Welcome to Seattle's Pike Place Market

Welcome to Pike Place Market!

I've heard it called many things: Pike's Market, Pike Street Market, The Market, but those are all wrong. It is the Pike Place Market. It is a market and it is on Pike Place, which curves off of Pike Street. In Seattle Washington, the Seattle Center with its Space Needle, International Fountain, Pacific Science Center and a multitude of theatre stages could be called its heart, but the Pike Place Market which celebrated its centennial in 2007, is Seattle's soul. It was nearly torn down and replaced by office towers in the 1970's, but Seattle resident Peter Steinbruck came to its rescue and I am eternally grateful to him.

The Pike Place Market began as a farmers' market with eight wagonloads of produce and over the years has grown to include permanent shops and restaurants of every type, a social services center and clinic, a movie theater, apartments, a park, and a nearby hotel. It is just up the hill from the Seattle waterfront and there's a series of broad steps lined with shops that are easily traversed down to the Seattle Aquarium. The movie, Sleepless in Seattle shot a scene or two at the Pike Place Market.

Conventional wisdom says to eat before you go shopping, but I say it's best to visit the Pike Place Market on an empty stomach. There are so many nooks and crannies, that you'll never see it all. (hint: stop at the fish and produce stalls when you are on your way out because those bags get heavy. Better yet – if you want to buy fish to eat after you get back home – have them send your fish to you.) Here are some of my "must do's."

Start at De Laurenti's window for a slice. The pizza is very fresh and hot. You will want two, but get one because there are many more taste treats ahead. Saunter past the newsstand crammed with papers and magazines from around the world. If you like nuts, get a bagful at the nut store, otherwise pick up a bag of mini doughnuts at The Daily Dozen Doughnuts. take a peek at the watercolors and calendars at

One of my favorite stores is the Pike Place Fish market whose employees put on a wonderful show of tossing whole salmon selected by customers to the employees behind the counter who weigh, wrap, and ring up the purchases. The sign reads "Beware of flying fish."

There's a wonderful flower store next to the Market Spice store (where a huge urn of free Market Spice Tea is always brewing) .

Just across from the fish market is an enormous bronze piggy bank named Rachel that collects donations to support the social services provided at the Pike Place Market. There are also often street performers (like Artis the Spoonman) standing there or just down the way, guitar cases open for their own version of social service donations.

Continue down the main way as best you can, remembering to walk like you are driving a car – stay to the right! Cross to the other side at your peril! It is easier to go all the way to the end and turn around than risk being trampled.

If you need a breather from the crowds buying fresh produce, meats, cheeses and honey, slip out one of the doors to the outside and cross the street to the rest of the market. Here you will find the original Starbucks, the Mee Sum Pastries where you can get hum bao (steamed buns filled with veggies and/or meat), Le Panier Bakery and Pike Place Creamery where you can get yummy ice cream.

Beyond the farmers' stalls are an array of "low" stalls that are rented by artisans, woodworkers, crafters, and artists, Here you will find the best gifts for taking home to family and friends. What child wouldn't love a wooden toy version of a Washington State Ferry to pull around on the floor?

The Pike Place Market is an experience all by itself without buying anything, but you will enhance your memories with delightful tastes, smells and sounds. Have a camera at hand, keep your eyes open and just drink it all in.