Savor Seattle Food Tours

Savor Seattle has been running food tours in the city since 2007, and it describes itself as Seattle's top-rated walking food tour company. Its tours focus on Pike Place Market, where a guide leads you through the market for a series of tastings while explaining its food and culture. The company's headquarters is at 2004 First Avenue, beside the market.

The flagship is The Original Food and Culture Tour of Pike Place Market, which lasts two hours and fifteen minutes and includes 14 or more tastings. It is a good way to sample the market's best-known foods without spending your visit standing in queues, and the guide explains the history of the market as you go.

If you prefer to see the market before it gets busy, the Insider's Breakfast and Culture Tour runs for two and a half hours with 13 tastings, and the company describes it as a chance to see the market before the crowds; it says the tour is worth the early alarm. In the evening, the Progressive Dinner Tour lasts two and a half hours with seven tastings, moving between several venues for a multi-course meal. A holiday food tour and private tours are also offered.

Book online in advance, as tours have limited places and fill up in summer. Check the meeting point on your booking confirmation, as it may not be the headquarters address. Tell the company about any allergies or dietary needs when booking, and arrive hungry, as the tastings add up to a full meal.

The tours suit first-time visitors, food lovers, couples and families with older children who enjoy trying new things. You will be on your feet for most of the tour, so wear comfortable shoes. Private tours are a good option for groups or special occasions. Because the breakfast tour runs before the main crowds arrive, it is also a good choice for photographers who want to see the market quietly.

After the tour, you will know your way around the market and have a list of places to return to. The Seattle Art Museum, the waterfront and the Seattle Aquarium are within walking distance, and the Pink Door and Matt's in the Market are nearby if you want a sit-down meal afterwards.