Our Fun Seattle Pike Place Market Food Tour Experience
On our recent trip to Seattle, my husband and I had a free day to explore the city. This was actually our third time in Seattle, and like many tourists, we’d strolled through Pike Place Market on past trips, admiring the flower stalls and browsing the different shops. However, despite enjoying our wanderings, we never really knew where to find the best food or what made the market unique.
This time around, I wanted to explore the market like a local would, so I booked us on a guided food tour of Pike Place Market. I am a vegetarian and do not eat seafood, so I was honestly not sure if it was worth it for us. After some research, I decided on this Early Bird Food Tour of Pike Place Market with Show Me Seattle via Viator.
By the end of the tour, we had a whole new appreciation for Pike Place Market and agreed that a food tour is the best way to experience it for the first time.
➡️ In a hurry, and want to book the same tour we did? Here it is:
Early Bird Food Tour of Pike Place Market
About Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market is one of Seattle’s most popular attractions, and for good reason. Opened in 1907, it’s one of the oldest continuously operating farmers’ markets in the country. The market has multiple levels and buildings, with fresh produce, flower stalls, seafood counters, specialty food shops, and an entire section dedicated to local artisans and crafts.
Apart from the food stalls, some top things to do in Pike Place Market include the fishmongers tossing salmon through the air, the famous Gum Wall tucked into Post Alley, and the very first Starbucks. On weekends, the atmosphere gets even more lively with buskers (street performers) playing music, singing, or entertaining crowds along the sidewalks.
Why Take a Pike Place Market Food Tour?
I’d visited Pike Place Market twice before on my own, and while it was fun to wander, I never really knew where to find the best food or which corners were worth exploring.
Taking a guided food tour completely changed that. With a local guide leading us, we explored different market levels and alleys, discovered hidden gems, tried tastings from top vendors, and heard stories we would have missed otherwise. We also skipped the lines at popular food stalls since the tastings were curated and ready for our group.
If it’s your first time at Pike Place Market, or if you want more than just browsing, a food tour is the best way to experience it.
➡️ We booked this Early Bird Food Tour of Pike Place Market
Our Food Tour Experience
We booked the Early Bird Food Tour on a Friday. It started at 9 AM, which was a great time because the market was still quiet and not as crowded. The tour lasted about two hours and fifteen minutes with a small group of eight people.
Our guide, Lucky, was fantastic and was genuinely devoted to showing us as much of the market as possible in 2 hours. He shared stories about Seattle’s history and the market, keeping the pace easy as we made our way through the different levels and alleys of Pike Place.
The tour began and ended at Indi Chocolate, where we met the group and got an introduction to the history of the market. From there, each tasting was ready for us as soon as we arrived, which meant no waiting in lines and more time to enjoy the food and learn about the vendors.
We started with a warm, cheesy biscuit from Honest Biscuits, topped with Beecher’s Cheese and paired with coffee from Seven Roasters. My husband especially loved the biscuit, and we agreed we’ll be back to try other flavors next time.
At Saffron Spice, we had a samosa with mint and tamarind chutneys. It was tasty, though we’ve had better elsewhere.
The next stop was the famous Pike Place Fish, known for its fishmongers tossing salmon through the air. While I skipped the smoked salmon tasting, our group enjoyed it, and it was fun to watch the fish throwing.
At Three Girls Bakery, we sampled a raspberry bar that was sweet, crumbly, and one of my husband’s favorites of the day.
We then tried a freshly made taco at Los Agaves, bursting with flavor.
Next, we had the Egg Yalla at Sisters European Café, a Mediterranean-style sandwich with amazingly fresh focaccia bread. It was hearty and delicious, and I’m already planning to come back here for lunch on a future visit.
At Hellenika Creamery, we sampled the ‘Seattle Fog’ gelato with its rich Earl Grey flavor. An employee explained their process, and it was enjoyable to see the containers of gelato being constantly churned.
We finished back at Indi Chocolate, this time with a warm chocolate chip cookie sprinkled with salt that enhanced the flavor. It was the perfect ending to the tour.
Along the way, our guide also showed us more than just food. We walked past the colorful flower stalls, the Sanitary Public Market Building, the arts and crafts vendor area, Post Alley, the Gum Wall, Rachel the piggybank, and even met a few local craftsmen. The flower bouquets especially stood out; they’re gorgeous and surprisingly affordable since they’re sold directly by local farmers.
Being on the food tour also gave us a 10% discount at many of the vendors, including Beecher’s Cheese, Truffle Queen, Mr. Fish, Pike Place Chowder, and Bottega Italiana.
By the end, we were comfortably full, definitely enough food to count as a light meal. Skipping breakfast beforehand was the right decision.
We booked the Early Bird Food Tour on a Friday. The tour started at 9 AM, a great time because the market was still quiet and not as crowded. The tour lasted about two hours and fifteen minutes with a small group of eight people.
After the food tour, we explored the craftsmen stalls and bought a few souvenirs to bring home.
➡️ We booked this Early Bird Food Tour of Pike Place Market
What We Loved Most
For me, the tour wasn’t just about the food; it was about finally experiencing Pike Place Market in a way that connected us to its vendors and history.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Book in advance as tours often sell out, especially on weekends.
- If you have dietary restrictions, contact the tour company ahead of time. We notified them about our vegetarian request, and they were able to accommodate most tastings.
- Skip having a big meal before the tour; the tastings are enough for a light meal.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes as there are stairs and uneven pavement.
- The tour didn’t seem wheelchair or stroller-friendly due to the stairs, so it’s best to confirm with the company before booking.
- Tours run rain or shine, so dress for the weather. We were lucky to have a sunny day in mid-September.
- Tips are expected, so bring cash. Our guide also accepted Venmo.
- Take the Early Bird tour if you can, as the market is least crowded in the morning.
Final Thoughts: Is the Pike Place Market Food Tour Worth It?
We both felt the Pike Place Market food tour was well worth it. On our own, we never would have been able to try so many different places in such a short time, let alone learn the history of the market or explore all the different areas. Starting in the morning made the experience even better since the market was quieter and easier to navigate.
For first-time visitors to Seattle, I’d say taking a food tour is one of the best ways to experience Pike Place Market. Even though we’d been there before, the guided tastings and insider knowledge made it feel like a completely new experience.
➡️ I recommend this Early Bird Pike Place Market Food Tour
or
this Pike Place Market Tasting Tour (same company but with time options later in the day)
