Photo by Stephanie Forrer
Without a doubt, Pike Place Market is the number one location all Seattle tourists must visit, and the number one thing those tourists should learn NOT to do is to call it “Pike’s Place”! Please. Yes, every local just cringed at the thought of that one! The number two thing tourists need to learn is where to find the best of the best when it comes to fresh foods and delectable dining while in the market. So we have found the following eight eateries you won’t be able to stop raving about.
Bacco Café's Dungeness Crab Benedict. Photo: Bacco Café Facebook
When it comes to breakfast or lunch, you could just start and stop right here at this cute cafe because you won’t find a more simply sensational roster of ridiculously delicious dishes and mouthwatering made-to-order juices anywhere else, that’s for sure. You want a salmon benedict built from market ingredients and an amazing mimosa to wash it down? Done. Just don’t forget to finish it off with one of the famously fancy desserts such as the Chocolate Cognac Mousse or the Apple Tarte Tatin.
Cafe Campagne's Quchie Du Jour. Photo by Stephanie Forrer
One word. Quiche. Seriously, just walk in, sit down, and ask for the quiche. That’s all you need to know. Actually, the entire menu is fantastic, but seriously. The quiche. Just do it. The folks here also offer one of the most unique and oddly unknown happy hours around, which would still keep them near the top of our list even if it wasn’t already alphabetical!
Cantina de San Patricio's Taco Salad. Photo: Cantina de San Patricio
Planted peacefully along the pathways of Post Alley, this cozy cantina’s outdoor seating lays claim to one of the most beautiful views in the market. Combine that with a happy hour that goes until 7 pm, and you won’t be able to resist tackling some tacos while sipping sangria under sunny, summer Seattle skies.
Photo: Honest Biscuits/Facebook
Honestly, this place is kicking butt with biscuits made fresh daily from locally sourced ingredients, and the attention to detail definitely delivers a divine dining experience you will not soon forget. These fluffy, buttery baked bundles of happiness come stuffed with bacon, cheese, or other seasonal ingredients. They can be turned into savory sandwiches filled with signature oven “fried” chicken or anything from cage free eggs to cheeses and gravies, which is seriously making me want one right now.
Photo:Il Bistro
Remember that cartoon where the two dogs are eating spaghetti in the back alley of a restaurant and they end up with the cutest little pooch smooch? Well, this place is nothing like that. Rather than make you sit outside in a cold, dark, stinky alley, the staff here will cater to your every need at a romantic, candle lit table, and you’ll be swept away on an intimate adventure with the finest of dining experiences. Reviewers have recently been raving about Il Bistro’s happy hour menu which features ten amazing items all less than five dollars each!
Breakfast at Lowell's. Photo by Stephanie Forrer
Lowell’s is pretty much an institution inside the market, and the people who work in and around the market often refer to this classic and classy diner as the market’s very own “living room.” With nearly a century of service under well worn aprons, this place really knows how to serve a well rounded meal filled with seafood, meats, and produce from surrounding neighbors and vendors. Visitors will undoubtedly dive into dishes like the world famous Dungeness crab omelet or the famous fish and chips, which features hand breaded Alaskan cod, coleslaw, and a big pile of french fried potatoes.
Photo: Maximilien/Facebook
The patio here is often placed on lists of Seattle’s best patios thanks to an unparalleled view of Puget Sound, which is especially spectacular during rare summer sunsets we all swoon over and post millions of photos of on our favorite social media sites. Yeah, this is that spot all your friends post about with the #nofilter hashtag because the view is that amazing. If you want to get seriously sinful during happy hour, just order a six dollar absinthe, sit back, and sip away while soaking in all the sun, sights, and sounds of the market.
Photo: Pike Brewing/Facebook
Handcrafted beers and locally sourced menus are the hallmarks of this family-friendly market mainstay that has been locally owned and operated since 1989. The Finkel family has always had an affinity for finely flavored libations so they took it upon themselves to brew a better brand of beer than what Seattle had ever seen. Before they knew it, their budding business was on its way to becoming a full blown, full service establishment where visitors could have a meal and take a tour, all while sampling a variety of oddly named concoctions such as “Kilt Lifter,” “Naughty Nellie” and “Monk’s Uncle.”
