Scandals, Ghosts & Oddities at Pike Place Market

Discover the scandalous history of Pike Place Market, from brothels to mischievous ghosts. Join our experienced tour guide to explore the heart of Seattle and learn about local vendors, foods, and more.

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Victrola Coffee Roasters - Step into the captivating world of Pike Place Market, where ghosts, and scandals lurk behind the vibrant stalls and bustling atmosphere. Hear stories of darkness, scandal, whimsy and magical. The market is filled with stories that need to be told.

Thoughtful Chef Tours is permitted and licensed by the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority (PDA) to operate in the Pike Place market Historical District. The PDA requires any business or person conducting paid tours within its properties and in the public areas of the historical district to be pre-approved and to have a license for this activity.

What's Included
  • Guided tour
Additional Information

Pike Place Market boasts an intrigue-filled past featuring everything from brothels and coffee houses to key figures like Chief Seattle and playful apparitions. Join me and delve into the mysteries and tales of the market.

Pike Place Market, the pulsating hub of Seattle, spans an area of nine acres and is a lively blend of local farmers, artists, wineries, street performers, niche businesses, and the spectacle of tossing fish. With an established background as a market tour guide and a former chef, my objective is to acquaint guests with the structure of the market, its vendors, the variety of food, and its storied past.

Location
108 Pine St
Pine Street
meet on the sidewalk in front of Seattle Coffee Worksbat 108 Pine Street
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(29 Ratings)
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Beckym475
Jul 17, 2024
Highly recommend! - This was such a fun way to see the Market. Carolyn is your friend from the minute you meet her. You can tell she loves the stories, history and her community. I learned so much and now feel like a bit of an insider now as I walk through the market.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maxine
Jun 29, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyable - Thoroughly enjoyable tour. Carolyn was really knowledgeable and super interesting. She has lots of local knowledge and weird and wonderful facts. I was on my own and she was very friendly and warm. Would definitely recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Linley_l
Jun 29, 2024
Book it! - Carolyn was wonderful and we would do it again and again. So interesting, fascinating! Booked it on the fly, so glad we did.
Review provided by Viator
Cindy_p
May 4, 2024
This was such a wonderful... - This was such a wonderful and informative tour! My sister and I had a great time and learned a lot that was not mentioned in other tours we have taken that covered the same areas. I highly recommend this fun tour!
Review provided by Viator
Markcv1625yh
Feb 25, 2024
A REALLY GREAT TIME. - This was a wonderful experience, and so much fun. I was part of a great group of people, none who I knew, but with Carolyn we became fast friends. Great stories, great history behind the stories. Carolyn has a way of keeping you engaged with every tail and with every turn there is another mystery to discover. I highly recommend her tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kim
Sep 15, 2023
Unusual historical information made fun ! - Excellent tour ! Carolyn was very knowledgeable and presented information in an interesting way. She packed in a lot of information in a short time but made it fun and casual. We really enjoyed the tour and recommend it highly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mccarville
Aug 2, 2023
Do this!! - Fun and entertaining tour! Carolyn is a font of historical information and current trends in the city. Thoroughly enjoyed!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Juliesa2207ln
May 10, 2023
The perfect insider's guide to Pike Place Market - What a perfect way to complete our day discovering new places in Seattle! Carolyn's tour was definitely the icing on the cake. I love how she wove the interesting history in the wonderful sights and sounds of Pike Place market. Especially interesting was the history of the vendors of the market, how they take care of each other, what the best spots are, more things we are able to do on our own, and how Pike Place was integral in the formation of Seattle itself, along with famous area businesses. Carolyn's knowledge of the vendors was also appreciated - it gave us an "inside" to the people and area. She's obviously on great terms with the vendors, and that closeness made it a better experience for all of us. Plus, as a former James Beard award winning chef, she knows food, and gave advice on the best places to grab a bite. Thank you for the fun afternoon!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Susanrw907yo
Apr 7, 2023
Fascinating history of Seattle and Pike’s! - Great guide! Wonderful history and storytelling! Loved every minute. Highly recommend. Cathryn customized our content once she knew our interests and we really learned a lot.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
666kirstend
Apr 4, 2023
Everyone loves a good scandal! - This was such a fun time! Lasts about an hour and is full of the history of Seattle and the Fish Market. Carolyn was very entertaining and gracious. She had all the historic knowledge and knew so many dark secrets of the city. Definitely check it out.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 12 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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