Pike Place Market

Address: Between Western Avenue, 1st Avenue, and Pike Street, Downtown, Seattle
Admission: Free

ATTRACTION Keywords:
Good Place to Drink, Good Place to Eat, Good Place to Shop, Must-Do Experience, Popular with Locals, Market

5:57 PM Monday, May 20
Partly sunny. Mild.
7 day forecast

The fishy-smelling, heart of downtown Seattle is Pike Place Market. Each day, from dawn to dusk, the market bustles but not just with people perusing the fresh produce brought in by the farmers or the browsing stalls of fresh fish. The market is also brimming with good theater, as street performers entertain the milling crowds while more than 150 artisans and artist sell their creations.

The Main and North arcades of Pike Place Market are the most popular areas, with bellowing fishmongers, arts and crafts, and stacks of fruits and vegetables. Tiny shops of all descriptions are scattered throughout the market, along with dozens of restaurants. One of the most entertaining spectacles is the fish stall, where employees throw salmon and other fish to each other rather than passing them by hand. When a customer orders a fish, an employee at the ice-covered fish table picks up the fish and hurls it over the countertop, where another employee catches it and preps it for sale.

Don’t forget to save some change for Rachel, the bronze charity piggy bank that serves as Pike Place Market's unofficial mascot. Look for her at the corner of Pike Place, under the "Public Market Center" sign.

Latest Reviews

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All Pike Place Market Reviews

Review by Skootre, USA, October 2010

This is a quintessential Seattle experience. You could easily spend an hour or two just roaming the stalls. There are also a few good restaurants here, not too touristy and not too expensive. So come hungry!

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Review by indieandiejones, October 2010

Pike Place Market is the cultural mecca of Seattle. My experience there was one that i will never forget. Walking through the market, you are bombarded with amazing sights, smells, and sounds. There are about three levels of different shopping areas filled with stores from vintage movie posters and music, to antiques and oddities, and newer wares and clothing. The bottom level is where all the action is at though. Flying fish, and singing fish mongers, and haggling prices all around. Nothing can compare to this wonderful place. I really hope everyone has a chance to experience it once in their life!

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Review by Undercover American, Australie, September 2010

Pike Place Market is a classic Seattle destination that should be on your list if you are visiting Seattle. At the Pike Place Market you can soak up the 'feel' of Seattle. The Market is a combination of funky stores and old fashioned fruit stalls. It's on the water so you can get a good perspective of Seattle. There are lots of eating options from fancy restaurants to fun food stalls for things like nuts and ice creams.

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Practical Info

Pike Place Market is located downtown on the waterfront, at First Avenue between Pike and Pine Streets. The market is accessible via bus and streetcar. An information booth is located below the “Pike Place Market” sign, where you can pick up a free guide and map of the market. The market is always bustling, but you can often avoid the crowds on weekday mornings.

For a little respite or a picnic lunch, head over to Victor Steinbrueck Park, at the north end of the market at the intersection of Pike Place, Virginia Street, and Western Avenue. Look for the two towering totem poles. Other nearby attractions include the Seattle Art Museum, Waterfront Park, and the Seattle Aquarium.

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