Seattle
Seattle, on Puget Sound: the Bite of Seattle, the city’s free summer food festival at Seattle Center, plus Pacific Northwest seafood and practical tips.
At a glance
- Home of the Bite of Seattle, the city’s annual food festival, in July
- Free entry to the Bite, with 300+ food vendors in 2026
- Seattle Center, by the Space Needle, hosts the festival
- A Pacific Northwest table of salmon, Dungeness crab and oysters
- 1food festival
Food festivals in Seattle
Randy Stern, CC BY
Map of Seattle
What to taste in Seattle
Salmon
Pacific salmon is the fish of the Northwest, smoked, grilled or cedar-planked.
Dungeness crab
The sweet-fleshed crab of the Pacific coast, served whole or in crab cakes.
Oysters
Farmed in the bays of Puget Sound and the Washington coast.
Craft beer and cider
Poured in the beer and wine gardens and cider tastings of the Bite of Seattle.
Seattle holds its annual food festival in the shadow of the Space Needle: the Bite of Seattle, at Seattle Center, a festival that has run for more than 40 years. The city lies on Puget Sound, in the Pacific Northwest, and its table leans on the sea.
The Bite and Seattle Center
Seattle Center, where the Monorail from downtown ends, stands on the grounds of the 1962 World’s Fair.
- Outside festival days: the Armory Food & Event Hall, on the campus, gathers local and national food merchants and is open from 7 am to 9 pm daily, says Seattle Center.
Pike Place Market, since 1907
Downtown, the Pike Place Market spans nine historic acres (about 3.6 hectares) and is “one of the oldest and largest continuously operating public markets in the United States”, says the market.
- The people: hundreds of farmers, crafters, small businesses and residents call it home.
- 1971: Seattle voters created a Pike Place Market Historic District and a Historical Commission to protect its buildings and character.
- 1973: the City of Seattle chartered the Pike Place Market Preservation & Development Authority (PDA), the not-for-profit that runs it. One of its missions is to increase farm and food retailing.
Before you go
- When: the Bite of Seattle falls in July. In 2026, 24 to 26 July, and 2027 dates are not yet published.
- Airport: Seattle-Tacoma International (Sea-Tac) serves the city.
- To Seattle Center: the Monorail links downtown to Seattle Center.
- Alcohol: the minimum legal age to buy alcohol is 21.
Frequently asked questions
What is the big food festival in Seattle?
The Bite of Seattle, the city’s annual food festival at Seattle Center. In 2026 it ran from 24 to 26 July.
Is the Bite of Seattle free?
Yes. Admission was free in 2026, “as always”, says Seattle Center.
What food is Seattle known for?
Seafood: salmon, Dungeness crab and oysters.