The Seattle’s Pike Place Market is one of the city’s most popular attractions. Stats say that says that over 10 million people per year stop by for a visit. Apparently, it is the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the United States.
In the area you’ll find a little bit of everything. Farmers bring their fresh produce to be sold, fishmongers slinging salmon, plenty of sweet treats to tempt your taste buds, an abundance of beautiful flower bouquets, and much, much more. You can spend quite a bit of time just exploring all the vendors and all the goodies that they have to offer.
If you are hungry or just looking for a snack, there are plenty of restaurants, bakeries and other shops selling all kinds of goodies in the market area. Obviously, we weren’t able to try all of them, but we did try a few just for you! It can get pretty crowded. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the crowds want a snack, head up the street to Biscuit Bitch.
Coffee lover? For the Starbucks fans out there, the very first location opened in 1971 at the Pike Place Market. It’s a great place to get some merchandise only sold there. If you are looking for coffee, we recommend that you go somewhere else since the line tends to be very long. As self-professed coffee snobs, we recommend checking out Ghost Alley Espresso. This spot is hidden underneath the Pike Place Market, near the famous gum wall. Before going we had read a Yelp review stating that this person had moved to Seattle just so they could have their coffee on a regular basis. Now, that’s quite the claim!
If you are looking for a place to rest your legs and perhaps an afternoon drink, check out Old Stove Brewing Company’s MarketFront Taproom. It’s not fancy, it’s kid (and dog!) friendly, and has fantastic views of Elliott Bay and of the Olympic Mountain Range. We suspect that sunset would be a great time to stop by, we unfortunately were there earlier in the day but were able to enjoy a nice sunny afternoon. They have a limited food menu. The pretzel is served hot with locally made mustard from the market and pretty tasty.
If you are in the area later in the day and looking for a hearty meal, make reservations at Radiator Whiskey. Reservations are highly recommended; the place isn’t very big. It has a large selection of whiskey, including their own casks, and lot of flights available for connoisseurs wanting to try a few. We happened to drop in during Happy Hour and were able to take advantage of their specials. Their menu is meat lover’s dream and everything we had was delicious. They even serve popcorn on the table as an appetizer.
Wary Travelers Tip:
We would definitely recommend going on a weekday! If you can’t make it then and hate crowds, go early. But, if you like to people watch, it’s definitely the place to be.