After a long drive from Portland to Seattle, which happened to be timed with a Seahawks game and a driving rainstorm, we were hungry and exhausted. We were staying at the Westin Seattle and wanted to find something within easy walking distance, so we chose Purple Café and Wine Bar. I called ahead to confirm that minors were welcome and then we headed over.

The first thing we noticed was the giant castle-like metal door. It really set the tone for the restaurant’s architecture and interior design, which was a sort of rustic industrial chic. The space relies almost exclusively on steel, concrete and glass. It was beautifully done and carried into every detail, including the heavy curved chair, the napkin rings, and even the 100ft ceiling was weaved metal. But, the pièce de résistance is the 5,000-bottle, two-story, central steel tower that functions as a gigantic wine rack, accessed by an exterior spiral stair. Gorgeous.

When we arrived around 6:30PM with no reservation and we saw that it was already packed, I was nervous that we’d need to find another option. Surprisingly, we were seated within just 5 minutes.

Purple Café and Wine Bar pairs a global wine selection with a menu that combines classic American styles with seasonal Northwest ingredients. They feature an expansive menu ranging from artisan cheeses, starters, soups, salads, sandwiches and pizzas to pasta and seafood.

The mind-blowing wine list features over 80 glass and 600 bottle selections. Frankly, a little overwhelming, but I suppose it’s a nice problem to have.

We started with the Kale Caesar and the Truffled Cauliflower Soup. The salad was good, but slightly misleading as more than half was romaine lettuce. The soup was velvety and delicious. Even my 8yr old said “not bad”.

I ordered the brick-grilled free-range chicken breast with braised lacinato kale, bread gnocchi, pickled chanterelle mushrooms in a rich poultry broth. The chicken was tender and juicy. The sauce was rich with nice acidity. The pickled chanterelles were wonderful (my favorite). The kale was a nice touch. I didn’t care for the bread gnocchi. Perhaps it was just that it wasn’t what I was expecting, so I was disappointed. I think a better description would have been dumpling rather than gnocchi.

My husband ordered the artisan cured meat pizza with fermin serrano paleta, molinari soppressata, zoe’s salami, mozzarella, fresh oregano and tomato sauce. The sauce was slightly sweet with a nice tang. It had the perfect amount of cheese. The crust was thin and crispy. It was a nice selection of meats and we liked the thick cut, but on the whole it was a bit too salty. Because of this we thought that perhaps the pizza would work better as a shared appetizer than as a main course.

Our son had the kids turkey and cheese sandwich, which was “delicious” according to my son.

purple cafe and wine bar

purple cafe and wine bar

purple cafe and wine bar

purple cafe and wine bar

purple cafe and wine bar

For wine we both had a French Bordeaux from Domaine Girard. Delicious. So we had another.

If you find yourself in downtown Seattle, then be sure to stop in for a glass of wine and a meal. You’ll be glad you did.

Purple Café and Wine Bar
1225 4th Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 206.829.2280
http://www.thepurplecafe.com/

The cylindrical twin towers of the Westin Seattle are located in the heart of Downtown within easy walking distance to great restaurants, Pike Place Market, Westlake Center, the Monorail, Seattle Center, and the waterfront. The hotel’s 47-story north tower provides phenomenal views of the Space Needle, Puget Sound, and the Olympic Mountains.

We originally reserved a traditional room at the Westin with frequent flyer miles. Upon check-in, we were offered an upgrade for $10/nt. We accepted and were given Carl’s (desk clerk) favorite room on the 47th floor, room 4732 – the top floor of the hotel.

We rode the elevator to the top of the tower and quickly found our room. As soon as we were in, we went to the floor-to-ceiling windows and took in the view. Superb. The cityscape was vibrant and alive, the Space Needle like a beacon directly in front of us. Eventually, we tore our eyes away from the window to take in the rest of the room, which was comfortable and spacious.

Shortly after settling into our room, the phone rang. It was Carl calling to see how we liked the room and if we understood why it was his favorite. He seemed genuinely tickled for us and I found that endearing.

The beds featured Westin’s signature Heavenly Bed® with custom-designed pillowtop mattresses, triple sheeting, down blankets, comforters, crisp white duvets and five goosedown pillows. Similarly, the bathrooms feature Westin’s Heavenly Bath® with a rain showerhead, designer toiletries, and waffle-weave robes.

Guestroom amenities include multi-line phones, flat-screen TVs, high-speed Internet access, and laptop-sized safes. It’s possible to plug laptop/mobile device into TV. The minibar was fully stocked with the typical amenities. Unfortunately, there was no available space for your own items.

The hotel has 2 bars, one in the lobby, and one next to the lobby called Relish Burgers. The pool and spa can be found on the 5th floor.

Cons: We had a connecting door to the Governor Suite. There was not much soundproofing as we could overhear their conversation quite well. Self-parking price was $41 a day.

Overall, we slept well and enjoyed our stay. We recommend the Westin Seattle.

The Westin Seattle
1900 Fifth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 206-728-1000
http://www.westinseattle.com/

Westin Seattle

Westin Seattle

Westin Seattle

Westin Seattle

Westin Seattle

Westin Seattle

Westin Seattle

Westin Seattle

Westin Seattle

Westin Seattle