hospitality. Guests will find tea and cookies in the inn’s living room at all hours.

Enjoy sipping tea and cookies by the fireplace, read a good book in the beautiful garden, or plan your next day's activities. Enjoy good food, warm hospitality and a relaxing stay at this Seattle, WA bed and breakfast.

Business Travelers

We have everything you need to get the job done during your stay with us!
Convenient Seattle Location
Short walk to the University of Washington
Short drive to downtown
Easy access to most central locations and the Eastside
Business-Geared Amenities
24 hour Business Center with computer, internet, and printer
In room Desk, WiFi, Iron, Flat Screen TV, iPod docking station, radios/CD players
Nearby Fitness Facilities
Convenient Breakfast & Snacks
Flexible breakfast times or early continental in room
Can Follow Dietary Restrictions
24 hour snacks, coffee, tea and bottled water
Flexible Policies:
Flexible check-in and out times
Shorter Cancellation Policy, 48 hours Sun-Thurs travel only

Breakfast at the Chambered Nautilus is an event! Each morning begins at 7 am with fresh roasted coffee from the Mukilteo Coffee Roasters along with a wide selection of herbal and caffeinated teas. Prepare to treat yourself at 8 am or 9 am to a gourmet menu beginning with a fresh fruit entrée, fruit juice smoothie and our Homemade Gourmet Granola, then follow it up with our hot entrée of the day. Our entrées vary from sweet one day to savory the next. Whether you join us at the main table or have a quiet meal at your own private table, breakfast at the Chambered Nautilus becomes the best way to start your day.

Prefer to Dine Alone

Whether its just you or you and your traveling companion, just ask us. Private tables are available in our living room by the fireplace, and on the sunporch overlooking the gardens.

On a Special Diet

Let us know and with a little advance notice we can modify our recipes to meet almost any food allergy and dietary special needs you may have. Yes, we can and are happy to accommodate your vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and other needs.

Special Breakfast Time

Breakfast is usually served between 8 and 9 am but may be served earlier or later with prior arrangement. If you have a really early plane, train, ferry, or business meeting we'll happily prepare our "Early Breakfast Basket" for you. Filled with Fresh home baked treats, fruit and "go cups" for your coffee this will get you up and out for an early start.

While everyone loves a trip to downtown Seattle, just a 10 minute drive or 20 minute express bus ride form the Inn, with the Pike Place Market, the waterfront, the Seattle Aquarium, great shopping and all the other fun stuff to get a sense of the true Seattle one should experience the neighborhoods. We are located in and adjacent to some of Seattle's finest neighborhoods. Below you will find a taste of each one and a couple of ideas on what to enjoy when you visit each one. Near us you will find, Greenlake, Wallingford, Ravenna, Sandpoint, and View Ridge, and not too far away, Capitol Hill, Fremont, Ballard and of course there is our very own University District.

University District, Our Neighborhood

Home to the Chambered Nautilus Bed and Breakfast Inn and the University of Washington campus. Within a 10 minute walk of the Inn, you will find, shops, movie theaters, great restaurants, coffee shops, a park, the Burke-Gilman jogging and biking trail and the University of Washington campus! At one end of our street, the UW Campus is a great place for a stroll, known for its fabulous view of Mount Rainier, glorious cherry trees, and mixture of stately old buildings and amazing new architecture. The campus and the accompanying UW Medical Center, encompasses several blocks and we have maps here at the Inn to guide you to and around the campus. Consider a visit to the Burke Museum (anthropology oriented, and always a good special exhibit) and the Henry Art Gallery (specializing in Modern Art). Both are on campus, about a 15-20 minute walk from the Inn. The University Book Store is a must, not just textbooks here, but also a great independent book store, selling new titles and the best place to buy all your UW Husky paraphernalia. The book store is in the heart of the University District, right on University way or as we call it, " the Ave."

Great restaurants abound in our neighborhood!

In addition to the ethnic food found up on the "Ave" and those in the University Village, there are a few others near us that we must mention. For steak lovers, Jak's Grill is a 5 minute drive from the Inn. PAIR is a short walk/drive and a wonderful neighborhood place, with great wines and a "small plate" menu with lots of choices to share, and the Sand Point Grill is one of the best neighborhood places in town with a varied fresh daily menu and great cocktails! Restaurants come and go all the time so be sure and check with your Innkeepers for the best new choices and great stand bys. Catering to the college crowd, there are the funky coffee shops, interesting clothing and handicraft shops, and almost any type of ethnic and inexpensive food one can want! Cafe Solstice is our favorite coffee shop, featuring great coffee, great smells, baked goods and lots of students using the WiFi. As for the "hole in the wall" local eateries, Big Time Brewery and Pizza (they make their own beer), Shalimar (Indian), and Thai Thom where you can watch the cook make your food, are our favorites.

Ravenna Park

At the other end of our street is the other side of the U-District, is beautiful Ravenna Park, located on the edge of the Ravenna Neighborhood. It is complete with a playground for kids, a dog walking meadow, and hiking trails through the woods and beside Ravenna Creek. This is a great place for a pre dinner walk, to help the kids burn off some energy or take your furry companion for an early morning stroll.

Around the corner from the park and, just a 10 minute walk from the Inn, is the University Village shopping area. An upmarket place with good restaurants and yes, lots of great shopping, Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, a huge grocery store the QFC, North Face for clothing, Barnes and Noble books and many local shops and more. We like Mrs.Cooks for kitchen gadgets - this will keep the shoppers in your group busy. Our favorite eateries, from so many to choose from in here are Piatti (Italian), Zao Noodle House (Asian), and the Ram Brew Pub (Casual), with a little bit of everything on the menu and, yes, they brew their own beer too.

If that is not enough, a very short drive away (or easy bus ride) away are several of our favorite Seattle Neighborhoods, here are some of the highlights...

Greenlake

Just a stone's throw away, at the end of Ravenna Blvd. is Greenlake, the lake and the neighborhood. Pick up a latte at the Starbucks (you have to go to at least one while you are here), have a seat and enjoy the best people watching in town or Take a Walk. Join the Seattleites walking themselves, their dogs, their kids, or rollerblading on the 2.9 mile inner loop around the lake. Or just go partway and have a great lunch at Dukes Chowder House, one of our favorites and a Seattle institution.

Capitol Hill

Just south of the Inn, on the way to downtown it is easy to detour through this great urban neighborhood, home to Seattle University, Volunteer Park, and the fabulous eateries and unique shops of Broadway, the Pike/Pine corridor and 12th and 15th Aves. A visit to Volunteer Park with the Asian Art Museum, Conservatory, and the famous water tower (climb the 106 steps for an amazing view) is always fun. Our top eateries here are the Coastal Kitchen (on 15th), Cafe Presse (on 12th Ave by Seattle U), Quinn's Pub on Pike, and for a great dessert at a Seattle tradition visit the Dilettante Mocha Cafe on Broadway. We do also enjoy a coffee from the Victrola folks (a local coffee roaster) on 15th.

Wallingford

Just across the freeway from your home in the University District is Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood. The main drag here (and the # 44 bus goes right along it) is 45th Street. Stroll along, visit the shops, many are located in and around a remodeled school house at 45th and Wallingford Ave and see Seattleites out and about. Here we have to recommend a stop at the very popular Molly Moon's Ice Cream Parlor, you can find it by the line outside the door, a visit to Wide World Books and Travel a wonderful independent bookstore, and for eats, your innkeeper's favorite place in town for yummy casual food any time of the day, the Blue Star Cafe and Pub. This neighborhood also has our recommendation in Seattle for sushi and Japanese food, the Kisaku Sushi Restaurant - a great neighborhood place.

Fremont

Located a bit further west of Wallingford and a little south is Fremont, or as they like to call themselves, the "Center of the Universe." Lots to do here, and home to lots of Public Art. Be sure to take along a Fremont neighborhood Walking Guide available in our living room and you can also check out fremont.com. Make sure to see The Fremont Troll - lurking beneath the Aurora Bridge since 1990 and is a cornerstone in Fremont's character, and the Statue of Lenin - Yes, Vladimir Illych Lenin. Visit Theo Chocolate, the only premium organic, Fair Trade, bean-to-bar chocolate factory in the US! Take a free tour! This is a chocoholic's dream! Stop by the Fremont Bridge to see the statues waiting for a bus--sometimes they are dressed up! Places to eat here are numerous! For a quick and very memorable sandwich we like the very famous Paseo's well known in Seattle for their Messy, spicy Cuban sandwiches and entrées. This is one of the Chambered Nautilus's top Staff Picks for Seattle eateries. Fremont is home to the unique and Norm's Eatery and Alehouse fits the bill. Described as a laid back, dog friendly (yes you can bring your furry friend to dinner here), Fremont joint it features great pub grub, (try the burgers) and trivia night on Thursdays. We also like a more refined meal sometimes at the 35th Street Bistro. For coffee in Fremont, we like the Lighthouse Roasters Fine Coffees, another local coffee roaster with an awesome fun environment in a yellow house in a small neighborhood. Fremont has no shortage of Bars and Taverns, many with live music. We picked as favorites The George and the Dragon Pub, Seattle's only authentic English Pub. They serve cocktails, fine ales, and even outside seating for dinner and drinks! You can watch soccer games, and play pool. The Red Door, a preppy "hip" place to go for younger, pop-your-collar-type, and a Fremont institution, it has been around almost as long as Fremont itself, but it doesn't look it. Live Music Bars we recommend are the Nectar Lounge, featuring a vast array of music shows and drinks and The High Dive a popular venue, it is easy to find the marquee outside has a larger woman diving off a board.

Ballard

Just a little bit further west of the Inn is Ballard. This neighborhood is mix of the old, with an industrial area, great bars and a lot of live music mixing in with lots of new trendy restaurants, new condos and shops. You must see The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks where you can take a stroll through the botanical gardens and watch the boats travel through the waterway. Experience the famous salmon run as they journey upstream to spawn at the underwater Fish Ladder. Stop by Golden Gardens Park, one of Seattle's popular beaches right on the Puget Sound with a great view of the Olympic Mountains. Get your coffee in Ballard at the Café Verite & Cupcake Royale, a great coffeehouse known for their especially scrumptious cupcakes! While Ballard has lots of new restaurants (more than this innkeeper can keep track of) we still recommend 2 Seattle standards when hunger strikes. Ray's Boathouse offers the best seafood in town, best mountain and water view in town, and is located right on the water! Enjoy the casual atmosphere upstairs or partake in a fine dining experience on the lower level. Sit on the deck in the summer, when the sun goes down... no need to leave, they bring you blankets! Plus they have convenient valet parking. The Lockspot offers a laid-back atmosphere, and is located adjacent to the Locks. Local fishermen hang out here and it was made famous for its appearance in Discovery Channel's TV Show "Deadliest Catch". The Fish 'n Chips are a must!! Ballard too is known for its live music venues. The Sunset Tavern is extremely popular and the Tractor Tavern features a vast array of music shows and drinks. A little on the folk music side of things with square dancing on Monday nights! Egan's Ballard Jam House is a Jazz club tradition offering dinner and drinks!

The Chambered Nautilus, a Seattle bed and breakfast, is centrally located in the University District just north of Downtown Seattle. We are within walking distance, 4 1/2 blocks north, of the University of Washington campus, about a 10-15 minute drive from downtown, and just up the hill from the University Village shopping area. Ravenna Park with hiking trails is at the end of our street and the Burke-Gilman jogging/biking trail is just down the hill from us. The University of WA Medical Center is within walking distance and Children's Hospital is about a 5-7 minute drive from the Inn. Our central location puts us nearby and convenient to the wonderful neighborhoods of Wallingford, Greenlake, Fremont, Ravenna and Wedgewood. The Eastside is accessible as we are not too far from the 520 Bridge over Lake Washington. Being near the University means that there are major bus lines running frequently near the Inn and you can get almost anywhere around the city by bus. For assistance in planning your bus trip we recommend using the King County Metro Trip Planner.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

Please note, Mapquest, Google Maps and GPS will all bring you here. The following directions will bring you here, simply and easily!

Directions to the Chambered Nautilus: From I-5

• Take I-5 to the 50th Street Exit (exit 169)
• Heading North on I-5 from the Airport ,you will turn right on 50th Street
• Heading South on I-5 you will turn left on 50th Street
• Follow 50th till it almost ends at 20th Ave. NE. There is a flashing red stoplight at the intersection and you will turn Left on 20th NE.
• Follow 20th to 54th St and turn Right on 54th St. (You are now going downhill).
• At the bottom of the hill turn Right onto 22nd Ave NE.
• We are at 5005 22nd Ave NE. The house is on the right hand side of the road, about 200-300 yards down.
• Look up, we're on the hillside and there is a sign. The house is a large blue Georgian Colonial.

Directions to the Chambered Nautilus: From SR 520 Westbound

Follow 520 W to I-5 Northbound and then follow the directions above.

OR:

• Take the Montlake Exit off of SR 520
• Merge onto Montlake and go over the bridge at the Montlake Cut and past Husky Stadium on the right
• Get into the left hand lane, just past the stadium and keep going straight, there is a sign that says for 25th Ave NE, it looks like a left turn lane sign but if you stay in the left lane and go straight you will be on 25th Ave NE
• At the light at 55th Street NE (there is a laundromat on the corner) turn left.
• Soon you will be faced with the option to go up a very large hill, or veer to your left.
• VEER to your LEFT. This will put you on 22nd Ave NE
• We are at 5005 22nd Ave NE. The house is on the right hand side of the road, about 200-300 yards down.
• Look up, we're on the hillside and there is a sign. The house is a large blue Georgian Colonial

RENTAL CARS

There are 2 rental car agencies, Enterprise and Budget here in the University District should you want to wait and rent a car after you are all settled in. Enterprise will come to the Inn to get you, Budget is about a 20 minute walk from the Inn.

TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FROM THE AIRPORT

Via Taxi: From the Baggage Claim area, follow the signs to Ground Transportation and Taxi. There you can pick up the Airport taxis. They will bring you directly to our door at the cost of about $50.00 and the trip will be about 35 minutes. You can also call your own taxi and they will pick you up at the departure area. We like Orange Cab: 206-522-8800.

Via Shuttle or Van Service

We recommend using Shuttle Express. From the Baggage claim area again follow the signs to Ground Transportation, as you see the taxi area, look behind you and to the right and you will see the Shuttle Express Desk. They will make other stops en route but will also bring you directly to our door. Rates are varied, dependent upon number of passengers. Typically, a reservation for two people directly traveling to our Inn would be about $37.00. You can check rates and reserve by calling them at 425-981-7000 or on line at www.shuttleexpress.com. Advance reservations are recommended. They will pick you up at the Inn for your return trip and sometimes offer a roundtrip discount.

Via Public Transportation (Bus): This is easy (if you are traveling light), inexpensive, and takes about an hour to an hour and 15 minutes. Take Metro Transit bus 194 Downtown from Transit Bay 2. Transit Bay 2 is located at the south end of the baggage claim. Just keep walking following the signs and just outside the south door is the bus stop. The #194 is an Express and will get you to downtown in about 30 minutes. Ask for a transfer ticket and if the bus goes into a tunnel (weekdays till 7PM) then get off at the University Street Station. If the bus stays on surface streets (weekends and eve) they you will need to get off at 3rd Avenue and Union street.

Once Downtown, you will need to get off at the above locations and transfer buses (free by using your transfer ticket received on the previous ride) to Route(s) # 71,72,or 73 at the University Street Station (Bus Tunnel) or at 3rd and Union, heading toward the University District. Exit the bus at University Way NE and NE 45th Street. We are just a short walk away; head east on NE 45th Street, towards UW Campus. After six blocks, you will want to take a left onto 22nd Ave NE. We are located at 5005 22nd Ave NE. Bus fare will range from $2.00-$2.50 per person depending on time of day.

TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FROM THE TRAIN STATION

The train station is located at the south end of downtown, about a 15-20 minute drive from the Inn.

Via Taxi: Step outside the station and there are taxi's waiting, or call your own. Orange Cab at 206-522-8800. The fare to the Inn will be about $20-$25.00

Via Bus: You will want to take the north exit of the King Street Station onto South Jackson Street. Walk two blocks eastward to the intersection of South Jackson Street and 5th Avenue South. Cross 5th Ave South, and you will find the bus stop on the right. There, you may take Route(s) 71, 72, or 73 towards the University District. The ride should take approximately 25 minutes. Exit the bus at University Way NE and NE 45th Street. We are just a short walk away; head east on NE 45th Street, towards UW Campus. After six blocks, you will want to take a left onto 22nd Ave NE. We are located at 5005 22nd Ave NE. Bus fare will range from $2.00-$2.25 per person, depending upon peak hours.