Purple Café and Wine Bar

Frommer's Review

Seattleites love this big, loud wine bar near Benaroya Hall and the Seattle Art Museum, and you probably will, too. The space, with tall walls of glass, was formerly the University Bookstore, but has now been transformed into a beautiful bi-level dining room. The menu is almost intimidatingly long, and everything sounds so good that you won't know where to start or finish. If you have a hard time making decisions, just start ordering little bites off the tapas-style tasting menu. Portions are tiny, so you can sample lots of different flavors -- maybe some duck confit and cambozola cheese, or strawberries with balsamic vinegar and basil, or cured white anchovies, or tuna tartar with green papaya salad. You start to get the picture? Everything is artfully presented, and while there are occasional dishes that fall short, when you order enough little bites, you'll find plenty of winners.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.