Finding the best breakfast in Pike Place Market can be like finding a diamond in the rough. I mean, there are tons of options ranging from food stands to full-service restaurants, coffee shops, bars, etc., but it’s such a popular tourist destination that it can be hard to find the real winners amidst the crowds.
With Pike Place being centrally located, you can have whatever type of breakfast you want. Whether you’re on the go and want something quick or you want to sit back and soak in some Instagram-worthy views, you’ve got options.
To make sense of all the chaos, I’m sharing a roundup of the best places for breakfast in in Pike Place Market. Get ready to start your day right at one of the city’s most iconic attractions.
Best Breakfast in Pike Place Market
Save this to Pinterest for later, as I’ll update it with more breakfast spots in Pike Place as I discover them!
Daily Dozen Doughnut Co.
website | get directions | best for: mini doughnuts
Daily Dozen is smack dab in the center of Pike Place, so it’s easy to assume it’s just another tourist trap. However, they have the freshest mini doughnuts in town. They’ve been a must-visit restaurant in Pike Place for over thirty years thanks to their piping hot mini doughnuts served straight off the belt.
I suggest showing up early before the crowds and snagging a bag of their mixed flavors. Don’t sleep on the cinnamon sugar flavor, my personal favorite. They also have coffee and lattes so you don’t have to wade through the crowds to satisfy your doughnut-dipping cravings.
Kitchen & Market
website | get directions | best for: the best Greek yogurt ever
Kitchen & Market is an upscale grocery store that allows locals and tourists alike to stock up on basic groceries and locally-made goodies. They’re the only place in the market that carries Ellenos yogurt, which is a lifesaver since they’ve temporarily closed their scoop shop.
Ellenos is some of the best yogurt you’ll ever have in your life. It’s Greek style, but way creamier and less sour than other super market versions. They sell a bunch of different flavors, but my favorite is the lemon curd. It’s so decadent and addictive you may need to buy another one for dessert later!
The Crumpet Shop
website | get directions | best for: crumpets
The Crumpet Shop is one of the best breakfast spots in all of Seattle if you like plump, warm, and fluffy English muffins on steroids. They come with a variety of savory or sweet toppings like eggs, ricotta, lemon curd, pesto, smoked salmon, etc.
My favorite crumpet on the menu is the Green Eggs & Ham that comes loaded with thick-cut ham and tons of pesto. I like to add tomato and cheese, too. I also think ricotta is god’s gift to man, so sometimes I get this one. However skip adding lemon curd, as I think the two together overpower the crumpet.
Honest Biscuits
website | get directions | best for: southern style biscuits
When you have a biscuit egg breakfast sandwich, you tend to wonder why you ever bothered with basic sliced bread. You can tell Honest Biscuits makes their own version because they’re shockingly dense and taste of butter before you even add any.
If you like your breakfast simple, you can have all the plain biscuits you want topped with butter, jam, or honey. If you’re a madman like I am, get The MacGregor. It’s loaded with Bavarian Meats bacon, Beecher’s Flagship Cheese, and oh so many caramelized onions.
Cafe Campagne
website | get directions | best for: upscale French brunch on the weekends
Cafe Campagne is one of the best French restaurants in Seattle, and their weekend brunch is not one to be missed. Despite being in Pike Place, this upscale French restaurant and bar is neatly tucked away in Post Alley. The vibe is reminiscent of an old-school Parisian cafe, with vintage posters, tables lined along the alley, and un-pretentious (but still professional) French service.
The menu is authentic and the wine list is extensive, with a full page dedicated to sparkling wine. On the brunch menu you’ll find French classics like chicken paté, fluffy omelets, fresh pastries, and croque madame. My favorite is the Dungeness crab quiche which comes filled with Comtè cheese and a sweet onion confit that dreams are made of.
Maíz
website | get directions | best for: Mexican
Maíz specializes in authentic street tacos served counter style. This makes it the perfect low-commitment breakfast that won’t leave you full or take an ungodly amount of time to get service. They’re one of the best five-star restaurants in Seattle that tends to go unnoticed because it’s always obscured by people trying to get into the historic first Starbucks next door.
When you order, you’ll pick the style of tortilla you want, all of which are made fresh daily. I usually stick with tacos, but you could also order other variations like a tlacoyo, gorditas, or sopes (the latter of which are also excellent). Then you pick your guisado (or stewed meat), which changes daily.
Freya Cafe
website | get directions | best for: Scandinavian bakery
Freya Cafe is a heck of a lot more than your average bakery/cafe. They focus on Scandinavian classics like kardemommesnurrer, cardamom knots, and kugelhopf, cake-like doughnuts made with star anise and tanka sugar. I usually order the pear creme brulee pastry, which comes with an orchard’s worth of caramelized pears coated in vanilla cream.
Everything’s made in-house, which you can see for yourself since the bakers are working in the background behind the baristas. They also have breakfasty items like buns stuffed with sunnyside-up eggs, Havarti, or creamy housemade salmon mousse if you want something more substantial. Oh, and the coffee is good too!
Mee Sum Pastry
website | get directions | best for: Taiwanese dim sum
Mee Sum Pastry is a no-frills Taiwanese food stand that began its story as a bubble tea shop back in 2007. Now it’s a constantly buzzing food stand with nothing more than a register and a display case featuring fluffy, pillowy hum bow buns and sesame balls.
Believe it or not, there’s much more than meets the eye at Mee Sum. They also offer a variety of beef, chicken, vegetarian, and seafood entrees. That said, I their pork buns can’t be missed. They’re the quintessential dim sum food, which is especially important to try if you’ve never had it!
Piroshky Piroshky
website | get directions | best for: Russian stuffed pastries
Piroshkys are giant Russian stuffed pastries served with savory or sweet fillings. I’m partial to the savory ones with beef, cheese, and mushrooms, but they also have many vegetarian and vegan filling options.
There was a time when I wouldn’t give the Pike Place Piroshky location the time of day since it was always insanely crowded and noisy when I’d go in. But I’ve visited a few more times, and it hasn’t been too bad. I would suggest stopping by when they open around 8 am so you can secure your prized selection of stuffed Russian pastries.
Pro tip: Piroshky Piroshky has three locations, one in Pike Place, Century Square, and Pioneer Square. The ones outside the market tend to be less crowded.
They also offer great delivery services where you can order baked and warmed piroshky or baked and chilled ones that you can reheat later.
Storyville
website | get directions | best for: coffee & granola
Storyville is one of best coffee shops in Seattle and is always a spot I recommend instead of Starbucks, along with Ghost Alley Espresso a few doors down, Seattle Coffee Works, and Anchorhead.
That’s because they take no prisoners when it comes to the quality of their coffee. Sourcing from only the best of the best, Storyville will even refund you if your coffee doesn’t exceed your expectations. Their vibe also reminds me of a winery tasting room. That’s how seriously they take their coffee.
If you like what you see, then I suggest grabbing a bag of coffee to go. And if you’re hungry, they sell a few pastries and bags of Esther Mae’s granola, which is baked fresh and always delightfully crisp.
Michou Deli
website | get directions | best for: elevated deli options
Right next door to Piroshky is Michou Deli. It’s been a star in Pike Place since 2001 and offers classic deli items like pressed paninis, soups, salads, hot sauce, etc. For breakfast, they have traditional items like Belgian waffles, scrambled eggs, and crispy bacon. Everything is priced per pound, so you can customize your plate.
I was a skeptic at first since I usually find that delis in busy parts of town can be unexceptional for a long time before anyone notices. Luckily, I was blown away after my first visit. They get a lot of food traffic so there’s high turnover, and you can see new trays of food are always flying in from the kitchen.
More Pike Place breakfast spots to try
There are a few spots still on my list to try. I’ll update this list when I do, or you can try them and decide for yourself if they have the best breakfast in Pike Place Market.
- Bagelbop
- Crêpe de France
- The Dressing Room (they also have a great nighttime cabaret show)
- The Virginia Inn (weekend brunch only)
More to try in Seattle
Ready to explore more of Seattle? Check out my other guides for how to fill your time after getting the best breakfast in Pike Place Market.
