Overview | Location | Cost | Time | Planning | Experience + Ratings Trip Extras | Missed Opportunities
Overview
Pike Place Market is everything you want when seeking a local experience. Ross and I have a very special place in our hearts for unique local shopping experiences. That is EXACTLY what Pike Place Market offers. If you love good food, incredible flowers and seeing what a place has to offer locally this is a must visit place for you!
Pike Place Market is a special community within the heart of Seattle’s downtown. More than the city’s beloved nine-acre public market, Pike Place Market is a vibrant neighborhood comprised of hundreds of farmers, craftspeople, small businesses and residents. Each group is an important and vital makeup of the Pike Place Neighborhood. "
This stop was first in our with our big Pike Place Market, Tillamook, Thunderegg, Hood River adventure!
Location
Seattle, Washington
Cost
Cost on this one will vary for everyone! Parking cost is the only guarantee. Plus lodging at any hotels or camping needed. We camped in the truck at a rest stop on the way in.
For us:
$37 Breakfast at Pirosky Pirosky
$52 for One Large Dungeness Crab at City Fish (for lunch the next day)
$24 for 1/4 lb Chanterelle Mushrooms and Two OMG Peaches at Sosio's
$20 for 12 stems of flowers
$22 for Lunch at Jacks Fish Spot
$17 for Popcorn at Cobb's
$3.50 for Two Sourdough Roll from Alaska Sour Dough Bakery at Pier 57
$5 for Two chocolates at Fran's
$28 for Chocolate at Theo's
Total of $185.50 + Gas + Lodging
Time Commitment
We got to the market about 8:30 AM and left at 2:30 PM. Crystal had a one hour work meeting during this time and there was a lot of dead time. The market really doesn't get going until 10 AM. Best bet is to get there before 9 for parking price, get breakfast and start enjoying the market at 10 AM.
Planning
None required unless there is something specific you want to see. We thought we needed to be there early for seafood. We were wrong. Just check opening and closing times for the places you want to see.
The Pike Place Market Experience:
Parking
Ross's Rating: 9/10
Crystal's Rating: 10/10
We parked at Pike Place Market Garage. Getting there before 9 AM and leaving before 9 PM got us $10 early bird, all day parking. In a convenient, safe and clean area. There are plenty of other parking options in the area and in walking distance but this was the best we saw if the Market is your main purpose.
Shopping
Breakfast - Piroshky, Piroshky
Ross 10/10 - Recommends Moscow Roll and Swedish Meatball
Crystal 10/10 - Recommends Moscow Roll and Smoked Salmon Pate.
Take your pick for breakfast at the market, you probably can not go wrong!! We chose Piroshky, Piroshky based on the line outside and the words Russian Bakery. It was incredible!
Seafood - Jack's Fish Spot
Ross's Rating: 9/10
Crystal's Rating: 9/10
There are wonderful fresh seafood markets in Pike Place. If you want the best seafood deal, learn from our mistake and walk across the street from the main market building to Jack's Fish Spot. We paid about $34.99/lb for clean, cooked Dungeness crab at City Fish. Which seemed average until we saw Jack's $16.99/lb price.
Produce - Sosio's
Ross's Rating: 10/10
Crystal's Rating: 10/10
There are so many fresh produce places in Pike Place Market. Again, you will probably find lower prices at the market booths across the street but it is hard to resist Sosio's. They will catch your eyes with the "Oh My God" peaches, and all their beautiful produce and friendly employees providing samples.
Flowers - Pike Place Market Flower Farmers
Ross's Rating: 11/10
Crystal's Rating: 15/10
The flowers are stunning. Buy the flowers. That is all.
Lunch - Jack's Fish Spot
Ross's Rating: 8/10
Crystal's Rating: 7/10
We did lunch at Jack's Fish Spot. We got the halibut and fries and Crystal had two raw oysters. We 100% wanted seafood for lunch. Jack's was fine, nothing special. Maybe try out, Athenian Seafood, Lowell's, Copacabana, Market Place or one of the other restaurants at Pike Place.
Snacks - Cobb's Gourmet Popcorn
Ross's Rating: 10/10
Crystal's Rating: 11/10
We love popcorn... and by we I mean Crystal. Painted fully bubblegum pink, and a "Is Butter a Carb" sign out front how do you not stop at such a fun, creative, store front. It turning out to be gourmet popcorn is just the butter on top. Yes, it is pricy. Yes, it is worth it. We got the original Cheddar Cheese mixed with the Vanilla Salted Caramel.
Pier 57 - Alaska Sour Dough Bakery
Ross's Rating: 6/10
Crystal's Rating: 5/10
We love sourdough so a roll from a sour dough spot seemed fun! We got two small rolls. Crust is a big part of sourdough but these rolls were nothing but crust and unfortunately too hard for our liking.
Trip Extras + Supporting Local
Pier 56 & 57 - We walked through pier 56 & 57 to see the Seattle Great Wheel and mosey about. There is also a carousel in Pier 57.
Ross's Rating: 7/10
Crystal's Rating: 7/10
We walked down the block from the market to see local chocolate. Fran's is boujee and expensive but we got two small pieces anyways. A Smoked Sea Salt Caramel and a Classic Caramel.
Ross's Rating: 9/10
Crystal's Rating: 9/10
We went to the Fremont area to visit the Theo's Chocolate Factory. Great stop! We enjoyed seeing the Fremont area. Crystal got the Washington Sampler and the Apple Cider Caramels were insane!!! Ross greatly enjoyed the Chocolate Covered Marshmallows!!
Space Needle - We drove to the Space Needle but decided to not tour the needle for the $40 per person price tag.
Great dog park for Rhyder and Quorra near the Space Needle to run around before hitting the road.
Missed Opportunities:
Walking all of the piers from 50-70
Visiting the aquarium
Riding the Great Wheel.