Right on the edge of Puget Sound, there’s a seafood restaurant that has been serving hungry customers since 1909.
Locals swear this place serves the best fish in Washington.
The batter is crisp, the salmon is caught from Pacific Northwest waters, and the chowder is packed with real clams.
You can grab a window seat, watch boats cross the sound, and dig into seafood that tastes like it came off the boat that morning.
This spot has survived world wars, economic crashes, and huge changes to the city around it, all while sticking to what it does best.
If you love old school restaurants with serious history and seafood that actually lives up to the hype, you’re going to want to keep reading.
Where Is It?
You’ll find The Athenian Seafood Restaurant and Bar right in the heart of Pike Place Market at 1517 Pike Place in downtown Seattle.
It sits along the market’s main arcade, just steps from the famous Pike Place Fish Market where fishmongers toss salmon through the air like it’s an Olympic sport.
Look out over Elliott Bay and you’ll spot ferries cruising toward Bainbridge Island, with the Olympic Mountains rising in the distance on a clear day.
You’re basically eating seafood at the source, surrounded by one of the most iconic waterfront views in Washington.
About
The Athenian Seafood Restaurant and Bar is one of those spots where you sit down, look out at Elliott Bay, and immediately understand why people keep coming back.
This place is famous for serving fresh seafood right inside Pike Place Market, just steps from where fish are tossed at Pike Place Fish Market all day long.
Locals will tell you to order the fish and chips, which come out hot and crispy with French fries, coleslaw, and house-made tartar sauce.
The batter is golden and crunchy, and the cod inside stays flaky and tender, which is exactly what you want when you’re claiming “best fish in Washington.”
You’ll also see plenty of plates featuring salmon, often grilled and served with salad.
Whole Dungeness crab is another star here when it’s in season, usually steamed and served with drawn butter.
If you’re into chowder, their New England clam chowder is creamy and loaded with clams, not just potatoes pretending to be clams.
The menu also includes oysters on the half shell, calamari, prawn cocktails, and seafood pasta.
Not feeling seafood? You can still grab burgers, steaks, chicken dishes, and big fresh salads, so nobody leaves hungry.
Portion sizes are generous, so come hungry or be ready to box up leftovers.
The vibe is casual and welcoming, with big windows overlooking the water and the constant buzz of Pike Place Market right outside.
Grab a table by the window if you can, because watching ferries glide across Puget Sound while you eat freshly fried fish is part of the experience.
You’ll hear a mix of tourists snapping photos and regulars chatting with servers who have been working here for years.
The bar area is a popular hangout where you can sip local craft beer, Washington wine, or a strong cocktail while overlooking the market below.
Whether you’re stopping in for a quick lunch between exploring Pike Place Market or settling in for a long seafood dinner with a view, you can expect straightforward, no-nonsense dishes that let the fish do the talking.
This is the kind of place where the seafood is the star, the views are unbeatable, and the menu sticks to what it does best.
History
To really get why this place matters, you have to rewind more than a century.
The Athenian first opened its doors in 1909, just two years after Pike Place Market began operating.
That makes it one of the oldest seafood restaurants in Pike Place Market, and among the early businesses that helped shape the market into what it is today.
It was founded by three Greek brothers from the Pappadakis family.
Like many Greek families in Seattle at the time, they worked hard in the food industry, building a reputation for honest portions, fair prices, and fresh seafood pulled straight from local waters.
In the early 1900s, Pike Place Market was created to connect local farmers and fishermen directly with customers, cutting out middlemen and lowering food prices.
The Athenian fit perfectly into that mission, serving seafood just steps from where it was unloaded and sold.
For decades, the restaurant became a favorite gathering spot for fishermen, longshoremen, and market vendors who wanted a hearty meal after long hours on the docks.
Over the years, it has kept its original name and maintained a no-nonsense approach to food.
While other restaurants in the area came and went, The Athenian kept serving plates of seafood through Prohibition, the Great Depression, two world wars, and massive changes to Seattle’s waterfront.
In the 1970s, Pike Place Market itself faced possible demolition, but community efforts saved it, and The Athenian remained part of the historic district that still draws millions of visitors each year.
The restaurant also earned a pop culture moment when it was featured in the 1993 film Sleepless in Seattle, which gave its upstairs dining room a bit of Hollywood fame.
Even with that spotlight, it never turned into a flashy tourist trap.
More than 115 years after opening, it continues operating in the same historic market building, still focused on seafood, and still part of the daily rhythm of Pike Place.
When you sit down for a meal here, you are stepping into a restaurant that has been part of Seattle’s Pike Place Market history since its early years.
Know Before You Go
Hours vary by day as follows:
| Monday | 12–6 PM |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 12–6 PM |
| Friday | 11 AM–7 PM |
| Saturday | 11 AM–7 PM |
| Sunday | 11 AM–3 PM |
Happy hour is generally from 3 PM until closing on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Pike Place Market itself is busiest between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., especially on weekends in the summer, so expect crowds if you show up right in the middle of the day.
If you want a quieter experience and a better shot at snagging a window seat overlooking Elliott Bay, aim for a weekday lunch right when they open or an early dinner before the main dinner rush.
Parking in this part of downtown Seattle can be tricky, so plan ahead.
The Pike Place Market Parking Garage at 1531 Western Avenue is the closest option, and rates vary depending on how long you stay.
If you’re using public transportation, the Link light rail will get you to Westlake Station, which is about a 10 minute walk from the market.
While you’re there, make a day of it.
Watch the famous fish toss at Pike Place Fish Market, browse the handmade crafts at Pike Place MarketFront, and grab a photo under the iconic Public Market Center sign with the big red neon clock.
Stop by the original Starbucks at 1912 Pike Place, the oldest operating store, to see where the coffee giant got its start.
Walk a few minutes downhill to the Seattle Waterfront and hop on a Washington State Ferry to Bainbridge Island for a 35 minute cruise across Puget Sound.
You can also check out the Seattle Great Wheel at Pier 57, which is 175 feet tall and gives you sweeping views of the skyline and Mount Rainier on a clear day.
If you’re planning to visit during peak tourist season from June through September, build in extra time for lines both at the restaurant and throughout the market.
And bring your appetite, because between the seafood plates and everything else waiting for you at Pike Place, you’re going to want room for more than just one stop.
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