Matt’s in the Market

Matt's in the Market is on the top floor at 94 Pike Street, at First and Pike, right at the entrance to Pike Place Market. Its location is its calling card, and the travel guide Frommer's has described it as having the best location of any restaurant in the market. The restaurant describes its cooking as market-influenced Pacific Northwest cuisine, which means a menu that follows the seasons and draws on the produce and seafood sold downstairs.

Because the menu moves with what is available, the best approach is to ask what is good that day, and to come back at a different time of year for something new.

Lunch runs from 11:30am to 2:30pm every day. Dinner is served from 5:30pm to 10pm, Monday to Saturday. Reservations are taken through OpenTable, and booking is a good idea, especially for dinner at weekends and in the summer months.

Lunch is a good way to experience Matt's on a sightseeing day, between exploring the market stalls in the morning and visiting the waterfront or the Seattle Art Museum in the afternoon. Dinner is a more relaxed affair, when the market below has quietened down. The restaurant suits couples and small groups, and is a sensible choice for a celebratory meal without the formality of a tasting menu.

The building has a lift, which can be reached from the First Avenue, Pike Street and Pike Place entrances, so the restaurant is accessible for visitors who cannot manage stairs. Allow an hour or so at lunch and up to two hours for dinner. The website also points visitors towards related venues in the area, including Radiator Whiskey, so ask staff for ideas if you want a drink nearby before or after your meal. Private events and general enquiries are handled through the restaurant's contact page, which is useful if you are planning a group meal. On a busy sightseeing day, an early lunch at 11:30am, when the doors open, is the best way to avoid waiting for a table.

Parking around the market is limited and daytime vehicle access to Pike Place is restricted, so walking or using public transport is the easiest option; Westlake Center and the downtown hotels are within a few blocks. Afterwards, the market's arcades, Post Alley and the waterfront are all on the doorstep.