Seattle is one of the most unique cities in the Pacific Northwest. And though it’s primarily known for its awesome coffee and diverse people, there’s much more to the Emerald City than first meets the eye. In fact, there are certain things that you can only get in Seattle. And these items speak to the city’s great microbreweries, waterfront location, and rich cultural traditions.
When I visit a new place, I always try to bring home something that reminds me of my wonderful vacation. So, if you’re looking to stuff your bags full of things that are uniquely Seattle, then I’ve got you covered!
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24 Things You Can Get Only in Seattle
Craft beers
There are so many incredible microbreweries in Seattle, and you’ll often find locals sipping craft brews all over the city. If you’re heading to Seattle by car, you can load up your wagon with some of my favorite brews from Fair Isle Brewing, Yonder Cider, Obec Brewing, or Bad Jimmy’s Brewing. If you need to fly, Fair Isle is one of the best Seattle gifts that ship.
Most of Seattle’s best breweries are in Ballard. So you may want to check out my self-guided Seattle brewery tour to see which spots are worth visiting before you buy in bulk.
Pacific Northwest smoked salmon
If there’s one thing I recommend picking up while you’re in Seattle, it’s smoked salmon. The Pacific Northwest is prized for its wild-caught salmon. And you can choose between king salmon, sockeye salmon, and coho salmon depending on your palate. King salmon typically has the richest flavor. But sockeye salmon is a reliable option that goes beautifully with a poached egg.
Pike Place Market sells delicious smoked salmon, but I honestly think it’s overpriced. There are plenty of incredible places to buy salmon in Seattle, including SeaBear Smokehouse, Seattle Fish Company, Seattle Fish Guys, Drifters Fish, and Lam’s Seafood Market.
The salmon usually keeps for up to 3 weeks in the fridge. So it’s worth picking up a few packets just before heading home. If you’re flying out, the plane’s freezing cargo hold should keep it perfectly safe to eat.
Geoduck
Okay – so don’t be too alarmed when you first see a geoduck. This fascinating creature is native to the Pacific Northwest. And it’s essentially a clam that takes seafood to a slightly phallic place.
I mean, just look at the thing.
Jokes aside, most Seattleites have tried a geoduck and it’s something that you can only find in this part of the country. You can pick these up at Taylor Shellfish Farms or Wong Tung Seafood in the Chinatown-International District.
They’re usually sliced into thin slivers before serving, and they have a sweet yet salty flavor that’s surprisingly delicious. If you’d like to grab some for the road, all vendors will have sets neatly packaged for you to take away.
Bacon jam
Head to Skillet to find one of the next things you can only get in Seattle. Created by chef Josh Henderson, bacon jam is a unique blend of smoky bacon, caramelized onions, and vinegar that works beautifully on burgers and BBQ meats.
You can purchase this heavenly jam at the restaurant itself. But it’s also available at DeLaurenti and Whole Foods if you’re hanging around the Pike Place Market area.
Native American art
There’s an excellent range of Native American artwork available in Seattle, and I can spend hours sifting through the stocks of local galleries and businesses for the best Pacific Northwest artists to line my walls with.
If you’d like to support a small online business, Nick Alan Art sells beautiful Native prints that speak to the beauty and unique character of the Pacific Northwest.
Pacific Northwest jewelry
There’s nothing like picking up a dazzling piece of jewelry made in Seattle while you’re on vacation. And Seattle sells some of the most beautiful, handcrafted items that I’ve ever seen.
Some of my favorite Seattle-made jewelers are Lace and Pearls Jewelry, a Black artist who creates beautiful silver and gold pieces. And Studio Toujours, an Asian artist making minimal and architectural clay pieces.
One of the things you can get only in Seattle is pieces designed by indigenous communities. Erich Glendale is one option that creates elegant jewelry inspired by his Kwawakawakw roots.
Handmade cheese
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese is one of my favorite foodie things you can only get in Seattle. Their main store is located just across from Pike Place Market and is home to some of the creamiest cheeses in the Pacific Northwest.
The most popular pick here is Beecher’s Flagship Reserve Cheese, which retails for around $15. It’s slightly nutty but super creamy. And while Beecher’s ships nationwide and is available in many food stores these days, visiting the flagship store in Pike Place means you’ll get access to some only available in store.
If the products themselves weren’t enough to convince you to visit, you can even watch the curds being churned and stretched in-store using the old-school open-vat method.
Space Needle figurine
The Seattle Space Needle is among the city’s most iconic attractions. It boasts a viewing tower that takes visitors 650 feet in the air. And it offers impressive panoramas over downtown Seattle that you just won’t get anywhere else.
The experience itself is one of the things you can only get in Seattle, but the gift shop also sells the most adorable Space Needle figurines that deserve pride of place on any mantlepiece.
If figurines aren’t your jam, they also sell puzzles, pens, stickers, and coaster sets!
Seattle dog
If you’re looking for things you can only get in Seattle, then you need to grab a Seattle dog. I’m not talking about fluffy pups here, but the city’s delicious, cream-cheese and sautéed onion-filled hot dog. It may sound like a monstrosity to out-of-towners, but it’s an Emerald City delicacy that needs to be tried.
The best place to grab a Seattle Dog is Dog in the Park, which is just a few minutes from Pike Place Market. However, you can also grab one at The Frankfurter by Pier 55 or at one of the stands in Pioneer Square (the district that started it all about 25 years ago).
Fran’s caramels
Fran’s is a local Seattle business that’s best known for their rich and creamy chocolates and rich caramel sauce. They’re one of the OG confectioners in the city, making them one of the best chocolate makers in Seattle.
Their sinful sauce is made by slow cooking cream and caramelized sugar. And this sweet treat makes the perfect accompaniment to pancakes, apples, and pretzels. But honestly, I wouldn’t blame you if you just ate this stuff by the spoonful!
Their bestselling gray and smoked sea salt caramels can be picked up at any Fran’s store, and they ship nationwide if it becomes love at first bite. Just remember to pack them carefully, as they’re quite delicate and may get squished in cabin baggage.
Theo chocolate
Fran’s is one place to grab incredible dark chocolate in Seattle. But I’m also partial to a bar or two from Theo Chocolate in Fremont.
This place runs an amazing chocolate tour, and you’ll be able to taste a bunch of their inventory as you go. Depending on what you enjoy, you can pick up anything from their cherry almond and salted black licorice bars or keep things simple with dark or milk chocolate.
If you fall in love with the flavors here, you can order them online for delivery nationwide.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery
It’s no secret that the city of Seattle has become synonymous with incredible coffee. If you’d like to get the full Seattle coffee experience, make sure you visit the Starbucks Seattle Reserve Roastery. Boasting a menu of coffee, cocktails, and food, this place takes caffeinating seriously.
The Seattle Roastery proudly stands in Capitol Hill, and lets visitors try rare coffees and purchase one-of-a-kind merchandise. This place won’t be for everyone, but it’s a unique tourist attraction that’s well worth visiting.
Local coffee
Speaking of coffee, make sure you pick up a few bags of local coffee before leaving the city so you can compare them to Starbucks.
The Pike Place Starbucks sells its own line of touristy beans. But Seattle’s independent coffee roasters tend to offer more choices and richer flavors. There are over 50 roasters to explore in Seattle, so you’ll have plenty of options.
If you’re not sure where to start, Onda Origins is one of my favorite roasters. Not only do they give back to farmers with the purchase of each bag, but the beans are light, creamy, and never have an unpleasant bite to them.
For a distinctive taste of hazelnut, chocolate, and caramel, try Boon Boona in the Central District. This quaint coffee shop offers a monthly subscription package. And they pan-roast all their beans in a large clay pot for an authentic, African flavor.
You can try coffee from Boon Boona and other Black-owned coffee roasters with a NoirePack sampler box.
If you’re looking for more suggestions, check out my list of the best small-batch coffee roasters in the Emerald City!
Rainier cherries
Rainier cherries are a delicious specialty fruit from Washington, and they’re named after the towering Mount Rainier in the Cascade Range. They have a delicate flavor and are typically sweeter than regular dark cherries.
Although you won’t be able to take them home (they will certainly get bruised and battered!), you can usually find them at any local grocery store or some of the best Seattle farmers markets.
If you’d prefer a cherry souvenir, bring home a pack of the crazy addictive Chukar chocolate covered cherries.
Huckleberries
Huckleberries are another fruit found specifically in the Pacific Northwest. They’re much tarter than other fruits in the berry family, but they make a truly delicious jam.
If you’re visiting Seattle while huckleberries are in season, I recommend visiting Metropolitan Market. There are several locations dotted around the city, but they tend to stock huckleberry products like jams and fresh fruit when they’re in season.
You can also buy huckleberry products online from small Washington makers like Big Bear Chocolates out of Spokane, WA.
Picture in front of the gum wall
You can’t visit Seattle without plopping a sticky sucker on the famous Seattle gum wall. It’s basically an unassuming brick wall in Post Alley underneath Pike Place Market, and it’s always swarming with tourists that want to get in on the action and cross off this Seattle bucket list item. So obviously a photo in front of the iconic wall is one of the things you can get only in Seattle!
Pike Place Market kitchen accessories
If you fancy boasting about your Seattle trip at your next dinner party, you should grab a few Pike Place Market-themed kitchen accessories from Christine Vaughan in the market.
Not only are the various aprons and tea towels gorgeous to look at, but they’re covered in Seattle-specific images that will remind you of the city. You can pick up aprons with crabs and lobsters on them or choose an ornate towel that depicts the Seattle skyline.
Mug from the oldest Starbucks
Pike Place Market is home to the world’s first Starbucks store which opened back in 1971 (though this specific location isn’t the first one, just the oldest existing). If you’re a coffee fanatic, you may want to commemorate grabbing a cold brew or piping hot cappuccino at this iconic spot by purchasing a branded mug.
These aren’t just any mugs by the way – they’re made specifically for this store, and each one is decorated with an adorable cartoon rendering of the place.
You’ll probably have to queue for a while to get in here, but snagging one of these mugs will make it all feel worth it as you can’t find them anywhere else.
Glass-blown souvenirs
I’m always blown away by the Chihuly Gardens and Glass. If you’ve been sufficiently inspired by the artwork at this major Seattle tourist attraction, it’s worth picking up a couple of artisan glass souvenirs to remember your trip by.
You can purchase genuine Chihuly pieces if you have the cash to splash, but a single item will set you back thousands. Blown glass fans that want to keep their souvenir spending to a minimum should visit Seattle’s artisan glass stalls instead.
Several local artists sell glass decorations and figurines around Pike Place Market that look practically the same for way less. For example, KOBO Art Garden in downtown Seattle has a ton of pretty blown glass pieces you can ship.
Products from Moon Valley Organics
The Pacific Northwest is known for many things, but did you know that it’s home to one of the best all-natural, herbal brands in the country?
Moon Valley Organics is a family-owned company that specializes in quality soaps, honey, and salves that incorporate only the finest natural ingredients. They operate from the foot of the Cascades, but their products are stocked in Whole Foods stores throughout Seattle and at Pike Place Market.
If you’ve ever wanted to try botanical formulas that promise to make you feel good, then these products promise to fit the bill.
Wine
Washington State is known for its delicious wines, and it’s one of the largest wine producers in the US. Seattle is home to several urban wineries that I’ve already written about, and I’m partial to a pour or two from Cloudlift and Structure Cellars.
If you’d prefer to ship a bottle of Washington-made wine back home, here are some favorites:
If you have time to spare, drive up to Woodinville which boasts over 100 wineries and tasting rooms. It takes just 30 minutes to get here, so it’s worth the detour!
Market Spice tea
If you’re more partial to a warm cup of tea instead of caffeinated coffee, head to Pike Place Market to grab some Market Spice Tea.
This signature blend has been sold for over 100 years, and it’s known as the official tea of Seattle’s buzzing downtown market area. To pad out your purchase, grab spices, candles, tea cookies, and accessories to take home with you!
Local honey
Whether you can’t get enough of honey as a health food or love using it as a makeshift hair mask, there is plenty of local honey in Seattle.
Since Seattle is so sustainable, the city cares deeply about saving the bee population. That’s why there are a ton of hyper local companies offering 100% unfiltered organic honey.
You’ll find local honey at most of the best Seattle gift shops, but if you want something you can ship try Shipwreck Apiaries. They sell raw honey from the nearby Snoqualmie Valley.
Hama Hama Oysters
You can technically get oysters all over the Pacific Northwest, but there’s something special about Seattle’s seafood. I might be biased, but the oysters found in Seattle always taste sweeter and have a more pleasant texture than any others I’ve tried.
I adore Hama Hama Oysters, and I make a point of visiting their farms each year to forage for the freshest picks. If you’d rather not cart fresh seafood home (and I certainly wouldn’t blame you!), you can order a few batches online for delivery nationwide.
Other unique Seattle goodies
Looking for more things that you can get only in Seattle or items that ship nationwide? Check out my other useful articles that’ll help you explore the best of the Pacific Northwest!
