At just about a century old, Seattle’s Pike Place Market is truly iconic and welcomes millions of visitors every year to its food-filled halls. Everywhere you look there’s food, shops, flowers, and fruit! You can’t help but feel happy as cheerful vendors offer you samples of uniquely flavored jams, chocolate-covered cherries, and slices of seasonal fruit.

At first glance, Pike Place Market might seem like a small strip filled with a few food vendors and a popular fresh fish stand, but the market is literally a maze of endless farmers’ markets, crafts markets, specialty food shops, and restaurants. Among a sea of so many options for dining, we have compiled a list of the absolute best Pike Place restaurants and quick bites so that you’ll never wonder where to start when you find yourself in the beating heart of Seattle.

Pike Place Market Souvenirs

If you’re a local, you can’t leave Pike Place Market without a stunning flower bouquet. For tourists, we recommend traveling home with packages of smoked salmon from Pure Food Fish Market, salmon jerky from Totem Smokehouse Smoked Salmon, a selection of Beecher’s cheese, Pike Place Nuts, Chukar Cherries, Simply the Best dried fruit, or OMG! Olive Oils (if you can check a bag). Any Starbucks enthusiast should take the time to visit the original Starbucks and snag a souvenir featuring the original logo– just be prepared to wait in a decently long line!

Pike Place Market Hours

A quick word about the hours at Pike Place Market. We found that although the website and other resources online report that the market is open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., several vendors close on their own timeline (sometimes as early as 4 or 5 p.m.). Restaurants also typically have completely different hours than the market, which are sometimes open until later hours for table service.

Pike Place Market Parking

Don’t forget to plan ahead when visiting Pike Place Market! You might get lucky occasionally and find a spot right on one of the main streets that feed into the market (Pike, Pine, Steward, and Virginia), but for a low price and no two-hour limit, you can drive right to the Public Market Parking Garage at 1531 Western Ave OR 1901 Western Ave. Parking costs $4 an hour and despite signage, they do take all major credit cards.

Pike Place Market Resources

One of the best places that you can visit for accurate information is the official Pike Place Market Website. They have more information than the average tourist or foodie needs, but it’s a fantastic point of reference in includes information including a directory with all of the Pike Place market restaurants, market news, plus programs and events. And if you want to get really nerdy and learn even more about the market, check out this podcast that exclusively interviews people who are at the forefront of the hustle and bustle at Pike Place Market!

12 Best Pike Place Market Restaurants

Our guide to the best Pike Place Market restaurants includes options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The hours that these restaurants are open may differ from the standard market hours, so double-check opening/closing times before going. Better yet, make a reservation if you’re hoping to dine at one of the more popular sit-down restaurants (Pink Door, Sushi Kashiba, Matt’s in the Market). These are the all-star Pike Place restaurants and our go-to options for impressing out-of-town guests, celebrating special occasions, dining with friends, or just treating yourself to an incredible meal.

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12. Lowell’s Restaurant & Bar

At nearly a century old, Lowell’s Restaurant & Bar is as iconic as the market itself. All three floors of seating offer views of the Olympic Mountains and Port of Seattle. You can order with the entrance cashier and seat yourself on the first or third floor, or make your way to the second floor view lounge that offers a more traditional sit-down table service. With so much seating, this is a popular dining option for those traveling in groups. Both the breakfast and lunch menus are focused on seafood, which is really the only thing you should be eating when spending the day in Seattle. You’ll love watching the ferries drift across the Puget Sound as you bite into a creamy, Hot Dungeness Crab Melt, made on rustic rosemary bread with a slather of homemade bacon-tomato jam.

11. Old Stove Brewing

For seafood-inspired bar food and priceless views, Old Stove Brewing is a tasty Pike Place restaurant with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. The laid-back atmosphere and friendly staff make for an enjoyable meal, and the food is sure to leave you satisfied. The menu is pretty straightforward, with a variety of burger or pizza options. We love the Salmon BLT with extra crispy cherrywood bacon, arugula, tomato, lemon caper aioli, and grilled king salmon on a pillowy ciabatta roll.

10. Radiator Whiskey

Radiator Whiskey is a 21 and older venue with down-to-earth vibes and upscale bbq. Tuck into a rustic wooden table with views of First Avenue, and enjoy comfort food from one of the best Pike Place Market restaurants. Start with an order of their crispy tots for your appetizer, and then dive into any of their phenomenal entrees. If you’re looking for a unique experience, you can pre-order their Mini Beast Feast for 6 people. This features a half-smoked pig head, crispy fried ears, braised tongue, and multiple side dishes. A scaled-down version is available for groups of 2-3 as well.

9. Cafe Campagne

This quaint French restaurant is open for various meals depending on the day of the week. Brunch is only available on the weekends, and dinner hours end early on weeknights. Check the website before visiting for their most updated schedule. Regardless of what meal you visit for, you are in for a charming experience at this Pike Place restaurant. Especially if you find yourself at a table on their outside patio overlooking Post Alley. We have a particular affection for their quiche, which is available on the brunch and lunch menus.

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8. Bacco Cafe

Bacco is one of our favorite breakfast spots in Pike Place Market for a cozy and relaxing start to a Seattle day. They don’t take reservations, so be prepared for a wait if you’re visiting on the weekend. Otherwise, the line moves quickly and there is a decent amount of both indoor and outdoor seating. You may be surprised to find that the best thing on your plate are the crispy and tender herb roasted potatoes, but everything else on the menu is a delightful close second. We love their benedict options, especially for the silky hollandaise sauce that soaks into every bite.

7. Biscuit Bitch

Profanities aside, we cannot get over our obsession with these biscuits. They are the best you can get in Seattle and made even better when soaking up Biscuit Bitch house-made sausage gravy, assembled into the breakfast sandwich of your dreams, or just slathered in jam. No matter your order, you’ll be coming back for breakfast tomorrow, too! The restaurant itself is small, though indoor dining is currently unavailable. In the meantime, you can avoid long wait times by preordering online and they will send a message when your order is ready for pickup.

6. Pasta Casalinga

Pasta Casalinga is an underrated Pike Place restaurant for homemade pasta run by a family of Italians who clearly put their heart and soul into the food they serve every day. Pasta Casalinga is relatively new to the market (they opened in early 2018) so you won’t have to wait with the masses for this fantastic Italian food (yet!). We love the intimate location of Pasta Casalinga, where you can get a superb meal in a no-frills dining environment. Any of their homemade pasta is prepared perfectly al dente and the $2 extra for burrata on top is 100% worth it. The menu rotates monthly, with options from the ocean, farm, and garden. The Lasagna Casalinga is a permanent menu item, and completely irresistible, made with their house bechamel sauce, sausage, sweet peas, and mushroom.

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5. Pike Place Chowder

If you’re in Seattle, you’re eating clam chowder, and Pike Place Chowder serves arguably some of the best clam chowder in the country! There are seven different chowder options from a Manhattan-style chowder to lime & coconut chowder, but what you don’t want to miss out on here is the New England clam chowder. It has the perfect potato to clams ratio with skins left on the potatoes for fantastic texture, and is served in a delicious sourdough bread bowl (optional, but why wouldn’t you get the bread bowl?). The bread bowl is ideal– firm enough to maintain the integrity of a bread bowl, but soft enough to perfectly compliment the creamy, decadent chowder. Go right at open to avoid terribly long lines. The chowder here is absolutely delicious and although many claim that the hype is insane, this is the best chowder in Seattle.

4. Matt’s in the Market

Matt’s in the Market is one of the best Pike Place Market restaurants for lunch and dinner with a heavy emphasis on seafood. The most popular menu item here? The fishwich. The fish on this incredible sandwich changes seasonally and is cooked perfectly keeping the fish succulent and soft on the inside with a beautiful nearly crisp coating on the outside. The fish is perfectly complimented with thick slabs of crispy bacon, thinly shredded iceberg lettuce, shaved sweet onion, and a hit of homemade pepper aioli, all coming together on a delicious brioche bun.

3. Sushi Kashiba

Shiro Kashiba is a legend in Seattle. Mostly for serving the best sushi in the city, but also for training under Jiro (cue “Jiro Dreams of Sushi” . . . Yes, that Jiro). It’s safe to say that Sushi Kashiba has some of the most delicious bites that Seattle has to offer, let alone Pike Place Market. Extra points for serving a truly authentic sushi & sashimi experience. You want to make reservations here wayyyyy ahead of time for the sushi bar where Shiro prepares the cuisine himself, and while you’re at it order the chef’s omakase for the full experience. Definitely a splurge but worth every penny. If you don’t have the luxury of making reservations, try going on a weekday evening and get there a few minutes before opening to wait in line for a seat in the restaurant.

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2. Aerlume

Aerlume is one of the most noteworthy Pike Place Market restaurants, where the service is as remarkable as the views. Dining here is an experience, so plan on an evening of good conversation and multiple courses of incredible food. With an emphasis on seasonal ingredients, the menu at Aerlume is fresh and dynamic. Standout appetizers include the Dungeness crab lettuce wraps and citrus-marinated beets. For your main course, we recommend the completely unforgettable seared sea scallops served with caramelized root vegetables, crisp pancetta, kale, and red onion soubise.

1. The Pink Door

If you’ve talked with other food enthusiasts about good Pike Place Market restaurants, The Pink Door will inevitably surface in your conversation. The ambiance is beautiful but also borderline bizarre. The service is fantastic and the views of the market and the water cannot be beaten (make sure to get reservations for these tables). But above all, we are always impressed with the food. Eating family style is a fun option here, and some of our menu favorites include the Arancini, Risotto, and always without question the Lasagna. Dessert options vary depending on the season but save room to sample one because they are always worth the splurge!

12 Best Pike Place Market Quick Bites

What Pike Place Market is really known for are their endless fast-casual restaurants offering quick bites to traveling tourists. City food tours are devoted to this Pike Place Market tasting experience because the best way to do Pike Place is to literally eat your way from one end to the other. We’ve selected our tried and true, classic bites that we believe anyone traveling to Seattle has to try.

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12. The Crumpet Shop

The Crumpet Shop serves up delicious English crumpets in a laid-back, café type setting at Pike Place Market. They have plenty of savory and sweet options, but our top recommendation is the organic lemon curd & ricotta crumpet– a homemade crumpet topped with whipped ricotta (like a far superior whipped cream) and fresh lemon curd, all made in house. They are closed currently closed Monday- Wednesday, so be sure to plan around their hours.

11. Le Panier

With a goal to bring the taste of France to Seattle, everything at Le Panier tastes just as beautiful as it looks. Popular sweet items include the almond croissant and their famous macarons. The macarons are the perfect small treat at only $2.00 and prepared to perfection. The chocolate macaron is a decadent no-brainer and the seasonal pumpkin macaron is not to be missed around fall time.

10. Shug’s Soda Fountain & Ice Cream

If you love dessert, ice cream, hot fudge sundaes, or all of the above, then you’ll want to put Shug’s at the top of your list for your next visit to Pike Place Market! Not only does Shug’s serve some of the most beautiful sundaes you will ever lay eyes on, but they taste even more delicious. Everything that goes into the menu items at Shug’s is high quality and homemade, plus you can enjoy so many different classic soda shop items like ice cream cones, shakes, old-fashioned sodas, and novelties! Share with a friend– you won’t want to keep this to yourself.

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9. Michou

This grab-and-go style Pike Place restaurant is ideal for the busy working professional looking for a quick, but extremely tasty lunch or a hungry tourist who needs something satisfying but doesn’t want their lunch choice to slow down their sight-seeing. When you walk into Michou, you are greeted by a large display case of sandwiches piled high in all of their meat and cheese glory. You can get a whole or half sandwich, and they will optionally toast it for you in a panini press. Our favorites are the Sierra Chicken and Roast Beef Gorgonzola. Turn the corner to check out a large display of deli salads and desserts. You’ll want to throw in a Zeppole, a fried Italian donut tossed in cinnamon sugar, to top off your meal.

8. Market Grill

Market Grill can be easy to overlook on a busy day shuffling through Pike Place but is definitely worth elbowing your way through to snag a spot at one of their limited seats. Another option is to take your order to go, exit through the back of the Market, and eat on one of the outdoor patios with views of the Puget Sound. The essential eat here? The Blackened Salmon Sandwich. It’s dressed up with caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, and rosemary mayonnaise. The bread is almost our favorite part of this sandwich, but we’re all here for that thick cut of salmon cooked to a perfect medium and rubbed with blackened seasoning.

7. Rachel’s Ginger Beer

Rachel’s Ginger Beer is a really fun experience for ginger lovers. If you don’t know what ginger beer is, it’s basically a more flavorful version of ginger ale and is non-alcoholic. With flavors like blood orange, pink guava, passionfruit, caramelized pineapple, and blueberry, they take ginger beer to the next level. They also do ginger beer floats, which taste just as amazing as they sound. When that soft serve vanilla hits your taste buds simultaneously with the ginger beer, you are in for a real treat. Our favorite flavors are white peach and pink guava, but the employees are happy to give samples to make sure you’re satisfied with your flavor of choice. Go here first to have something to sip on while you walk through Pike Place Market!

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6. DeLaurenti Food & Wine

DeLaurenti Food & Wine is known and loved as an Italian grocery shop filled with every kind of meat, cheese, pasta sauce, mustard, balsamic vinegar, and chocolate bar that your inner-foodie could imagine. What you may not know is that tucked in the front of the store is a small cafe selling paninis and pizza by the slice. There is a small grouping of tables across from the 1st Ave entry where you can eat away from the bustling crowds of the market. That same spicy capicola, mortadella, and genoa salami being sold in the store are even better when delivered to you in panini or pizza form.

5. The Confectional

This bite of creamy, rich heaven is sure to make cheesecake your new favorite dessert! The Confectional is one of the most enticing stands in Pike Place Market, with a display case fully stocked with mini cheesecake. The Lemon White Chocolate and Raspberry White Chocolate are the flavors we keep coming back to, but there are always seasonal options that we love sampling too. Insider tip: If you’re too full from all the other tastings, get an assorted pack of these to take with you and enjoy later. Trust us– you don’t want to miss out on these!

4. Piroshky Piroshky

Piroshky, Piroshky! What even is a piroshky? These handheld Russian pies have a cult following and attract Pike Place Market goers all year long. We can’t resist an order of the Smoked Salmon Pate, beautifully complemented by a cream cheese, dill, and chive filling. However, the Beef and Cheese piroshky is the true shining star- a mix of ground beef and sharp cheddar encased in delicious fluffy bread is a combination truly to die for.

3. Daily Dozen Doughnut Company

Fresh, hot mini doughnuts! There isn’t anything novel about Daily Dozen Doughnut Company, but their fresh miniature doughnuts are truly delicious. The employees are incredibly kind and will tell you which ones are fresh. We highly recommend ordering a bag of cinnamon sugar doughnuts– the dusting of sugar & spice on a hot, pillowy pocket of dough is what dreams are made of. Grab a bag to share with a friend (or with yourself) while you peruse the rest of Pike Place Market.

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2. Ellenos Real Greek Yogurt (TEMPORARILY CLOSED)

If you haven’t tried Ellenos yogurt before, we understand that you may be skeptical. But after you give it a chance, you’ll understand why their slogan is “the yogurt that makes ice cream jealous”. Impossibly thick and creamy, not too sweet, and beautifully smooth, Ellenos yogurt has stolen the hearts of Seattle natives. You can find a handful of their classic flavors at local grocery stores and Costco, but nothing compares to their fresh selection at the gelato-style stand in Pike Place Market. There are always a few seasonal flavors, and workers will happily provide you with samples. If available, the Coconut Cream Pie is phenomenal when paired with the PNW classic Marionberry.

1. Beecher’s Handmade Cheese

If you don’t try anything else at Pike Place Market, you must visit Beecher’s Handmade Cheese. Their signature Flagship cheese is a semi-hard cow’s milk with nutty flavor achieved from a 15-month aging process. Their dreamy “World’s Best” Mac & Cheese is made with Just Jack and Flagship cheese, butter, milk, and a touch of chipotle chili powder. The subtle hint of chili powder is essential, and the sharpness of the cheese makes it a decadent “adult” mac and cheese, while still keeping the classic creaminess of this famous comfort food dish. Occasionally they will offer specialty flavors like smoked salmon and dill, but their classic mac and cheese is definitely the home run menu item here. A package of Beecher’s cheese is the perfect souvenir or gift for your fellow cheese-obsessed friend.