Seattle Shopping

Pike Place Market

A visit to Seattle, and especially to the waterfront would be incomplete without the iconic shopping experience of the Pike Place Market. Opened in 1907, the historic market is filled with stalls and shops that cater to both locals shopping for their daily goods and tourists in search of good eats and souvenirs. Northwest goods can be found here, like fresh or smoked salmon, Washington apples and local clam chowder alongside world imports including gourmet Italian goods, imported cheeses and exotic fruits. Most shops are happy to help ship goods or package them for safe travel. The top level of the market has the food stalls and artists, while the lower levels have a variety of clothing and knick-knack shops. Summer days find the street closed in front of the market and filled with local farmers selling their goods directly to the consumers.
More Info: www.pikeplacemarket.org

Fremont Sunday Market

For over twenty years this quirky flea market has sprung up each summer Sunday, filling the Fremont neighborhood with crafts, antiques and whatever else people are willing to buy or sell. Modeled after European street markets, it fits perfectly in Fremont, a neighborhood once renowned for independent artists and collectors of odd items. Treasures can be found here in the form of works of art by unknown creators, used house-wares, international imports and collected antiques. As it has grown, the market has also adopted a farmers’ market as part of the weekly event so as to supply shoppers with local produce and edibles, along with a variety of street carts serving prepared foods.
More Info: www.fremontmarket.com

Melrose Market

The new indoor Melrose Market has been compared to San Francisco’s Ferry Plaza or considered a modern version of the Seattle icon, Pike Place Market. Located just east of the downtown core in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, this market is easy to get to and even easier to love. Find sustainable meats at the butcher, pick up fascinating dairy products from the world over at the cheese shop and complete a meal with a bottle of wine from the wine shop. There is also an independent record store, a flower shop and an indie designer goods store. For those feeling a little peckish while they shop, there is a snack counter, an organic, environmentally conscious sandwich shop, a high-end restaurant and even a bar on the back-side. Melrose Market is a politically-correct food-lover’s shopping dream come true.
More Info: www.melrosemarketseattle.com

Bellevue Square and the Bravern

Across the water from Seattle, in the suburb of Bellevue, two malls call to shoppers from all over to come and choose from their fabulous selection of stores. Bellevue Square—or Bell Square, on more familiar terms, has long been a draw across the water for when Seattleites wanted a nicer mall, a larger expanse of stores and room to walk between them. Here you will find every mall standard store you could want. Recently the Bravern has joined the fray, luring in shoppers with ultra-luxury goods such as Jimmy Choo and Hermes. You will also find more affordable stuff amongst the classy bevy of stores, including Anthropologie, Sur La Table and Tory Burch.

Downtown Seattle (Westlake and Pacific Place)

The humble roots of the original Nordstrom’s set the standard for shopping in Downtown Seattle, and now the new flagship Nordstrom bridges the two main malls, the older Westlake Center, southern terminus of the Monorail, and the modern, luxurious Pacific Place, anchored by Tiffany’s. In the streets surrounding the malls, local boutiques like Sway & Cake sit next to international superstores such as Niketown, providing shoppers of all budgets and styles with ample options for where to find the perfect purchase. With the covered malls for rainy days and open space such as Westlake Plaza to enjoy as you walk from store to store on the streets, Seattle’s downtown is a very enjoyable place to pick up whatever you need.