Pike Place Market
America's oldest continuously operating public market since 1907 — flying fish, the original Starbucks, the Gum Wall, and 9 acres of farmers, fishmongers, and craft stalls above Elliott Bay.
Distance
1 mi
Drive time
~6 min
Route
Downtown Seattle waterfront at 1st Ave & Pike St, overlooking Elliott Bay
Best window
Year-round, mostly open-air but covered
About Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market opened in 1907 and is one of the oldest continuously operated public farmers' markets in the United States. Nine acres on the bluff above Elliott Bay hold the Main Arcade with its flying-fish counter at Pike Place Fish Market, 200+ year-round farmers and producers, the original 1971 Starbucks store on Pike Place, the famously gum-covered alley wall under the Market, the Pike Place Chowder counter (multi-year winner of Boston's national chowder championship), Beecher's Handmade Cheese, and a labyrinth of three lower-level shopping levels (Down Under) full of antiques, comics, and oddities. The new MarketFront expansion (2017) opened the western edge of the Market with a public deck over the waterfront elevators down to the Seattle Aquarium and the Olympic Sculpture Park. A 12–15 passenger van does not fit in the Market garage — use the Western Ave or Pike Place Market Garage and walk in.
Why it's worth the drive
- Pike Place Fish Market — fishmongers throwing salmon and other whole fish across the counter since 1986. The single most-watched moment in the Market.
- The original 1971 Starbucks store on Pike Place — the only location with the original siren logo and line-out-the-door cult status.
- The Gum Wall under the Market in Post Alley — a chewing-gum-covered brick wall, scraped clean every few years and re-coated within weeks.
- Pike Place Chowder, Beecher's Handmade Cheese (watch the curds being made), and the Crumpet Shop — the canonical Market food trio.
- The Main Arcade farmers and craft stalls: Sosio's Produce, Frank's Quality Produce, DeLaurenti Italian Specialty, Daily Dozen Doughnut.
Things to do
What groups actually do at Pike Place Market
Watch the Pike Place fishmongers
Whole salmon, halibut, and king crab thrown across the counter at Pike Place Fish — every 10–15 minutes when an order is called. Stand at the southwest corner of the Main Arcade.
Original Starbucks line
1912 Pike Place — the original 1971 store. Expect a 15–30 min line outside in summer. The siren logo merchandise is location-exclusive.
Gum Wall in Post Alley
Lower Post Alley under the Market — a chewing-gum-covered brick wall, two stories tall. Photogenic, slightly gross, free, 24/7. Add your own wad on the way out.
Pike Place Chowder
1530 Post Alley. Multi-year national chowder championship winner — order the New England clam chowder. 20-min line at lunch in summer; quieter at 3 PM.
Beecher's Handmade Cheese
Watch curds being made in the giant copper vats behind the glass at 1600 Pike Pl, then order the mac and cheese — Oprah's 'Favorite Things' famous.
Down Under three lower levels
Antiques, vintage comics, Giant Shoe Museum, and the Pike Place Magic Shop. Most tourists never go below Main; this is where the weird Market lives.
Group + van tips
Driving a 12-15 passenger van to Pike Place Market
- DO NOT try to park inside the Market — the historic structure has tight turns and low clearances. Use the Pike Place Market Garage at 1531 Western Ave (height 6'6") for sedans only.
- For a 15-passenger Sprinter (height ~9 ft), use the Pacific Place Garage at 600 Pine St (8 blocks), the Hilton Garage at 6th & University, or street-level lots along Western Ave south of Pike — clearance ~8'6".
- Drop-off zones on 1st Ave at Pike St are short-term — drop the group at the Market entrance, then go park.
- Visit before 10 AM or after 4 PM in summer. Mid-day Saturday in July–August is the most crowded retail block in the Pacific Northwest.
- Tuesdays through Saturdays have the most farmer stalls; Sundays are still busy but with fewer farm vendors.
The on-site Pike Place Market Garage is 6'6" clearance — too low for a Sprinter. Use Pacific Place Garage (600 Pine, 8'6") or street lots on Western Ave south of Pike.
When to go
Best time to visit
Year-round, mostly open-air but covered. June–September is peak — go before 10 AM or after 4 PM to avoid cruise-ship and out-of-towner crush. October–April is dramatically quieter; the Market is at its most local in February. Wednesday–Friday mornings are the sweet spot for farmers' stall variety without weekend crowds. The original Starbucks line is shortest before 8 AM.
Need a van for the trip?
Our Seattle fleet of 12-15 passenger Sprinters and Ford Transits delivers to Sea-Tac (SEA), every downtown and South Lake Union hotel, Climate Pledge Arena, and the Edmonds–Kingston ferry terminal.
See Seattle vansPlan your visit
Official Pike Place Market resources
Pike Place Market — official site
www.pikeplacemarket.org
Pike Place Market — hours & directions
www.pikeplacemarket.org
Pike Place Fish Market
www.pikeplacefish.com
Visit Seattle — Pike Place neighborhood
visitseattle.org
More background
Pike Place Market FAQ
Where is Pike Place Market?
Downtown Seattle waterfront at 1st Ave & Pike St — the bluff overlooking Elliott Bay. About 1 mile from the Space Needle.
Can I park a 15-passenger van at Pike Place Market?
No — the on-site Pike Place Market Garage is only 6'6" clearance. Use the Pacific Place Garage at 600 Pine St (8'6" clearance, 8 blocks away) or the surface lots on Western Ave south of Pike St.
When do the fishmongers throw fish?
Whenever a customer orders a whole fish from Pike Place Fish Market at the southwest corner of the Main Arcade — roughly every 10–15 minutes during open hours.
What's the best time to visit?
Before 10 AM or after 4 PM in summer to avoid the cruise-ship crowd. October–April is dramatically quieter and the Market feels local again.