I took a break from Colorado blogging to visit my sister in Seattle, Washington recently. She moved here around 2 years ago, and like me, has moved around a lot in her life.
I usually make it a point to visit her in all the places she lives because she is really good at picking places to live, although she may disagree. But Hillary loves this place, and as a result, I love it too.
My little sis is a musician, and Seattle is the perfect place for a musician to occupy bars and cafes with soft acoustic tunes that you enjoy near the powerful waterfront or within the bustling city environment.
Side note: My little sis is coming out with her first EP in March 2019, labeled “Why Not?” You can find her current music on her website or you can follow her on Spotify.
What is Pike Place Market?
Pike Place Market is a popular tourist attraction for many visiting Seattle and is a big maze of unique shops, restaurants, and nooks that you can duck into during your visit.
But Pike Place Market is also a stone’s throw from so many other attractions that you don’t want to miss. So, below is my list of places to go in or near Pike Place Market from a local’s eyes. Warning, this may look a lot like a food vacay.
1. Ludi’s Purple Ube Pancakes
Just one block from Pike Place Market, you can find Ludi’s, a greasy spoon restaurant that serves breakfast all day. It is known for serving Purple Ube Pancakes. Ube is a purple yam commonly found in the Philippines and use in their cooking. It has a sweet flavor that makes it perfect for pancake eating.
They only serve their Ube pancakes on Saturday and Sundays for $9.95, so plan accordingly. Also, it really is that purple.
2. Visit Pasta Casalinga for Handmade Pasta
Pasta Casalinga is located in the Pike Place Market maze, but thankfully if you need to find it, you can ask any kind attendant in any marketplace store and they’ll point you in the right direction.
Pasta Casalinga serves four main dishes: From the Ocean (Seafood), From the Farm (Sausage), From the Garden (Vegetarian), and Every Day (Dish of their choice).
Hillary and I opted for the Every Day dish which happened to be a Pomodoro with a large scoop of burrata dolloped on top and a sweet little basil leaf as a garnish. You can either dine in and people-watch the market from above or take out and enjoy near the waterfront.
3. Take a Ride on the Seattle Ferris Wheel
The Seattle Ferris Wheel is basically a bigger carnival ferris wheel, but it does deliver spectacular views of the Pond. Hillary and I decided to go on this since it was the first time for both of us, and it didn’t disappoint.
Although Ferris Wheels can be slightly dull, this was a pleasant ride. You go around three times, four, if you’re lucky, and you can enjoy adult beverages during your ride.
The Seattle Ferris Wheel has enclosed seating for passengers that is apparently heated (it seemed) and is a nice time to just relax and enjoy the scenery either by yourself or with your companions.
4. Visit the Sky View Observatory at Columbia Central
Sure, you can visit the Seattle Space Needle, or you can head over to the Skyview Observatory at Columbia Center and see incredible views of Seattle and beyond. Although, I hear the Space Needle is pretty awesome too and looks like it could take off at any minute.
Hillary and I decided to go to the observatory because it was a tad higher up than the Space Needle and it didn’t disappoint. We did two laps to admire the views of Seattle before departing. But people can also go to the top and enjoy a cocktail with friends or just marvel at the cityscape.
5. Get That FroYo from the Shy Giant
The Shy Giant is a froyo shop that opened up over 40 years ago in Pike Place Market. People strolling through can get any ice cream, froyo, or smoothie delight in a variety of flavors.
The shop also boasts a variety of vegan options from Full Tilt. Their delicious flavors are made with coconut to keep vegan integrity and they even specially make a Lavender ice cream for the Shy Giant.
The Shy Giant was named after Mount Rainier, the famous mountain you can see on a clear day in Seattle, but is often hiding behind the clouds. When the mountain comes through those clouds people will say, “our Shy Giant is out today.”
6. See the Fish Mongers at Work & Then Stuff Your Face with Seafood
There are three well-known stores in Pike Place Market that sell a variety of seafood for anyone looking for a tasty seafood lunch or dinner.
You can get anything from trout to crab to gooey ducks to clams. The selection is huge! You will also often hear the fishmonger chants ring throughout the market.
A notable attraction at one of the fish markets is making your own catch. You’ll get to enter the routine of a fishmonger momentarily to catch your own fish. A fishmonger will toss the fish over the counter and your job will be to catch it.
So visit any one of these fish shops, get today’s catch, and then enjoy a home-cooked and right from the salt waters meal.
7. Occupy Tom Hanks’ Seat at the Athenian
I did not know this at all, but right in Pike Place Market, there lives a restaurant known as the Athenian. If you are not a huge Tom Hanks fan or have never been to Seattle, you may not know that the Athenian was host to a scene from the Hollywood Classic, Sleepless in Seattle.
This seafood restaurant has marked the spot on the bar where Tom Hanks himself sat in the film. They have not roped off the iconic location but instead, welcome others to have a seat and enjoy their meals in that same spot.
Once you come into the Athenian, you will notice the large windows that overlook the Pond. If you don’t like sitting in Tom Hanks Spot, you can sit near the windows and enjoy the gorgeous Seattle waterfront during your meal.
Whatever you do in Seattle or whatever takes you there, make it a point to visit the Pike Place Market and these attractions surrounding it. You won’t be disappointed.
