No jaunt to Seattle is complete without a stop at Pike Place Market, one of the oldest and longest-running markets in the United States, located in downtown Seattle boxed in by Lenora Street, 1st Avenue, and Union Street.
Pike Place Market is on the United States National Register of Historic Places, added in March of 1970. The market is bustling and lively, lined inside and out with hundreds of shops, flower stands, seafood vendors, crafters, and street performers.
Pike Place Market should be explored in a linear direction, either going Northwest to Southeast (Lenora Street and Western Avenue) or Southeast to Northwest (Pike Street and 1st Avenue). Both starts can be accessed from the waterfront/piers, where most of the hotels are located. If you are starting from the Northeast, climb the stairs or get on the Lenora Street Elevator off of the Elliot Bay Trail to the right of the Seattle Marriott Waterfront Hotel. If you are starting from the Southeast side, head up the historic Pike Hill Climb Walk or hop on the elevator.
The Lenora Street Elevator/Walk will spit you out onto Lenora Street; head up Lenora and make a right on Western Avenue and a left on Virginia Street; Pike Place Market will start where Virginia Street and Pike Place meet.
The Pike Hill Climb Walk/Elevator will deposit you on the complete opposite side of the market onto Western Avenue; head south down Western Avenue and make a left onto Union Street and a left onto Post Alley; check out Post Alley as you go; you’ll eventually run into the heart of the market as Post Alley ends at the Fish Market.
Regardless of what side you start at, give yourself a few hours to explore the market and have lunch or dinner. If you’re strapped for time, make sure you hit up the major iconic stops within the market.
In the many times I’ve explored Pike Place Market, I like to start from the Northeast side. If you’re starting from this side, hit up these stops in this order: Starbucks, inner covered market, Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, the Fish Market, Rachel the Pig, Left Bank Books, Pike Place Flowers, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and Post Alley. I’ve written this post in that order, so if you’re starting from the Southeast Side, do it in reverse.
Starbucks: What you won’t want to miss for simple selfie-stick purposes, is the first Starbucks (and the only one for a long time, imagine that!), located at 1912 Pike Place. Some argue it is technically not the first as it was moved from its original location. However, I personally still think it stands as the first as it was moved from the original location, not duplicated in a second location. I suggest you randomly start that argument with some unsuspecting tourist and see what happens. Just kidding.
The line in this Starbucks is usually out the door, and since it, for the most part, doesn’t sell anything any other Starbucks does not, you can skip buying a drink here. Do, however, check out the sign outside the Starbucks – you’ll notice that the logo doesn’t quite look right. This is the original logo, brown instead of green with a bare-chested mermaid. Starbucks has since updated its logo to the well-known green circle with a slightly edited mermaid.
Inner-Covered Market: Head on in to the covered market area, where your senses will be utterly overloaded with fish, flowers, and fresh fruit. Keep an eye out for some of the beautiful arts and craft vendors, selling everything from jewelry and handmade hats and scarves, to ceramics and musical instruments.
If you like seafood, make a quick stop at the Market Grill and grab a salmon or halibut sandwich, or head back across the street to try Emmet Watson Oyster Bar’s famous oysters.
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese: Located at 1600 Pike Place, Beechers is a well known Seattle-based cheese shop, with the best cheese curds you’ll ever eat, and some award-winning mac and cheese to top it off. Check them out here. If you don’t like cheese, you can skip this stop, but don’t tell anyone that; people who don’t like cheese simply can’t be trusted.
Fish Market: Arguably the most famous area of Pike Place Market, you cannot miss this. If you, for whatever odd reason, have time for only one stop, pick this one. Even if you’ve never set foot in Seattle, you’ve likely heard of the famous flying fish, tossed with shocking vigor by the funny and upbeat fishmongers. When you see it for the first time, half of you is like whoa and the other half of you is like oh my god they’re going to hit somebody in the face with that fish.
And, no, they don’t just throw fish around to throw fish around. It’s actually easier and more efficient to throw the fish across the ice table than walk around the side, grab the fish, and walk all the way back around. Thus, if you want to see a fish being thrown, you have to buy one or wait for someone else to buy one. For as busy as Pike Place Market is, there’s a high likelihood if you wait patiently, someone will buy one. It’s worth the wait.
Oh, and watch out for a sneaky monkfish on the far right side of the ice table – the fishmongers tie a string to its tail and yank it to scare unsuspecting tourists.
Rachel the Pig: Rachel is Pike Place Market’s unofficial mascot. She is made out of bronze and sits slightly beyond the Fish Market under the “Public Market Center” sign. The inspiration for her design came from a real pig named Rachel who was the 1977 Island County, Washington prize-winning pig.
Rachel is, above all other things, a piggy bank. And a philanthropic one at that. Periodically, the Market Foundation collects the money out of Rachel and puts it towards funding for social services and low-income housing around the market. Check her out here.
Left Bank Books: Cross the street and check out Left Bank Books, one of Seattle’s lesser-known oddities. Self-identified as an “anarchist” book store, Left Bank Books specializes in anti-authoritarian titles like “In, Against, and Beyond Capitalism,” “How to Raise a Wild Child,” and “I Hate the Internet.” They pride themselves on their anarchist and anti-capitalist principles; the store operates as a collective with no boss or company leadership. All decisions regarding the store are made in bi-monthly collective meetings. Knock it if you want, but something is working; Left Bank Books has been open since 1973.
Pike Place Flowers: Located right next door to Left Bank Books on the corner of 1st Avenue and Pike Street, Pike Place Flowers is the most famous flower shop in the market, mainly due to its location. The flowers are beautiful and locally grown.
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory: Head southeast down the street from Pike Place Flowers along 1st Avenue. Keep an eye out on the right for the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory located at 1419 1st Avenue. Rocky Mountain is a chain located throughout the world, but it’s still worth a stop. Their caramel apples will blow your mind! Check out the Caramel Apple Pie apple and the Caramel M&M apple.
Post Alley: Head out the back door of the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and outside onto Post Alley. Make a right and start at the Gum Wall, a disgustingly famous wall filled with people’s already-chewed gum. My sensibilities require me to skip this canvas of masticated candy, but have at it if you want.
Keep an eye out too for Chukar Cheeries and a variety of other vendors and small shops. If you have time, have dinner at The Pink Door, located at 1919 Post Alley. It’s tough to find – look for a pink door, its only defining characteristic (there is no sign out front of the restaurant). The restaurant boasts a restaurant and bar downstairs with trapeze artists and a beautiful deck outside.
Pike Place Market is one of the must-see attractions in Seattle; take it all in and appreciate its uniqueness and timelessness. Happy Seattle travels!