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A sunset over the red “Public Market” sign at Pike Place Market.
Pike Place Market is a magnet for tourists, but the dining options delight all visitors.
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19 Great Restaurants Near Pike Place Market

Including expert omakase, pillowy quiche, knockout dumplings, and more

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Pike Place Market is a magnet for tourists, but the dining options delight all visitors.
| Getty Images

A joy for tourists and locals alike, Pike Place Market is a vibrant collection of stalls and permanent establishments offering crafts, flowers, artwork, vegetables, fruits, meat, and yes, the famous flying fish.

The market, which has been open since 1907, is often crowded and sometimes overwhelming, but among maze of stalls and throngs of tourists are some treasures for food lovers: tamales, tortillas, and gorditas made from heirloom corn masa; seafood dishes prepared from fresh-caught fish and live bivalves from the market; and satisfying sourdough grilled cheese sandwiches, among other options. Here are some favorites, including snacks to grab and eat while perusing the market’s offerings as well as restaurants perfect for sit-down meals after long days of shopping.

A tip for tourists: Pike Place gets extremely crowded and hard to navigate on weekends, especially during the summer, so visit on a weekday if at all possible. And remember, it’s “Pike Place,” not “Pike’s Place.”

Know of a spot that should be on our radar? Send us a tip by emailing seattle@eater.com. As usual, this list is not ranked; it’s organized geographically.

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Cedar & Spokes Coffee

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If you need a break from Pike Place’s touristy bustle, walk a few blocks to the north and check yourself into this whatever-wave-of-coffee-we-are-on-now roastery and cafe (and bar), a minimalist, light-filled space with great views of the water. They serve pastries and avocado toast but the emphasis is on the espresso, as it should be. It’s so light and flavorful it’s almost a shame to put it in an espresso martini, but we won’t judge you for it.

Virginia Inn

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This bar and restaurant has been serving food since 1903, making it practically prehistoric by Seattle standards. In any case it’s timeless — there’s not much differentiating its classically Northwest menu of burgers and seafood, but everything from the oysters to the short ribs is perfectly prepared. For a sit-down restaurant next to the market it’s very affordable, with many entrees under $20. On nice days you can snag one of the sidewalk tables, and when it rains you can take refuge in the V.I.’s comfort food.

Le Pichet

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This French bistro and cafe a couple of blocks from the center of Pike Place is a good spot for a breather. Lunch offerings, including baguette sandwiches like ham and gruyere, are simple and delicious, as are the pillowy quiches. The restaurant also serves entrees like duck leg confit, steak frites, and whole roasted chicken for dinner.

The Pink Door

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One of Seattle’s enduring Italian restaurants, located in Post Alley, offers plenty of well-crafted pasta selections, including linguini with baby clams and pancetta in a white wine sauce and a popular spinach lasagna. Diners who plan ahead should try to score a spot on the outdoor deck, which fills up quickly on sunny days.

Seattle Dumpling Co.

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You know a place is going to be great when it has a huge range of sriracha sauces and vinegars on the counter, and this cranny-sized dumpling destination doesn’t disappoint. It’s a great reprieve on cold days, when you can grab shu mai or bao for under $10 and warm yourself from the inside out. As a bonus it’s a little off the beaten track and therefore less crowded than similar grab-and-go places like Piroshky Piroshky.

Maíz, a tortilleria and counter-service shop in the heart of Pike Place Market, is a temple to corn: kernels of varieties like red cónico, blue chalqueño, and yellow bolita line the counter above the griddle, and heirloom corn is the base of every dish. The tamales pair nicely with a warm cup of atole, and the multicolored corn brings striking colors to the tortillas (sold by the half-dozen), gorditas, and sopes.

Sushi Kashiba

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Diners have long flocked to the upscale Pike Place restaurant to watch master sushi chef Shiro Kashiba at work, with seats at the bar among the most coveted. Its meticulous attention to detail remains a big draw, as does chef Kashiba, who is credited for bringing edomae-style sushi to Seattle and has opened some of the city’s best-respected sushi restaurants, including the self-titled Shiro’s Sushi Restaurant in Belltown. The omakase offering features the best seasonal ingredients, though a meal, with drinks, tax, and tip, can easily cost $200 per person.

Le Panier

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The scent of buttery, soft, flakey croissants draws diners inevitably to one of the city’s best French bakeries, but don’t be discouraged by the long lines, as they move quickly. From macarons to savory feuilletes, filled with vegetables like champignons or asparagus depending on the season, everything here is incredible, particularly the baguettes.

Cafe Campagne

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This longtime Pike Place wonder from chef Daisley Gordon is well-regarded for its dedication to classic Parisian fare, served in a warmly lit dining room. Start dinner with escargot or calamari, order the roasted chicken with natural jus for an entree and finish with a delightful chocolate cognac mousse. Lunch and weekend brunch menus offer house-made croissants and a popular quiche with Comtè cheese, which can be taken to-go or enjoyed in the dining room

Pike Place Chowder

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Those lucky enough to arrive at this award-winning spot before the lines start forming should seize the opportunity to experience why the hype is justified. The standard New England chowder is satisfying, but for a truly Northwest experience, best to go for the smoked salmon and seafood bisque.

Market Grill

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It’s easy to miss this little counter when you’re strolling past Lowell’s and the Athenian, but Market Grill has some of the best seafood in the market, which makes it some of the best seafood in the whole city. Their star item is a blackened-just-right piece of wild-caught salmon between two slices of warm grilled bread. At $20 for a sandwich it isn’t a bargain, but it is a necessity. They also have chowder, seafood stew, and poke.  

Matt's in the Market

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Overlooking the giant neon Public Market Center sign and boasting expertly-crafted Northwest seafood, this Pike Place seafood restaurant is a must for out-of-towners (the seared scallops with cauliflower puree and pan roasted halibut are standouts, though menus change seasonally). Those who plan ahead should try to reserve a window seat to enjoy the view of Puget Sound.

Oriental Mart

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Steps away from all the foot traffic, this part-market, part-deli quietly cooks some of the finest Filipino cuisine in the city. After years going without a menu, the three generation family-owned lunch counter got a little more structure, though you still order at the grocery store cash register. Not changing is the famed salmon collar sinigang from chef Leila Rosas, which helped earn this spot a James Beard Classics Award.

Pasta Casalinga

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This Pike Place star has a rotating menu of simple, yet thoughtful, made-to-order pasta plates that all cost less than $20. Dishes typically include a bowl of handmade pasta tossed with a light sauce and locally caught or foraged ingredients, such as creste di gallo pasta morels, pancetta, ricotta, and safron or classic pomodoro. You can eat at a small counter in the restaurant or take the food to go.

This Moroccan fine dining restaurant opened in 2022 in a space overlooking Western Avenue. The dining room features indigo-blue walls, intricate tile mosaic on the sides of the bar, and gold-trimmed mirrors. Owner Hamid Majdi, a Seattle restaurant-industry veteran, wants to introduce the city to the flavors of his home country with his first restaurant through dishes like m’rouzia, a meltingly tender lamb shank with honey, almonds, prunes and saffron, and a chicken dish cooked with bitingly sour preserved lemons and briny green olives, both served with fluffy couscous.

A dish with an upright lamb shank covered in shaved nuts and brown sauce and garnished with micro greens.
The m’rouzia at Shama is a meltingly tender lamb shank with honey, almonds, prunes and saffron.
Courtesy of Shama

Zig Zag Cafe

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This classic Seattle haunt in Pike Place Market is best known for former bartender Murray Stenson, who was named the best bartender in America by Tales of the Cocktail in 2010 and who is credited with repopularizing the Prohibition-era gin and green chartreuse cocktail called The Last Word. Stenson has moved on from Zig Zag, but the cocktails continue to impress, and come with excellent drinking snacks like mushroom eclairs, octopus fritters, and local oysters on the half shell. There are also a few dinner entrees including a burger, steak frites, and king salmon.

Jarrbar

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This tapas bar off Western Avenue rivals any other in the city. The candlelit tables and soulful grooves playing over the speakers make it an excellent spot to sip its inventive cocktails and snack on small bites like boquerones, cheeses, and cured meats. There’s also some outside seats that make for great people watching.

Post Alley Pizza

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This low-lit pizza den near the gum wall in Pike Place Market is easy to overlook (literally, since it’s tucked into Post Alley). But a recent menu revamp, with improved doughs and higher quality ingredients, has made this low-key Seattle standby one of the best pizzerias in town. You can’t go wrong with the margherita or the classic pepperoni, made with the Ezzo type that curls up to make those classic grease-covered cups.

This Georgian cafe a few blocks south of the market specializes in kachapuri, cheesy bread boats popular in Eastern Europe. The classic “adjaruli” version is simply served with a runny egg yolk and butter. The “lobiani” version — filled with beans, bacon, red chili, cheese, and egg is another good bet. Note: These kachapuri are defined by dairy, and no vegan versions are served.

Cedar & Spokes Coffee

If you need a break from Pike Place’s touristy bustle, walk a few blocks to the north and check yourself into this whatever-wave-of-coffee-we-are-on-now roastery and cafe (and bar), a minimalist, light-filled space with great views of the water. They serve pastries and avocado toast but the emphasis is on the espresso, as it should be. It’s so light and flavorful it’s almost a shame to put it in an espresso martini, but we won’t judge you for it.

Virginia Inn

This bar and restaurant has been serving food since 1903, making it practically prehistoric by Seattle standards. In any case it’s timeless — there’s not much differentiating its classically Northwest menu of burgers and seafood, but everything from the oysters to the short ribs is perfectly prepared. For a sit-down restaurant next to the market it’s very affordable, with many entrees under $20. On nice days you can snag one of the sidewalk tables, and when it rains you can take refuge in the V.I.’s comfort food.

Le Pichet

This French bistro and cafe a couple of blocks from the center of Pike Place is a good spot for a breather. Lunch offerings, including baguette sandwiches like ham and gruyere, are simple and delicious, as are the pillowy quiches. The restaurant also serves entrees like duck leg confit, steak frites, and whole roasted chicken for dinner.

The Pink Door

One of Seattle’s enduring Italian restaurants, located in Post Alley, offers plenty of well-crafted pasta selections, including linguini with baby clams and pancetta in a white wine sauce and a popular spinach lasagna. Diners who plan ahead should try to score a spot on the outdoor deck, which fills up quickly on sunny days.

Seattle Dumpling Co.

You know a place is going to be great when it has a huge range of sriracha sauces and vinegars on the counter, and this cranny-sized dumpling destination doesn’t disappoint. It’s a great reprieve on cold days, when you can grab shu mai or bao for under $10 and warm yourself from the inside out. As a bonus it’s a little off the beaten track and therefore less crowded than similar grab-and-go places like Piroshky Piroshky.

Maíz

Maíz, a tortilleria and counter-service shop in the heart of Pike Place Market, is a temple to corn: kernels of varieties like red cónico, blue chalqueño, and yellow bolita line the counter above the griddle, and heirloom corn is the base of every dish. The tamales pair nicely with a warm cup of atole, and the multicolored corn brings striking colors to the tortillas (sold by the half-dozen), gorditas, and sopes.

Sushi Kashiba

Diners have long flocked to the upscale Pike Place restaurant to watch master sushi chef Shiro Kashiba at work, with seats at the bar among the most coveted. Its meticulous attention to detail remains a big draw, as does chef Kashiba, who is credited for bringing edomae-style sushi to Seattle and has opened some of the city’s best-respected sushi restaurants, including the self-titled Shiro’s Sushi Restaurant in Belltown. The omakase offering features the best seasonal ingredients, though a meal, with drinks, tax, and tip, can easily cost $200 per person.

Le Panier

The scent of buttery, soft, flakey croissants draws diners inevitably to one of the city’s best French bakeries, but don’t be discouraged by the long lines, as they move quickly. From macarons to savory feuilletes, filled with vegetables like champignons or asparagus depending on the season, everything here is incredible, particularly the baguettes.

Cafe Campagne

This longtime Pike Place wonder from chef Daisley Gordon is well-regarded for its dedication to classic Parisian fare, served in a warmly lit dining room. Start dinner with escargot or calamari, order the roasted chicken with natural jus for an entree and finish with a delightful chocolate cognac mousse. Lunch and weekend brunch menus offer house-made croissants and a popular quiche with Comtè cheese, which can be taken to-go or enjoyed in the dining room

Pike Place Chowder

Those lucky enough to arrive at this award-winning spot before the lines start forming should seize the opportunity to experience why the hype is justified. The standard New England chowder is satisfying, but for a truly Northwest experience, best to go for the smoked salmon and seafood bisque.

Market Grill

It’s easy to miss this little counter when you’re strolling past Lowell’s and the Athenian, but Market Grill has some of the best seafood in the market, which makes it some of the best seafood in the whole city. Their star item is a blackened-just-right piece of wild-caught salmon between two slices of warm grilled bread. At $20 for a sandwich it isn’t a bargain, but it is a necessity. They also have chowder, seafood stew, and poke.  

Matt's in the Market

Overlooking the giant neon Public Market Center sign and boasting expertly-crafted Northwest seafood, this Pike Place seafood restaurant is a must for out-of-towners (the seared scallops with cauliflower puree and pan roasted halibut are standouts, though menus change seasonally). Those who plan ahead should try to reserve a window seat to enjoy the view of Puget Sound.

Oriental Mart

Steps away from all the foot traffic, this part-market, part-deli quietly cooks some of the finest Filipino cuisine in the city. After years going without a menu, the three generation family-owned lunch counter got a little more structure, though you still order at the grocery store cash register. Not changing is the famed salmon collar sinigang from chef Leila Rosas, which helped earn this spot a James Beard Classics Award.

Pasta Casalinga

This Pike Place star has a rotating menu of simple, yet thoughtful, made-to-order pasta plates that all cost less than $20. Dishes typically include a bowl of handmade pasta tossed with a light sauce and locally caught or foraged ingredients, such as creste di gallo pasta morels, pancetta, ricotta, and safron or classic pomodoro. You can eat at a small counter in the restaurant or take the food to go.

Shama

This Moroccan fine dining restaurant opened in 2022 in a space overlooking Western Avenue. The dining room features indigo-blue walls, intricate tile mosaic on the sides of the bar, and gold-trimmed mirrors. Owner Hamid Majdi, a Seattle restaurant-industry veteran, wants to introduce the city to the flavors of his home country with his first restaurant through dishes like m’rouzia, a meltingly tender lamb shank with honey, almonds, prunes and saffron, and a chicken dish cooked with bitingly sour preserved lemons and briny green olives, both served with fluffy couscous.

A dish with an upright lamb shank covered in shaved nuts and brown sauce and garnished with micro greens.
The m’rouzia at Shama is a meltingly tender lamb shank with honey, almonds, prunes and saffron.
Courtesy of Shama

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Zig Zag Cafe

This classic Seattle haunt in Pike Place Market is best known for former bartender Murray Stenson, who was named the best bartender in America by Tales of the Cocktail in 2010 and who is credited with repopularizing the Prohibition-era gin and green chartreuse cocktail called The Last Word. Stenson has moved on from Zig Zag, but the cocktails continue to impress, and come with excellent drinking snacks like mushroom eclairs, octopus fritters, and local oysters on the half shell. There are also a few dinner entrees including a burger, steak frites, and king salmon.

Jarrbar

This tapas bar off Western Avenue rivals any other in the city. The candlelit tables and soulful grooves playing over the speakers make it an excellent spot to sip its inventive cocktails and snack on small bites like boquerones, cheeses, and cured meats. There’s also some outside seats that make for great people watching.

Post Alley Pizza

This low-lit pizza den near the gum wall in Pike Place Market is easy to overlook (literally, since it’s tucked into Post Alley). But a recent menu revamp, with improved doughs and higher quality ingredients, has made this low-key Seattle standby one of the best pizzerias in town. You can’t go wrong with the margherita or the classic pepperoni, made with the Ezzo type that curls up to make those classic grease-covered cups.

Skalka

This Georgian cafe a few blocks south of the market specializes in kachapuri, cheesy bread boats popular in Eastern Europe. The classic “adjaruli” version is simply served with a runny egg yolk and butter. The “lobiani” version — filled with beans, bacon, red chili, cheese, and egg is another good bet. Note: These kachapuri are defined by dairy, and no vegan versions are served.

Related Maps