Le Panier

Le Panier has been bringing a taste of France to Seattle since 1983, and it has been in Pike Place Market for its whole history of more than 40 years. The bakery is at 1902 Pike Place, and it is a good choice for an early start, as it opens at 7am every day, before many market stalls are fully set up.

The range covers the French classics. There is traditional French bread, croissants, palmiers, tarts, cookies and éclairs, as well as macarons, Napoleons and a chocolate mousse cake. Savoury options include sandwiches, which work well for an early lunch or a picnic. Coffee and espresso are served too, so you can have breakfast here in one stop. Seasonal pâtisseries change through the year; in autumn, for example, the bakery has offered pastries with caramelised apple, tart cherry and chocolate, and hazelnut and chocolate.

Le Panier is open every day from 7am to 5pm. It is busiest in the middle of the day, when the market crowds peak, so early morning is the calmest time to visit and also when the selection is fullest. For larger orders or celebration cakes, the bakery asks customers to call ahead, and it caters for small parties and events. Its in-house dessert concept, Chouchous, handles a specialty dessert menu.

The bakery suits everyone: families picking up a treat, couples wanting a quick breakfast and visitors looking for a picnic lunch to carry down to the waterfront. Allow 15 to 30 minutes, and consider taking your order away to eat on the move. General questions can be emailed to the bakery.

If you are driving, note that Pike Place is open to vehicles only until 10am, with short 30-minute spaces for quick stops. After that, use one of the nearby car parks and walk in, as the street fills with pedestrians.

Le Panier is close to Piroshky Piroshky and the Original Starbucks on the same stretch of Pike Place, so it is easy to compare a few market bakeries in one morning. The Pike Place Market main arcade and the Public Market Center sign are a short walk away.