10 Things to Do for your Pike Place Market Summer Bucket List

Photo by @hannabigail_teeee

With less than a month left of summer, we’re treasuring the final stretch of warm weather and sunshine at Pike Place Market. Check off your summer things to do in Seattle and head to the Market for special experiences, fresh seasonal goods, and delicious meals to enjoy great memories and close out your seasonal bucket list.

Take in the salty fresh breeze overlooking the waterfront and grab one of the picnic tables on the MarketFront to soak up the sun! Catch our Artisan & Prepared Foods Program vendors Friday – Sunday to enjoy a rotating selection of growing new food businesses offering quick hot lunches like barbeque, steamed buns, tamales, and more. All of these vendors draw their ingredients primarily from local producers, so you can ensure your meal is freshly made.

Don’t miss the peak picking for fresh and local fruits from Market farmers lining the street daily. Sample produce in cool drinkable slushie form, then take a haul home to enjoy throughout the week. Find deliciously juicy nectarines and peaches at Martin Family Orchards, half a dozen varietals of berries at Sidhu Farms, and apples or cherries at Tiny’s Organic.

Lilies are waning into their final harvest, dahlias are in full swing, and sunflowers are shining bright! Be sure to pick up your fresh bouquets while they last and enjoy an abundance of color and fragrance amid the late summer parting. We have over 30 flower farmers lining the arcade to source from to get the perfect arrangement for yourself or someone special in your life. You can always count on finding a great bouquet that is grown with care within 100 miles of the Market.

With unbeatable waterfront views and a lively taproom, Old Stove Brewing has become a staple for summer sipping. Take it in best during golden hour as it starts to cool down and gather your friends for the perfect wind down over brews made on-site. Their menu is a great blend of elevated pub food meeting northwest classics. Enjoy wood-fired pizzas, locally sourced burgers, fresh salads, seafood, and more!

Cherish the rays filtering into your home with handcrafted sun-catchers! These craft vendors are talented artisans who forge glass into uniquely beautiful decor to liven up any window. Bursting with refracting rainbows and colorful segments, these pieces approach the typical sun-catcher with a uniquely handmade design. Find them at Catching Light Studios, Crystal Bouquet, and Whistling at the Moon.

Seasonal specials are winding down; catch them while you can and snag a table for outdoor dining! Enjoy crisp salads with heirloom tomatoes, cheeses with delectably grilled peaches, roasted artichokes, and other fresh pairings notable for the time of year. Our Market eateries are some of the best in the city to indulge in a refined dining experience for a date night or friends’ night out. We recommend an evening at The Pink Door, Maximilien, IL Bistro, Place Pigalle, or The Dressing Room for great dinner experiences on a patio.

For those 21+, Truffle Queen offers a great extension of their wine-tasting experiences at their outdoor seating along the main strip of the Market. Take in the sights and sounds of passersby as you sample both local Washington wines and rich imported pours from abroad in Italy. Each tasting is $30 and comes with 5 pours and 5 light food pairings, prepared almost entirely from the specialty products in their shop (including truffle caviar!) Bring a friend and pull up a chair for a sweet streetside time in the sunshine.

Enjoy 4 more weeks of Market farmers selling their goods at our Pike Place Market Express Farmers Market in South Lake Union! This seasonal neighborhood market is a great way to shop fresh produce, brilliant flower arrangements, and enjoy delicious hot lunches.

This market runs every Thursday from 10am – 2pm through September 28. It’s a great way to enjoy the Market’s offerings near you and break away from the office or home for a rejuvenating lunch break! Find out more here.

One of the Market’s best respites with a view, the Secret Garden is an abundant oasis of fresh produce and flowering plants overlooking the Puget Sound. Managed entirely by volunteers and Market residents, all of the produce grown here contributes to the Pike Market Food Bank that feeds our community. Find seating throughout for a quiet place to enjoy your lunch or coffee in the sun amid the bountiful foliage!

Nothing tops off a summer Market Day like a refreshing cool scoop of ice cream! Stop by Chocolate & Ice Cream Delight for classic flavors scooped into cones or cups. Head to Shug’s Soda Fountain for sundaes, soda floats, and more in an airy vintage-style parlor. Visit Hellenika for rich frozen yogurt gelato with a delicious tang and optional drizzles or inclusions like crumbles to top it off. Find frozen yogurt and Snoqualmie ice cream at Shy Giant, available for smoothies and shakes or scooped into a freshly made waffle cone. And don’t miss 24 flavors of deliciously creamy gelato at Bottega Italiana, made fresh daily on-site with an espresso bar to accompany it!