Trace Market Reviews

I've been meaning to review TRACE Bar for some time now. As a Seattle resident who dines out nightly, I have several 'go to' places where I feel welcome and comfortable. It's hard to beat the warm welcome from the team at TRACE Bar. I visit a couple of times each week, either solo or with a friend, and I always enjoy the food and drinks. But it's the bartenders, cocktail servers and chefs who bring me back. My first experience at TRACE was exceptional and I've kept coming back for a couple of years now. This is one remarkably friendly and accommodating team of people, who genuinely care about their patrons and who work hard to insure their satisfaction. Plus it's obvious that the managers trust, support and work with their team. Good show all 'round. Thank you, TRACE Seattle!

Stopped here for a little after dinner drink. They have an extensive drink menu. At first I thought the waitress might have abit of an attitude, since we only were getting drinks, but she warmed up quickly, and all was good. It appears they may have a dj, and some dancing etc later in the evening, however, I am pretty sure that starts after my bedtime. Lots of comfortable seating, couches etc, pretty nice place, standard prices for a Seattle bar, $10ish for most cocktails.

Staying at W Seattle so had breakfast here. Liked the dramatic decor. The steel cut oatmeal was pretty horrible: mushy, watery and pastey. A far cry from the steel cut oats at Trace at W Austin which I've had many times and liked so much that I asked about the source... and have since bought directly from the mill. Server didn't even bother to ask why I had barely touched the plate. As others have remarked about the hotel: when you're forking out $350+ a night, low expectations aren't the norm.

Had breakfast here one morning - outrageously priced mediocre breakfast fare... I was charged $22 for two eggs, bacon and homefries. Seriously.

I haven't eaten since they changed the decor and I'm kit impressed . The food combination were a little out there for my companion and even though I'm a foodie some of them pushed the limits of acceptable. The food was fresh and presentation was good, but they were trying to hard to be different. Also I did not like the atmosphere , the new decor is a fancy cafeteria no warmth at all and no atmosphere. Staff was attentive and very good no issues there. Don't think this is a restaurant I would go back to if I had a choice.

This is certainly a beautiful restaurant, very upscale. We were not terribly hungry so we only tried small plates and sushi. The salad w/pork belly was very tasty. The sushi was very good as well. We also had this green tea cake for dessert and it was the best part of the whole meal. The best part is, however, the service. It seems that there were more people working than eating so we got great service. Our waiter was very sweet and professional. Overall I think the food and the wine were on the expensive side as portion was generally small. Perhaps the entrees are the better way to go.

This restaurant is in the W Hotel and has a thriving happy hour crowd most nights. It is mostly the young business set. We avoided that and went for dinner in their main restaurant. I actually went about a year ago and had a simlar experience, but had forgotten. Two things bothered me about the restaurant. The first is the limited menu if you do not like sushi. They have other items, but one person in our party really felt there was only one thing (the chicken breast) that was something he would want and was at a reasonable price. Another person wasn't that hungry and was fine with just a salad. The sushi options are pretty good, but they seem to want to have catchy names for Americanized rolls rather than as much authentic sushi as you might want. My second complaint is about their service. They were not rude, but not terribly friendly either and I sort of felt that they thought they were doing us a favor to be waiiting on us. In addition, it took longer than it should between ordering and getting our meal -- something probably close to 45 min. We happened to be on a time line due to needing to be at a show starting time. All in all, it wasn't terrible, but not something to write home about and I doubt that I will go back again.

Landed the day before and were up early for breakfast. Fantastic food, great service. We had a craving for pancakes and they custom-made a side for us. Made our morning.

The bar is at the lobby of W hotel, which has a very modern and flashy decoration. It looks a lot sexier from outside. The price is high, service is average, there is nothing special about it - which is common for a hotel bar.

Swanky little hotel bar/restaurant. Large lobby area to hang out. We left the day of a Seahawk game and they were all set up with games, etc. Very fun. We had cocktails and the Korean brussell sprouts at the bar before walking to a concert. Brussell sprouts were yummy and spicy. Drinks were OK, but the service and staff were great. We looked at the menu for breakfast the next morning and did not eat here. It seems too trendy and trying to make everything different for the sake of being different vs. being good. And if you are paying these prices it really should be good first.

Trace market has some excellent breakfast items for those that like savory option. Both the breakfast burrito and the jalapeño bagel egg sandwich were excellent, albeit slightly pricey items. Chocolate croissants here were also quite good. However as much as I appreciated Trace’s breakfast items, the lunch items were specifically lacking. I tried both burgers here regular and wagyu and was not impressed in either case. Therefore if visiting Trace, stick to the breakfast!

As a Starwood/Marriott platinum for life traveler, I have the challenge and the pleasure of experiencing some of the finest restaurants in the country. Everything from country fare, comfort food or eclectic modern cuisine... they all have unique offerings and at times eye popping unexpected offerings! One thing for sure, Trace Restaurnat at the W Hotel, House without question the best staff at ANY hotel restaurant I’ve had the pleasure of dining at. I’ll keep it simple and simply say that Paul (Bar Manager... I believe?) is not only the nicest guy you’ll ever run into in a restaurant environment but certainly has this incredible ability to exchange in a fun banter that engages you through what might otherwise be yet another lonely dining experience while traveling on business. His food and wine recommendations are spot on and he knows Seattle like no one else! The food here is delicious, the room absolutely beautiful and the staff...AMAZING! I only wish I was here with my wife... perhaps Ext time! 😊 Thank you Paul

This restaurant/bar has the usual W vibe, but this one feels very much like a cafeteria and was Ok but not particularly great. The food is decent, but it is not a relaxing place to hang out.

I love trace. The interiors are really towards my taste. I love W hotel and this place is inside the W hotel. They have good happy hour and sushi dishes are really nice. I would recommend it.

They have two happy hours here, one at the traditional time and then a reverse happy hour starting at 10 PM. Good drinks, good music and a very cool club-like setting.

Have not had the opportunity to go for a while, with friends changing jobs and differing work schedules, but returned in February and will be doing so often. Used to go almost every month from 2010 to 2015, but life changes happened ! Paul, who still works at Trace, is a great bartender and, practically, a friend. Looks out for us and makes sure we have a great time. Hoping to make Trace a regular home away from home again !

Wow - I think the name Trace comes from the fact that you might (if you're lucky) get a trace of what you ordered and that the waiters often disappear without a trace. We had three breakfasts here - and all three times - consistently, we were made to wait nearly half an hour for a waiter to take our order after we were seated. Orders took forever to arrive (and then not at the same time - my friends finished their meals just as I was getting mine). If the waiters wrote orders down, it might make it easier to remember the details of the orders themselves (consistently - we received entrees that were completely different from what we ordered). On the positive side - the food was fine (the corn beef hash was tasty) and the staff were kind/friendly (and apologetic). But seriously, what gives?

We were staying at the W and decided to go to TRACE for breakfast. It was very good, ESPECIALLY the avocado on toast. Also the Steel cut oatmeal was good and plentiful. Being at a hotel restaurant it was a little pricey though. I would have no concerns going back.

The waiters were unaware of guests, slow and seemed to forget us and our food. I will definetely suggest at the W Seattle to eat somewhere else all though the food was good.

The food here for Happy Hour is good, and discounted well. Drinks are good, and the design around the bar at least is cool.

I ate Trace restaurant food while staying at the W hotel. Sorry to say the food was not good...weird flavor combinations and just kinda gross.

We tried Trace when we checked out. We ordered a burger, a taco and a vegetarian spaghetti, they were very tasty. The burger patty's texture was really good and the sauce for the taco was amazing. Those servers were good services as well. Good to try!

If you like a Lemon Drop the you must try Trace's Emerald Drop, awesome and delicious! Loved the ambiance of this restaurant. Great decor, friendly servers and oh yes the food is wonderful. We shared a charcuterie board to start, they include a house made pate. The three of us regretted having to share this! We had halibut and salmon entrees. Everything was nicely presented, fresh, well prepared. Did not have any Sushi so can't comment on that The Sea fair parade was taking place right outside on fourth avenue so we were able to watch the parade while dining.

Funky ambiance with a good vibe and fun energy. This restau-lounge has it ALL!!! Delish fresh sushi, heavenly pulled pork sliders, fun bar scene, cozy/comfy relaxing lounge (great for close encounters...) and best of all... Top Gun bartender Paul!!! Keeps the crowd engaged, makes great recommendations, easy and fun to talk to! Paul takes this place to a whole new level raising the bar and keeping it there! This place is a solid 8 on the must try scale but if Paul is in the house...its a 10 all night long!!! 1000 accolades to the W HR staff for having someone like Paul on the front lines serving your clients and keeping them coming back for more!!!

Staying at the W (which is excellent), I decided to eat at the Trace out of laziness (solo traveler). The service was super friendly but rather slow by normal American standard. The sushi was rather average although I only had that as a starter, The blackened cod was good but the flavors of the sauce rather overwhelmed what was a decent piece of fish. The high point was the apple pie -- excellent. Overall, I feel that Trace is trying to be something it isn't. It lacks ambiance and does not just cut it as a cool hangout.

Our stay had prepaid breakfast vouchers for a value of up to $50 (which was needed considering the pricing at this restaurant). However they served the best fresh squeezed orange juice I ever tasted and the best American Pancake I ever tasted. The rest of the breakfast was ordinary and overpriced.

Having a second happy hour after 10pm is such a considerate concept. Loved it. And it's attached to a hotel where the staff are really friendly and helpful - with a big smile! loved it!

My niece was in town for a convention and I wanted to treat her to a special dinner. All I can really say is that Trace is nothing special as a dinner venue. It seemed to me to be a very popular, upscale happy hour venue for the downtown business crowd. On that early Thursday evening the dining room was uncrowded, allowing for efficient service although the pre dinner setup person delivered breakfast menus by mistake. The pita & hummus and grilled baguette & artichoke dip appetizers were okay. My salmon entree was perfect. There were no complaints from my niece or her co worker about their entrees: veggie rolls and 1/2 chicken. But there weren't any oohs or aahs either. Although it was a good meal in a comfortable setting, for some reason I was just expecting more for the money; memorable it was not.

Terrible food and service. Waited 20 minutes for a regular scrambled eggs. Way overpriced.Extremely small portions. Disappointed. Will never come back. Do NOT recommend this place.Paid $25 for my breakfast that costs maximum $10 and waited 20 minutes.

Trace turns into a frat house after about 6 pm. It's the wild west with very little staff, food chucked everywhere and poor service. On top of that, the W (Trace) has decided to stick patrons with a 6.5% minimum wage fee. So in addition to my $50 very average meal, they want to charge me more for following the law. That's ridiculous. What next? An excessive CEO pay fee? Bye-bye.

Great look and vibe, my friend and I loved the feel of the place. If you aren't staying at the W. This place makes you want to!

We came in at 12:20 on a Thursday night. Quite a lot of people still there. The Brussels sprouts were amazing so yummy. My drink was good too. A little expensive for after 12 midnight and very confusing menu. But the gentlemen running the bar accommodated me with the sprouts even though it was after the cut off midnight. They were a little hoyty toyty but you know I'm very casual so that stuff doesn't impress. In fact it comes off a little snobby. All in all okay experience. Atmosphere great

The Chef at the W Hotel's Trace Restaurant has Hawaiian roots so knowing the popularity of Spam in the Islands his menu offering is not so surprising. What is very surprising is how really good his homemade version of Spam is. We had it for breakfast our first morning at the hotel and it was so good we went back for breakfast there again. Other items on the breakfast menu were fine as well.

My husband had sushi; we like to think we are from the Sushi capital of the Northwest and he was impressed . . so impressed he ordered a second helping. I had a beet salad which was very well presented and tasty. The tea was served hot (a pet peeve for tea drinkers visiting the U.S.) and service was quick, efficient and friendly. Though we did not get a second chance to enjoy the service and food I understand it is well worth a visit!

The modern decor is complemented with amazing food. I had the best BLT I have ever had. The soft tacos are great too.

Fried Brussel Sprouts for God's sake, were great! Spicy Edamame was really good, and the clams were excellent. Not normal pub grub.Bit trendy and loud for me but the food was worth it at 10:30 pm.

Had a great dinner here. Had a meeting and it was wonderful being able to have a conversation without too much noise Had the Ahi Poke which was excellent Everybody enjoyed their meals

We were here on a Monday night and were the only people in the restaurant (which is connected to the bar which was full). The food was amazing and I have no idea why the place wasn’t packed. My dinner smelled like Seattle; oysters on the half shell with red wine vinegar. I had the halibut, cooked to perfection with clam sauce and gnocchi. Although we aren’t vegetarian, I could be if every dish was this amazing…beets, egg and gnocchi with asparagus. Both dishes perfectly sauced and spiced. The service was superb even though the waitress was also the bartender. I’m not sure why this is not higher on trip advisor…you are missing out if you don’t eat here.

Solid sushi in a town known for good seafood. Great bar mixologists and a fun, trendy setting at street level. The crowd varies by the night of the week, and is a mix of tourists, business travelers and local business folks. It can get a little crowded on the days you'd expect, but I haven't seen it too bad over a number of visits. If you're traveling on business alone, it's a good bar for dinner also

Seeing that I was staying at W Seattle, I thought I'd try the in house restaurant. Service was excellent, as was the Pan Roasted Salmon with Fennel Salad and Carrot-pineapple Emulsion and the Sauvignon Blanc. Or two. The only issue was the fact that it was Friday night, and the adjacent bar was a little noisy. I'd eat there again.

For me, this place is really convenient for commuters. Close to several bus stops and the tunnel. I come here for the garlic fries and sliders. Ambiance is chic and urban. Couches and a nice fireplace area that can accommodate a decent sized group. Staff is attentive and efficient. During the colder times, having a seat near the fireplace or front entrance can get bothersome due to the draft. This bar is at the W so be prepared for a nice group of clientele that makes their way through.

Small bites, excellent downtown sushi, fireplace, excellent bar. What more could one want? Brand new as of April 2012. Josh at the bar is a great mixologist.

My girlfriend and I went in here for a drink before starting our night and were blown away by the service from Paul in the TRACE bar. He was so personable and made a martini to die for. He even hand stuffed bleu cheese olives for us! Now that is the whatever whenever service I expect at a W. The ambiance was great and the music was not overwhelming, but kept the vibe going.

W hotel is a high-end hotel from SPG hotel chain already. W hotel in Seattle is the only category 5 hotel based on SPG rating so you can definitely expect high quality time there! Not so crowded at night either, luxury vibe.

The downtown location makes Trace a convenient location for a business lunch or Happy Hour. The ambience later in the day tends to be full of professionals, and young vibrant business travellers. Trace chef's also execute great food. You will be paying a higher price for this chic environment of food and drink.

Love the breakfast at W Seattle. The Trace Seattle breakfast is delicious, locally inspired cuisine in a beautifully curated setting.

For the price & the calibur of the hotel the restaurant is located in, I expected more. We had dinner here on our first night. I ordered a fairly simple dish, grilled salmon served with mashed potatoes. The salmon was burnt to a crisp, the mashed potatoes were fine but they were served over a top of hard, un-ripe tomato slices, around the edges of the plate were cherry tomato's drizzled with Ranch dressing. The whole thing was strange and disgusting. We also had a breakfast here. The food was fine but the service was lacking.

Really good breakfast served quick in a nice setting. My waitress was very friendly and did her best to make meal enjoyable.

Visited during happy hour for a drink. Happy hour selection not that good so just had one, and moved on across the road back to the purple cafe

I had my first martini at the Buckhead in Atlanta, an historic, luxurious bar that dates back to the Civil War. While this location inside the W Seattle is not as historic, it has some great luxurious comforts and the second best martini that I have found in 15 states. Had a side of Hummus (freshly made) and a small helping of friendly conversation with the bartender. Just the right balance that let's you feel welcome to unwind. Next business trip will be back - keep your shaker chilled. Thanks!

After the Gonzaga game we stopped in for a bite and enjoyed a Hawaian pizza. So good and hot. An attractive trendy place for after hours.

This restaurant is located in the W Hotel in downtown Seattle. My wife and I had breakfast here while on vacation. The food was delicious, but the young lady serving us made it exceptional. Thanks for the great memories.

We arrived back from a ballgame and the bar in the Hotel Monaco was closing and the recommended Trace for a local drink. The bar was very welcoming and had a trendy vibe although this was a Monday night and it had the feel that it would be a lot more popular towards the end of the week. The bar menu looked interesting and definitely different from the normal bar snack selection

The best of the best if you want to have a wonderful , memorable experience this is the place. The atmosphere is relaxing the food quality 4 star; the service is great very tentative to all your needs. The drinks were also good.

Fantastic place. Really great setup, ambiance. Fantastic service and great food. Good vegetarian options, healthy food options. Really enjoyed our dinner..

The food is excellent and the sliders are amazing!! Great atmosphere and the dj's play great music at night time.

Breakfast was pretty good, but expensive $22.00 for bacon and egg's. Service was actually awful all FOUR days I was there. Late night is ok because I had been drinking.

Drink service was fast food was delicious and staff was always pleasant! Atmosphere was very welcoming.

We had dinner at Trace, and filled up on two appetizers each: Brussels Sprouts, Shredded port sliders, beef kabob and corn and shrimp bisque. Perfect for a convenient dinner to our hotel.

We ate here during Seattle’s Restaurant Week. The interior space is decorated in a lovely fashion. However, the space is noisy making conversation a little challenging. The service is very attentive. Three courses for $28.00. It was an excellent deal. The menu was an eclectic mix of choices. I started with a salad that had four pieces of sashimi on it. The fish was unexpected and excellent. Next was a flank steak. Very tough. On the side were garlic fries. The fries had too much garlic. Desert was a cobbler. I can’t remember what type. I only know I needed the ice cream off the top to put out the fire from the garlic fries. It was a fun dining adventure but I’m not sure I’d go back.

since we were staying here, we decided to just eat here for breakfast. Very nice menu and selection. Smoothies were real good. coffee excellent.

Stopped in on my way to dinner for happy hour. Enjoyed a Manny's Pale Ale and a salmon Temaki Hand Roll

Stayed at the W and ate here twice. Great service and food. Nice appetizer selection and local beers.

the Trace restaurant has amazed my wife and I with a very good hummus and AMAZING crab cakes (the radicchio trevigiano is gold), but also a cheese cracker with a delicious red pepper fondue !! Great dinner!

Sometimes restaurants try for a certain vibe to make them interesting and significant/meaningful. Unfortunately, Trace, located with the W Hotel has missed the target on most accounts. The austere dining room may appeal to some people, but for us it felt like it was trying to hard to be hip. On average for our group, the food was adequate. My sandwich (Teriyaki Beef) was way too chewy and not enjoyable. The soup one of our group ordered was cold, sent back and came back just barely warm. The others in our group did not have much good to say about their meals other than "it was ok". There are many other places to eat in Seattle if you want really good food. Trace missed the mark for us.

Nice place inside the W Hotel, with live music on Friday nights. Dark and classy, with a large wraparound fireplace. Good food and drink options, and good service. We went there twice.

The atmosphere is nice and we like the setup with the fireplace, although the fireplace wasn't on half the time. The lounge area would've been enjoyable, but it's impossible to get any service there. The two young lady servers saw us sit and 20 minutes later we moved to the bar. The two girls were talking to each other behind the bar like there wasn't any people to wait on in the lounge. If you go there, definitely sit at the bar for good service.

The place was nearly empty, just a table of five obnoxious drunk guys who kept getting drunker and drunker as we sat waiting and waiting for a menu, to order, for our food, and finally for our bill. It's been too many years since folks saw the movie, "Five Easy Pieces," where Jack Nicholson tries to order plain toast and the agonizingly officious waitress won't do it. He winds up ordering a chicken sandwich, hold the butter, lettuce, mayo and he tells her to hold the chicken salad -- between her legs. It's a funny scene. As a vegetarian, I employ this tactic frequently. And trying to order a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich at Trace proved to be such an occasion. I asked if I could have a cheese, lettuce, and tomato sandwich. "No." My husband asked if I could please have a BLT, hold the bacon. "Yes." It took forever to arrive. They had four wait staff working. There were only 3 tables with patrons the entire time we were there. But everything moved at a glacial pace. My husband left me to settle the bill, so he could go upstairs and get our suitcases and check out. Apparently we were three minutes past checkout and our cards were deactivated. The folks at the front desk insisted that my husband be present, before they would give me a working key. It was so retro and frustrating. My husband loved the food. My sandwich bread had been grilled on the same grill used to grill meat, as a vegetarian I hate that. The menu is very limited for vegetarians and plan on spending a long time in the restaurant.

I was amazed at the superb serive and and food at this W Hotel Restaurant. In fact, it was one of the best meals I have ever had at a hotel establishment. The service was impeccable and the food was fresh and sophisticate. I started with a Bosc Pear Salad -- delicious -- followed by the roased Halibut which was over the top wonderful. I finished with two scoops of homemade gelato. Everything is fresh fresh fresh and delicious. I was so impressed I asked to talk to the restaurant manager Nick -- who knows how to run a great restaurant. Congratualtions to the W Hotel on this fine established. Surprised and delighted!

Great easy place to meet friends after work. I’m a local and enjoyed the service and food. I met some friends after court and being mid afternoon ,it wasn’t busy and the service was fantastic as well as the food.

Easy to order and take to room, sit at bar or in eating area. We only had apps. All were very good. Bartender was friendly and waited on us quickly. Drinks were good.

Complete surprise - a decent happy hour in a W Hotel. The staff was outstanding and the drinks fairly priced. Try the pork sliders..outstanding. Will return.

Went here for a business lunch. Had an issue with a food sensitivity, which the staff addressed very professionally. The skirt steak Caesar salad was excellent--my steak was cooked perfectly.

Amazing atmosphere and always full of energy. I recommend the martini's or a look thought the cocktail list. A dj or live music can usually be found to keep the night going. Food is good yet not super filling with mainly small plates.

We walked over for breakfast from Monaco as their restaurant was closed. Our waitress was fantastic! She was warm and welcoming and extremely attentively (just the right amount) . The menu was diverse ranging from avocado toast with poached eggs to sweet donuts bites. A very enjoyable morning.

The pork sliders and the fries very good. Not sure about the rest. Service was good while not great, the drinks pricy and the happy hour only relevant if you drink Chardonnay in whites and Cab Sav in reds or beers. Not much real value in the happy hour.

I am constantly looking for somewhere different to go to dinner in Seattle several sets of season tickets. Tonight, we picked Trace with very little expectation as I had not looked at reviews or the menu. I was pleasantly surprise and loved my dinner. It is near many of the local theaters. The staff was knowledgeable and pleasant. The only trick is that finding the hostess stand an be a little confusing, as the hotel check-in is at the top of the stairs, making it a main passage out of the hotel, though it seemed most guesses entered from the garage, so it was not disruptive to the experience.

This place has a super fun atmosphere and a great drink selection. The decor is very upscale and modern and the selection and quality of their martinis is amazing.

Trace is conveniently located in w Hotel. Nice wine list by the glass. Restaurant was closed the night I visited so didn't try food or the bar snacks which were available. Environment is chill mod as in W style. Good spot for drinks before dinner.

We ate breakfast 2 mornings in a row and thought the food was really good and the presentation was fantastic! The service was also very good but the meal was very pricey. $50 for 2 for breakfast.

I usually stay in Starwood properties. Trace is a good place to unwind and grab some food at the end of the day. The only downside is the music can be a little loud and the lights a little dim if you are trying to talk with someone. Not a problem as I tend to travel solo but I saw several couples having to raise their voices to talk. Bar is full service and knows how to mix proper cocktails.

This bar/restaurant is located inside the W in downtown Seattle, which is super convenient if staying at the hotel. Drinks are good, happy hour is decent, and the food is definitely a few notches above your typical bar food. If they have a DJ going, it can get very loud at night; however, I like that atmosphere if traveling solo and just out to enjoy a drink or two.

Martini was average at best. Stirred not shakes and simply strained into a stemless glass. Nothing to write home about.

We had dinner at Trace and it was super yummy! I enjoyed the butternut squash soup and salmon. Both dishes were excellent. They have a very posh dining room and lounge around the fireplace. We were staying at a hotel downtown so it was a great location for walking.

My daughter and I drove up from Portland and after several hours in the car, opted to do Happy Hour in our hotel, The W, instead of a formal restaurant. We ordered the chili/ garlic fried brussels sprouts and pork sliders. The sprouts were especially delicious! We loved the prices and enjoyed the setting, which is contemporary, fresh and changed as the day moved from dusk to dark. We people watched and enjoyed other offerings. Most remarkably, my little dog was allowed to sit by me as we were not actually in the bar, but a portion of the lobby. The happy, rhythmic music also subtly changed to techno, along with the accent lighting. Ultimately we were in a darkened space with vivid purple light accents and a DJ appeared in a silver box high above. Our night was so fun and we never left the hotel. Loved it!

We had stayed there at the hotel so we were able to partake on the breakfast a couple of times and a sushi and cheese plate another time. And ALL of it was amazing. Dont be shocked by the sticker price when you tab comes up, but the food was AMAZING every time my fiance and I had it.

The breakfast buffet was pricey, but the quality was certainly there. The coffee was a local roast and the bacon and sausage were very well-prepared. I quite enjoyed it.

Very pleasing experience. Highly recommend to friends and family. Will visit again soon. Location is great too.

I ate lunch here today with a few colleagues and was quite disappointed. I ordered the sashimi salad, which was quite bland. Although there was plenty of variety in the greenery department, there were only two kinds of sashimi on the salad. Granted, I did ask for nothing "too weird" but there should have been more than 4 pieces of tuna and 1 piece of salmon. And they were very mean with the dressing. I ended up pouring some soy sauce onto my sashimi just to add some flavor.

We got a wonderful deal on the Seattle W hotel and thought we would give the restaurant a try for breakfast. The atmosphere was nice, and staff polite and accommodating. However, the food, while visually lovely, was so busy being artsy and trendy (I suspect to justify the cost) was a disappointment. Corn beef hash does not need Brussels sprouts, and eggs Benedict does not benefit from being covered in baby arugula, peas, and asparagus. The sauce should be the star. Toast should come with a dish, not be extra when the dish is already 15 dollars. Had we felt comfortable leaving, we would have. 110 for breakfast food art.

Wasn't expecting to find a lounge attached to the hotel i stayed in, but this made it so convenient to relax and have a few drinks without a newly 21 or club vibe. Loved the layout of the couches and the decor, very nice bartenders!

Trace is great for a late night, intimate dinner. The sushi was great and the Brussels sprouts were so good we had to order seconds!

We enjoyed our meal very much--unique items, carefully prepared. Service was excellent. And the room is interesting, full of W touches. However, the dining room flows directly into the bar, and on a Friday at around 9, the restaurant was sparsely populated, the bar wasn't full yet, and the music was incongruously loud. The staff kindly turned it down for us, however. I'm sure by 11:30 the whole environment would have made sense.

I ate at Trace for my birthday, and was hit and miss. Our reservation was for 630P on Saturday, and the restaurant was dead: a man and his young daughter, and an older women. This is not a happening place. However, there was very loud techno music playing in the lobby - too loud for my taste, and Iw as happy when it ended. Waitstaff was friendly, but not very knowledgeable. I asked the differences between some cocktails, and she was not able to offer any details, other than what was written on the menu. However, the cocktail I ordered was amazing. The bread basket they brought out was AMAZING, and made in-house. The potato bread... YUM! I ordered the D’Anjou Pear & Gem Lettuce Salad to start. It was very good. I enjoyed it immensely. For my entree I odrered “Double R Ranch” Grilled Rib Steak, cooked medium rare. It was very disappointing. The cut of steak was uneven, and so 1/2 the steak was cooked medium well, and the sauce was too salty - I couldn't eat it. Very disappointing after the enjoyable first course and cocktail. We decided to cut our losses and eat dessert elsewhere. We left before 8pm, and the restaurant was still mostly empty. I'd try another restaurant before I went back here... or I'd come back for drinks and appys only.

We went to a Happy Hour before going to the theatre and found it surprisingly good. One of us had a romaine salad with pear, both had mussels - which were very tasty, although probably not Penn Cove mussels. We also shared a California roll. All items seemed fresh and well presented. The happy hour wine was somewhat disappointing and my companion settled for a beer. The decor is very contemporary and somewhat dated. It lacks the warmth and charm found in many other restaurants. All in all it's a reasonably priced happy hour that offers more than some battered and fried items. We'd probably give it another try sometime.

Working at a hotel, you appreciate a great place to wind down after a trying day. Have been coming to the W Hotel bar when it was called the W Bar, Earth & Ocean and now Trace Seattle. Good drinks, great atmosphere and reasonably priced. Make it a point to come during Happy Hour. They had french fries called Sexy Fries a while back, now called the Trace Fries. Try It, You'll Enjoy It ! Bartenders are friendly and remember who you are, which is a really great touch. Haven't seen Paul in a while, but Joaquin is practically a friend. If you're looking for a good place to unwind, Trace Is The Place !

Went for their happy hour, nice pour of wine. Pretty sterile in there with contemporary furniture. Didn't feel that at ease, not sure what it was. Only had drinks, didn't try their food

The best place to have lunch or dinner great staff clean place and great food the best customer service

We went for breakfast to Trace and were most impressed. The menu was brand new and is based on locally sourced organic foods. We had the bagel with smoked salmon, cream cheese , dill and water cress. It came with a bowl of seasonal fruits and berries. It was very tasty and good value at $14.

We started out our Pride day by having brunch at the Trace restaurant at the W Hotel. They had a special menu, which was very nice. They are definitely not used to being so busy, so it was a little interesting at first. It looked, what seemed to be forever, to get a coffee refill, second drink, the check.

Definitely a great place to go for happy hour. The atmosphere is fantastic, the energy is there, and the service is great.

Really nice atmosphere, great service, the bartenders were really nice and friendly! We had some bbq pork sliders, super yummy! Trace at the W great place to be!

Good service. Good food; better than your average hotel food. Stayed open late. I was able to customize my order and stay beyond the close time, which was great because I was doing some work.

The dinner entree menu didn't inspire, but some of the appetizers were good: we had the pork sliders, the wild mushroom flatbread, and the duck confit mac & cheese. All of them were good enough to order again, but the flatbread was the best. It helped that the service was outstanding.

This restaurant is attached to the W Hotel, our breakfast was included, so we went there. Very pleasant staff. Food was good, a little pricey, they charge $5 for coffee, after the pricey eggs. But convenient & we had room service apps & drinks. Way expensive, but it's a hotel...in Seattle. It was still good.

We had a big lunch so decided to have something light before calling it a day. Great food, service and selection of drinks

Service = Joke... was getting up to leave before the server finally addressed our table. During the rest of the meal it was clear that we were an inconvenience to our server. Food = So so. Not really a value. Ambience = Nothing special.

Great restaurant with quality food at reasonable prices. French toast are the best I have ever had. Friendly and helpful staff.

I had an ok breakfast but you feel like your in a hip bar that's closed instead of a restaurant. When I hit the bar that night, it was a little light on people and dark. It doesn't compare to The Trace in San Francisco.

Well we did not make plans for dinner before a show and almost regretted it, everything was packed. So we decided to try Trace and we were not disappointed. Some of the freshest Nigiri I gave had on Seattle and great service. It is my new dining spot before Abu show in downtown Seattle. Bartender also makes a great martini.

This is an overpriced restaurant connected to the W hotel in Seattle. The food was quite tasty with fresh bread from Macrina Bakery. The organic scrambled eggs were excellent as was the whole wheat Macrina bread. Service was good as was the atmosphere.

Had a business meeting here, very busy when we met. Come early to order, meeting first then chow down. A little pricey.

This is a restaurant that looks like a club. Very modern cool look. Our waitress was extremely helpful. I don't like sushi but really enjoyed the Trace and Ocean plates.Together with some fried asparagus and several drinks, our tab for two was $84. Not bad.

This is a classy upscale yet very comfortable and inviting place to stop in for drinks and bites. Great place to meet friends after work. Our server Lauren was fantastic, she gave us many tips on activities to do while in Seattle and was very attentive and friendly. Stop in!

Nice atmosphere and yummy food. This is Seattle Restaurant Week worthy for lunch. The portions are larger than expected and the food is yummy! For $15 during restaurant week, you cannot beat the 3-course menu. It has a swanky atmosphere (like all W hotels) - but if you get there early, you will beat the crowd. Must try: Kale Soup - delicious!

Originally I thought this place served only sushi, perhaps because of the signage at the front door? However we decided since it was close to the office and time was limited, we conducted a meeting there. First off, I have to say it was a great spot for a business meeting since it is loud! You can say something and not worry about the next table overhearing. Now for the food. Can I say simply delicious? My appetizer was "crispy egg, mushrooms, asparagus and baby potatoes." Yummy, different, flavorful, and filling. Entree was eggplant with garbanzo beans and cauliflower in a spicy sauce. I wasn't expecting the heat but this too was not only surprising but delicious. Dessert consisted of a hot berry pie thing with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Service was a little slow, but since we were discussing business, this was OK with us. Our wait-staff did ask us if we were in a rush, and we all chimed in with NO. My one companion had duck comfit which he said quite delicious and filling. Our other companion started with a large plate of pears and beautiful lettuce. All in all, we decided we'll return to try the other items on the menu since everything sounded interesting and quite innovative.

My husband and I stayed at the W Hotel and had breakfast here cause it was a convenient location. The menu items were WAY over priced for what you get! I got the frittata and my husband got the french toast. The frittata was visually appealling, but lacked any real depth in taste. It was just alright. I have made better at home and not for $19! My husbands french toast were good, but again not for $22! The bill came and I was shocked to see the coffee was $5 a cup! It was just okay coffee...nothing to rave about! Not $5 worth! lol I wish we would have done some research and gone to a local breakfast spot or cafe to get a good breakfast that didnt cost us over $50!

I was staying at the W and wanted a good breakfast so I went downstairs to try Trace. Despite the near emptiness of the place (6diners total) I waited five minutes to get waited on even though an employee walked past me twice and didn't acknowledge me. Finally someone came and took my order. I was seated so I could see the semi-open kitchen and saw my order put up and sit for five minutes (yes, I checked my watch). The waitress finally reappeared and brought it but I had to wait for the bread so by the time it came and I got it buttered everything was pretty cold. I realize I got there minutes before breakfast was to end - which I realized when several servers busily reset all the table. Where were they all when I wanted to order? The bacon was cooked within an inch of its life and the potatoes which could have been delicious were also dried out. I think a good restaurant should serve good food despite when it is ordered and the lack of timely service in an empty place is inexcusable. For a $22 breakfast, it couldn't m assure up to Denny's. Very disappointing

Looking for a change, this was a nice deli atmosphere with excellent food. Prices were reasonable for the area.

Wine bar was incredible - even if you know nothing about wine, the staff helped you find something you'd like

We've only done breakfast here three times during our visit, but those meals were tasty. If you are a Starwood Platinum member they give you a coupon good for continental breakfast for two. If you don't want that they will apply the $19 cost of the continental to anything else on the breakfast menu and you pay hte difference. The American breakfast is $22 and the meats (sausage or bacon) are local and super tasty. Watch out as the tip is already included in the bill....

We were staying in a hotel across the street from the W but found the food there better so we went there for breakfast regularly and dinner as well. We found the waitstaff to be fun and pleasant.

This is a very good restaurant and outpaces many hotel dining options. Their cocktails are great, sushi is delicious and great decor!

NOTE: This is a review of the TRACE lounge that is in the W Hotel Seattle. This IS NOT a review of the W Hotel. Just so you know, I really like the W Hotel! I just can't afford to stay there. So, I really like the look of the TRACE lounge and bar area. Very stylish and comfortable. This would be a good happy spot or maybe even a late night lounge if it didn't have such a pompous, stuck up atmosphere to it. Granted, I don't go to this place often enough to give it a fair judgement but, I would think that any business that is in the business of comforting and servicing travelers would be very good at customer service. This place doesn't not make you feel welcomed. Maybe if I was staying there for a week or more, dropping 50's and 100's in hotel staff's pockets, and wearing fitted Mark Jacobs suits I'd get some decent customer service. Anyway, if you can stand the 'look down there nose at you' attitudes of some of the wait staff, This might be an OK place to meet up.

Extremely expensive and more personal, very unsympathetic, you are almost yelled at to get your coffee at the counter. Not to be.

The edamame at Trace is Not your ordinary soy beans with rock salt. No Sir, they take edamame, add soy sauce, garlic sauce, and a chili sauce and blend it all together in a hot wok until the sauces permeate those delectable little green beans. The finished product will leave you licking your fingers when those tasty little beans are gone. Once you try them at Trace, all other edamame dishes will never be as good.

Food was great! Atmosphere is trendy. The prices are a bit high, but its a fun place to end your night before you go up to your room.

Very high end food, drink and ambience. Set in the heart of a very nice part of Downtown Seattle. Pastry chef is super.

Philly cheese steak sandwich was tasty but was difficult to eat without a fork and knife. Shredded steak was tender and tasty, onions and cheese were cooked perfectly. Bun was too soft but was at least slightly toasted. Avocado on top was good but made it difficult to eat this sandwich without a fork. Tried a cappuccino, which was so bitter tasting that I had to return it which they removed from my bill. Comfortable and spacious seating. Overall, comfortable place for an overpricedlunch in downtown Seattle.

We popped in after briefly exploring the immediate neighborhood, mainly because the Mrs was interested in staying at the W on a future visit. The breakfast was very good for a "hotel" restaurant with a very good corned beef hash, crispy poached eggs and red pepper sauce. The cheddar biscuits were also very good and the Mrs enjoyed her creamy omelet.

Excellent service in an unspectacular setting, this turned out to be a surprisingly pleasant breakfast with endless excellent filter coffee, my towering delicious Fritata served with toasted sourdough, my friends Goat Cheese and Spinach Omelette was a delight. However the greatest of all was our server; utterly charming and friendly and so very helpful. She was exactly the person we needed to see first thing in the morning. A wonderful breakfast, a superb start to our day. Highly recommended.

Our group went for lunch here for a celebration. The service, ambiance, and food are all good. Portions are generous. It is pricey, though.

Excellent bartenders and wings. Staying at the W Hotel so checked our the bar for our 2 free drinks - best Negroni I think I’ve ever had. And the Chicken Wings were amazing.

It took them 50+ min to get us the food, it was fancy but taste was okay, can not justify the prices. They took 20+ min to get us the checks and 15+ min to do the transaction. It was not busy at all, and servers are slower than a turtle. "I am sorry turtle"

Just in the W hotel where we stayed, we had brunch there two mornings and couldn't have had anything so fine as the pulled pork with friend eggs over it and a side of the best bacon ever! The pork was amazingly tasty. The next day I had another delicious brunch with corned beef hash that was also amazing... the service was excellent, great spicy bloody mary's, very modern, well done decor, couldn't ask for more.

Traveling for work I eat have my meals every year in restaurants and have seen a lot of breakfast offerings. This restaurant, located inside the W has excellent house made granola and other tasty treats for those of us who are trying to be health conscientious. The server was exceptional as well and as a SPG Platinum it was virtually free.

This bar is OK, the food is good but the ceilings are so high that it gets to be so noisy when it is busy and it is always busy especially at night. Super dark, so good for a date but bad for large groups.

Three of us were downtown around lunchtime so we decided to try Trace at the W Hotel. Uber hip interior and lots of family friendly items on menu. We loved the chicken wings and sliders. Highly recommend!

Loved it. Great atmosphere. Could use more variety on the breakfast menu for those who don't eat fish.

This is not an overly impressive restaurant from decor perspective but the breakfast we had here was incredible! The presentation was superior and quality of food as well!

Happy hour is a scam. Hummus and pita bread are normally $8, and during happy hour the price is $5. However, you will not get hummus and pita bread, but instead you will be served 3 crackers with a little bit of hummus on top. A that goes for all happy hour dishes.

We are staying at the W Hotsl and decided to give Trace a try for lunch since it is inside our hotel. There was very little to choose from on the menu so we ended up leaving a going to another restaurant to eat.

Finding a good sushi restaurant in any city is usually accomplished by trial and error and the best of them are usually small, family owned establishments but in Seattle you can find a very suitable sushi bar in the W Hotel downtown. Now, you might not find a sushi menu with 200 items and variations but you will find most of the common varieties and the quality is superb, plus you have a terrific American bar right there to satisfy your other needs. Trace is an excellent spot for the business traveler who forgot their umbrella or their raincoat who wants something healthy to eat in the convenience of their hotel.

The sushi was average. I have tasted better sushi at sushi speciality restaurants . Did not like the utensils not on a napkin or wrapped up in one. It did not seem very sanitary. Perricone juice was on the menu, and it is not clear what it is exactly..

The focus here is Fresh. The preparation shows excellent attention to detail. Menu is a la carte so the tab can add up. Breakfast will really fill you up. Apple cider 5***** Service can't be beat. Don't hesitate to give this trendy restaurant a shot.

I'm rating TRACE for it's sushi. I went to Trace expecting twisted American style cuisine. I found it and I also discovered an excellent sushi house. This isn't just a restaurant with sushi on the menu. This unique hot spot has an actual full scale, japanese sushi bar. The sushi menu is robust and the nigiri and rolls are excellent. So good I return a second night. Trace is a trendy place that will satisfy all palettes. Think about it...you're craving sushi and your friend is thinking comfort food, TRACE will satisfy! It's also a really cool place to meet friends for a drink. Perfect place for couples, friends and business. I don't recommend bringing children. They might get confused :)

It may seem awkward. A fancy luxury hotel not having a buffet breakfast but instead a cafeteria style atmosphere. But the menu selections are just lovely. Breakfast items with fusion, bordering on artisanal . We had chicken with waffles , bagel with eggs and bacon , kimchi loco rice and I kind of forgot if we had an omelette. Coffee was fantastic, and we had juice with that. We were fortunate to have dined in a relaxed set up with less people , so no time pressure here. Liked the water dispenser that serves still and sparkling choices. The mugs used for tea was kind of cool as well .

Wonderful Sunday Brunch a la Carte featuring Delicious Croque Madame, Chicken Waffles, and Kim Chi Mocho Loco. Yummy Bloody Mary and Mimosa. Entrees at reasonable (for hotel) prices in the $20-25 range. Staff work hard and are friendly, but it can be busy, so be prepared to be patient. Good luck and enjoy.

Excellent food and wine list. great staff. my life and i eat out quite often. Seattle has so many wonderful places and we love having dinner at Trace.

The Continental breakfast here is depressing: Menu offers 'squeezed juice' without specifying that it is NOT fresh. Staff confirms that many customers complain but menu is still unchanged. Food is served in limited quantity with depressingly minimalist design. Butter is not proper butter and is sadly foamy and tasteless (as if mixed with some seed oil) Poached eggs - ordered extra - were served hard and not runny Tea is served in a coffee brewing can Ambience is decent, toasted bread is excellent. Which is why the rating is above 1. For a 30$ breakfast (incl 3$ tip) at the W hotel, I expected more.

Just enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Trace Seattle! Would encourage all to experience this stunning new restaurant at the ‘W’ Hotel. Chef de Cuisine Steven Ariel (formerly of Canlis Restaurant) has created a memorable menu featuring local, seasonal and organic products from the Pacific NW. Their sushi bar is now open for lunch. Spectacular! We ordered the Big Eye Tuna Nigiri (Maguro) & Crunch Roll, with tempura shrimp, crab, avocado, chili mayo and teri sauce. The roll was beautifully prepared and presented. Both accompanied with fresh wasabi (not from powder as the server shared) that was delicious! Next, the Lacinato Kale Soup, pancetta croutons, lemon crème fraîche is a must try. The Carlton Farms Pulled Pork Sandwich, charred onions, pickle slaw and a tiny bit of shaved red jalapeño added the right amount of zip to this amazing delight. The service was friendly and attentive, but, not rushed or too intrusive. Congratulations to their entire team!

sitting down and having a quick drink isn't quite how I would describe this place as you will want to hang around, have another bite and maybe another. the drinks specials are ok. but it is truly worth the visit just for the food that is offered. bbq pulled pork sliders are big! tasty rolls too.

I've never eaten in an indoor restaurant with gnats. Killed about. 30 and 4 drowned in the wine before I could catch them. Yuk.

We decided on a late dinner at the hotel(W). Restaurant was almost empty although bar was full. Service was excellent and food very good. Wine was overpriced but typical for downtown location. A little weird eating in a large empty room but we enjoyed the meal.

Trace is this older W hotel's Living Room bar/lounge (and a restaurant), set a few feet below the main lobby. It has a separate street-level entrance. Nice staff, a substantial bar, with a few lounge tables. The Living Room has a variety of chairs, sofas, loungers, and a large gas fireplace. Definitely a nice place to bring a date to snuggle with. On two separate visits, there was a wide variety of clientele. Hotel guests relaxing with a drink, boys out on the town, couples, dressed-up club girls on the first stop of the night. I tried a couple of late-night HH food items, which were decent but not special (even at the discounted price). There's an early and a late happy hour, and a $6 bargain margarita available at all hours. The place is also one of the few to serve food late in this hotel-heavy area (albeit from a limited menu). Sushi is available until 11pm. A DJ spins several nights a week. Recommended if you're staying in the downtown hotel district and want a bit a posher vibe, or if you're hungry late.

Went for dinner. Food was excellent. Service was excellent. Friendly. Not keen on the ambiance though. For the upscale restaurant prices and food, I felt like I was indeed in more of a hotel restaurant (and the uncozy image that implies) or a cafeteria. If they could change that, I'm sure they'd get more folks in, as the menu certainly engaging and well presented. Dining-wise, I had a lovely strip steak, beet salad, cauliflower soup. Very nice!!!

The sushi was good, the menu a bit confusing. I didn't understand until it was explained that each "sushi" was two pieces. Good service, Strange-looking décor of lumpy columns in the street-level restaurant. It was quiet in the evening we were there but that may have been because most of Seattle was at the SeaHawks game.

I think this is a great place to meet up with some friends before heading out for the evening . The food was great and so was the atmosphere I will be going back in the near future.

I love Ahi and the Ahi Poke on wontons was the best. Good service and great food. You only get 2 on the appetizer so I would recommend ordering more than 1 order.

An e-mail from Starwood tipped us off that Trace in the W Hotel was among SPG properties offering a three-course lunch with a 10% discount. We happened to be in Seattle and decided to drop by. We're glad we did. We were casually dressed compared to the power-lunchers (does EVERYBODY working in downtown Seattle wear black these days?) but were made to feel very welcome in this sleek establishment. We naturally chose the prix fixe lunch and added the wine pairing. The first course was a seafood chowder, served hot and generously loaded with a variety of seafood. The main course, Seared Diver Scallops, was outstanding. It was a generous portion of three large scallops, seared beautifully but not at all overcooked, on a bed of chopped vegetables. After this dish, if asked we would have immediately voted scallops as our favorite seafood. The dessert was titled Red Velvet Cake, and included beet mousse, cream cheese frosting (more like a mousse), and amazingly artistic garnishes that included small "berries" carved out of beets that decorated the plate. It's the first - and probably only - time we've tasted a beet-based dessert and we found it daring and fun. The three wine pairings were pleasing and generous. We're generally not fans of dessert wines and were pleased to have a ruby red Washington State blend matched to our ruby red dessert. By downtown Seattle standards, this $20 lunch ($15 wine pairing) was a bargain, even before our 10% discount. More important, we got the feeling somebody in the kitchen really cares about putting out a good product. Hotel restaurants are often dubious propositions, but this one is surrounded by competition and we'd definitely try it again next time we're in the area.

We eat a lot of brunch in my family and Trace did an excellent job. The continental breakfast included fresh stone fruit, steel cut oatmeal, juice, coffee, and a bagel. A standout presentation and I've included a photo since a picture is worth 1,000 words. The other thing we tried was the Kalua pork Benedict which was surprisingly light, both in the hollandaise and the pork itself. It could have been a heavy, salty mess: instead it was delightfully refined.

Our introductory night in Seattle was made more enjoyable by dining at Trace when we checked in. The quirky space adds delight to the fine food. The bar staff are also quite accomplished. Our meal was served by delightful wait staff, all well timed to make for a memorable evening.

Came here 3 times for breakfast as we were staying in the hotel. Food was pretty decent - if a bit expensive-m - but it was convenient for our needs.

This restaurant is situated in the W Hotel Seattle, and we ate breakfast here. The wait staff were very accommodating for different food restrictions and allergies. They make a delicious omelet.

We sat at the lobby, the server was so indifferent that made us feel uncomfortable. She lacked personality and just looked bothered by customers. We were guests at the hotel, maybe will be back as guests but will never be back to this bar, that’s how uncomfortable she made us feel and totally ruined the food and drinks experience. Also, prices from the menu didnt Match our check, we pointed out to her after we paid, we didn’t want an adjustment, we just wanted to leave, but her response was “okay” ... no apologies... we were so happy to leave! Went to another place few blocks away and had an excellent experience!