Pike Place Market Food Tour: The Best Shops in Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Seattle. Thousands of people flock to the market daily for the fresh food stands, local goods, outstanding restaurants, and sightseeing. The best way to explore is with a Pike Place Market food tour – either guided or self-led.
Seattle is such a foodie city, and Pike Place Market is the perfect representation of that. From the best mac and cheese to fresh local seafood, there is so much amazing food at the market.
There are also great sit down restaurants for a special occasion or date night. In fact, one of my favorite restaurants in the world is in Pike Place market.
Growing up in Seattle, I visited the market at least once a year. I look forward to returning every time I visit home.
This guide to Pike Place Market showcases the ultimate food tour that I recommend for first timers. Learn what shops to visit in the market and other fun things to do in Pike Place.
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The Best Pike Place Market Food Tours
My favorite way to visit Pike Place Market is doing a food tour to try small bites from all the best shops in Pike Place.
This food tour is the #1 way to visit Pike Place market. It’s led by a skilled local chef and visits the best food vendors in the market.
The chef guided food tour includes stops at nine different vendors with the opportunity to try around 15 bites. The stops are focused on showcasing local ingredients and popular small businesses.
Some of the stops include Beecher’s cheese, Chukar cherries, and homemade chocolate.
In addition to tasting the delicious food, you will have the unique opportunity to interact with the small business owners and learn about their stories.
“We had a great time! The food samples were delicious and a great variety (cheese/cheese curds, pizza, taco, truffle salt, chocolate, chowder), and they easily accommodated diet restrictions (I don’t eat pork or shellfish and some members of our tour were vegetarian).” -Elizabeth (read more reviews)
If you are looking for a quick food tour of Pike Place Market, this “snack safari” is a great option. The tour guide Will, knows all of the best vendors in the market and will show you the best tastes of Seattle.
In addition to food tastings, you will visit some of the most popular sights in the market such as the fish throwers or the original Starbucks store.
One of the best things to eat in Seattle is seafood. Since Seattle is located on Puget Sound, connected to the Pacific Ocean, there’s some of the freshest seafood in the world.
At Pike Place Market, there are entire sections dedicated to fresh fish, crabs, and other seafood. This food tour of Pike Place Market is focused solely on tasting all of this amazing seafood.
Some of the foods you will sample on this tour are clam chowder, salmon jerky, and yellowfin tuna. If you are a seafood lover, this tour is the best option for you.
The Best Food Shops in Pike Place Market – DIY Food Tour
One of my favorite ways to visit Pike Place Market in Seattle is with a DIY market food tour. I visited all of the best shops in Pike Place Market and get 1-2 food items to sample.
If you share everything with a partner or small group, it’s possible to try all of the best foods without getting too full.
Visit during lunch time and use all of these small bites to add up to the tastiest meal! Below I list all of the best shops at Pike Place Market.
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese – Worlds Best Macaroni and Cheese
As a cheese-lover, mac and cheese is once of my favorite foods. The Beecher’s version truly is the best I have ever tried.
In addition to macaroni and cheese, Beecher’s serves paninis, lasagna and cheese plates featuring their cheeses handmade on site.
Piroshky Piroshky – Beef and Cheese Piroskhy
Piroshky is one of the most popular shops in the market. Their Russian pastries offering something for everyone, but my favorite is the beef and cheese. They also offer vegetarian and dessert pastries.
Pike Place Chowder – New England Clam Chowder
Pike Place Chowder’s award-winning Chowders live up to the hype. My favorite is their classic new England, but you cannot go wrong with any of the varieties. This Pacific Northwest staple cannot be missed.
Rachel’s Ginger Beer – Pineapple Ginger Beer
I typically do not like ginger beer. However, Rachel’s Ginger Beer is an exception to that feeling. The inventive flavors go beyond the typical spicy-ginger flavor.
Additionally, they offer great cocktails, floats and growlers to go.
Ellenos Real Greek Yogurt – Passion Fruit Yogurt
Ellenos makes the best yogurt I have ever tried. It is thick, creamy and the flavors are amazing. My personal favorite is the passion fruit. Ellenos can be ordered in a snack portion or a to-go container.
Daily Dozen Doughnuts – Cinnamon and Sugar Doughnuts
To wrap up your visit to Pike Place, get some daily dozen doughnuts. This small cart churns out fresh doughnuts in plain, powdered sugar and cinnamon sugar flavors. Enjoy them now or save them for later if you are full.
The Best Restaurants in Pike Place Market
In addition to the above food tour, this Pike Place Market guide will share other ways to take advantage of the market. The following restaurants are some of my favorites in all of Seattle.
Enjoy them for lunch or dinner during your Seattle vacation.
The Pink Door
The Pink Door is my favorite restaurant of all time, found in Pike Place’s Post Alley. Their Italian food rival’s meals I have had in Italy. The atmosphere is romantic and unique. To top it off, aerial performers make for an unforgettable experience.
You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu at the Pink Door. My personal favorite is the Aperol Spritz and homemade lasagna.
Check out the Pink Door website for their calendar of aerial performances for an even better outing. Note, reservations are basically required to get a seat at this coveted restaurant.
Maximilien
Maximilien is a romantic, French restaurant with stunning views from the market. Their outdoor igloos or intimate dining room make for a great date night or girl’s night out.
The menu features French favorites such as steak frites, mussels, and crème brulee. Unlike some fancy French restaurants that serve adventurous ingredients, Maximilien features approachable entrees with exceptional preparation.
Old Stove Brewing
For a casual meal in Pike Place Market, visit Old Stove Brewing. This large brewery is located on the edge of the Market, giving it amazing views of Puget Sound.
Old Stove features fantastic Seattle beers (calling all IPA lovers) and tasty bar food. Visit Old Stove before dark to take advantage of the view or visit at sunset to soak in the beatify of the setting sun.
Other Great Things to do in Pike Place Market
While most of this Pike Place Market guide focuses on food, be sure to check out these other great tourist sites.
The Original Starbucks– The very first Starbucks store is in Pike Place Public Market. The line is always atrocious, so I recommend getting a photo from the outside then getting your coffee fix at the Starbucks a block away.
Flying Fish– One of the reasons the market is so popular, the Pike Place fish counter is a must see. When anyone orders a fish from the counter, they will throw the order across the room, with theatrics included.
Market Stands– If you have a kitchen, visit the farmers market stand for fresh ingredients. Otherwise, be sure to walk past and check out the amazing produce, flowers, and local goods.
Local Artists– Many local artists have stand selling clothing, jewelry, paintings and other crafts.
Gum Wall– The famous gum wall is equal parts interesting and disgusting. It is worth stopping by to take a couple pictures or even add our own wad of gum.
Seattle Great Wheel– At the pier below the market, take a ride on the Seattle Great Wheel that offers panoramic views of the city and sound.
Pike Place Market Map – The Best Shops and Restaurants
Getting to Pike Place Market
Since Pike Place Market is in downtown Seattle, getting to it can be a bit tricky. Seattle is notorious for bad traffic and confusing roads.
To easily get to Pike Place Market, I recommend walking or utilizing public transport. Pike Place Market is walkable from anywhere in the downtown neighborhood.
If you are coming from further in the city, take the link light rail train. It can be accessed from various points in Seattle and drops off a few blocks from the Market.
To drive to Pike Place Market, find parking in nearby pay lots. A day of parking can cost between $10 and $40 depending on time of year.
Book your food tour of Pike Place Market now
Summary of this Pike Place Market Guide
Overall, the Seattle Pike Place Market is a bit of a tourist trap, but very worth visiting. Follow this Pike Place Market guide to visit the best shops in the market and not waste your time with the rest.
Whether you try the ultimate market food tour, visit one of the restaurants or just take a stroll, visiting Pike Place is sure to be a highlight of your Seattle vacation.
FAQ – Best Shops Pike Place Market
Seattle is a great place to explore through food! Especially for tourists, there are so many delicious restaurants and local eateries to try. A Pike Place food tour is a must-do activity on any Seattle vacation.
It takes 2-3 hours to walk through Pike Place Market and visit the most popular shops. If you plan to dine at a restaurant, add another 1-2 hours to your planned visit.
The best time to go to Pike Place Market is in the morning before crowds get too big for the day. The best time of year to visit is late spring or early fall, when the weather is good but there aren’t crazy summer crowds.
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I didn’t realize how large Pike Place Market is. I knew about the fish tossing – which is one thing I would like to see. But the food – dang! There are a lot of places to eat.
Yeah its huge! I could eat there all day
I really enjoyed exploring the market when I visited Seattle a few years ago. I just love the different kinds of smell of food, spices, fruit and baked goods! Your post brought back some great memories 🙂
I’m so glad you enjoyed your visit!
Okay, yum! I would love to eat my way through Pike’s Place Market immediately. Everything looks delicious! I’ve been wanting to visit Seattle. Maybe this my year! 🙂
You will love it! Come in the summer for the best weather 🙂
I remember visiting the Pike Place market when we were in Seattle a few years ago! It is indeed a huge version of the standard farmers markets in USA and much more. I love the smell of baked goods, cooked food, coffee while walking through. We also peeked into the fish market area and were pleasantly surprised at the variety of seafood! A great place to explore indeed! 🙂
I’m so glad you had a positive experience! It can be a bit crowded but so worth it
That pineapple ginger beer is calling my name!
It is delicious!