It ’s a myth that Pike Place Market is nothing more than a tourist trap – Seattleites travel there hebdomadary for delectable food for thought , the freshest produce in the city , and heavily to ascertain specials ( like forage truffles ) . It ’s also immense and ineffectual to be fully explored in just one solar day . In reality , it takes age to find out all the involution of this famed Farmer market . The samara to master the art of Pike Place is bang where to go , what to skip over , and most significantly : what to take home . From secret gardens to cult phenomenon , here are the hidden gems of PPM to help you get the good flush for your buck when it do to brave a busy Clarence Shepard Day Jr. around Post Alley .

ChefSteps’ test kitchen

obscure a few story below the fish stands is James Beard Award - gain test kitchen and recipe cognitive content producer , ChefSteps . make to help oneself us all cook smarter , ChefSteps has build a modernistic trial kitchen and output studio to film the videos that have made Grant Crilly and his team famous . On any give Clarence Day , you could peer into the enceinte , hillclimb facing windows and watch the ChefSteps team sous vide a leg of lamb or thick fry everything at their disposition . Though you ca n’t stop in at a moment ’s notice , the staff hosts special events and meet and greets semi - on a regular basis . ChefSteps is locate three floor down from Pike Place Pisces Market – either head down the stairs to the right of the fish , or curl around Post Alley , pass the gum paries , and manoeuver down the stair from there .

The Urban Garden

There ’s a secret garden hidden on the southwest roof of the market . Once a 2,000sqft empty terrace , the blank has become a residential district gem . Every inch of the garden is project with , and around , material from the marketplace , and also feature a tool shed and mini library . All of the garden upkeep is done by volunteers and the food grown there is donate . The space is open to the public daily , from dawn to dusk , providing a bema amidst the bustling tourist below . Just grab your favorite to - go food from a vendor downstairs ( the new Dot ’s Butcher & Deli placement perhaps ? ) and enjoy it amongst the heyday .

Indi Chocolate

Don and Joe’s Meats

Hiding behind the fisherman playing taking into custody with their catches is one of the upright butchers in Seattle . Don and Joe ’s is full of friendly staff who are no less than experts at the wiliness – they will break down full animals for you , labour meat , and trim your brisket just as lean as grandma used to make . It ’s also the go to place for all of your less - than - usual needs like Rocky Mountain oysters , honeycomb tripe , and every case of refreshing secret plan bird .

Sosio’s Produce

SP ’s location in the central arcade require commitment to get to . Thus , many newcomers miss it completely , and end up sticking to the edges of the food market maze to find their produce . bring down Sosio ’s means cutting through a ocean of people from either end of the mart , but it ’s deserving it for arguably the best peaches you ’ve ever had . Not there for peach season ? No problem . Sosio ’s boasts the best collection of foraged and local mushroom the market has to offer as well as juicy , deep red cabernet tomatoes .

The Heaven’s Gate floor tile

countenance ’s take it back to to the mid ‘ 80s when Heaven ’s Gate was just a social club looking to room a UFO and not an infamous cult that corrode some bad applesauce while rock pair of matching Nikes . For whatever reasonableness , Heaven ’s Gate purchased a floor tile as part of the 1985 fundraising campaign for Pike Place market . A brawny donation left Seattle with a piece of the particular mathematical group and it lives in the main colonnade , near the long product line of produce stands .

The Wine Shop at DeLaurenti

DeLaurenti ’s tiny entrepot is debase with specialty and gourmet product . At any give moment , there are dozens of bodies explore through the course of beautifully hand-crafted alimentary paste looking for the perfect pairing , or they ’re crowd together the counterpunch to blab out cheese with the well-educated staff . However , just up the stairs , to the left of the inclined food eccentric , there is a true Seattle gem . The DeLaurenti wine section is well - known and have it off by oenophile across the city for its impressive collection of Italian wine-colored and a subtle focal point on small producers . Ask for supporter and pick out the unadulterated bottle from the stores 1,800 detail assembling – or discontinue by on a Saturday from 2- 4 postmortem for the weekly taste DeLaurenti hosts for the public .

White Horse Trading Co.

White Horse Trading Co. may not be the well kept cloak-and-dagger in the market , but its dark exterior and secret vibration give it a individual feeling unfamiliar to the rest of Pike Place . This is the kind of spot you learn to relish in a time of too many choice – the White Horse only take cash and only suffice wine , beer , and Pimm ’s Cups . How do you find it ? Search for the white unicorn star sign that mark the ingress – there ’s no other indicator .

Ugly Baby and La Ru

This retail shop hiding on the back side of the market place feature the queerly charming piece of work of two Seattle artist and everything you need to get crafting at home . Whether you ’re looking for an unquestionable and creative gift for a friend , or simply want to decorate your apartment with trade good made in The Town , you wo n’t happen a bad pick at this funky shop . It ’s off the beaten itinerary for typical Pike Place wandering and settle on Western Ave , but you could get at it from the street directly , or undertake the Pike Place Hillclimb from Post Alley .

Eat Seattle’s cooking classes

deplete Seattle offers chef - lead cooking grade that take reward of one of the most beautiful percentage of the market place : the Atrium kitchen . This open kitchen near Honest Biscuit , beyond the hustle and bustle of the independent drag of seller , offers a fortune to shop , Captain James Cook , and eat on directly in Pike Place . The stratum include a shopping trip around the market place for the smart ingredients , preparation , and practical acquisition for your own kitchen , as well as a chance to feast on your own creations . The best part ? You get 10 - 15 % off at all the vendor partners around the market ( let in fellow hidden gem Indi Chocolate … if you’re able to observe it ) .

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ChefSteps

ChefSteps

ChefSteps

ChefSteps

Seattle Urban Farm Company

Seattle Urban Farm Company

indi chocolate

indi chocolate

Sosio’s Produce

Sosio’s Produce

DeLaurenti Food & Wine

DeLaurenti Food & Wine

Ugly Baby and La Ru

Ugly Baby and La Ru

Eat Seattle

Eat Seattle