A recipe for Almond Cardamom Syrup inspired by my time at Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington! This homemade simple syrup is flavored with almond extract and green cardamom pods for a comforting addition to a variety of drinks.
Pike Place Market
In April 2026, I spent a couple of days exploring Seattle’s Pike Place Market, Space Needle, and Chinatown-International District (CID).
Today, I am sharing my time at Pike Place Market along with a recipe for Almond Cardamom Syrup inspired by my travels.
Pike Place Market’s history dates all the way back to its first opening on August 17th, 1907. A handful of farmers started selling produce brought in with wagons.
It has now grown to one of the oldest continuously run public markets in the United States with over 500 vendors, shops, restaurants, farmers, and artisans. They span across multiple levels and buildings featuring everything from fresh flowers and seasonal vegetables to seafood, international fare, coffee, cheese, and local products.
The market is currently open 363 days a year, with closures on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Exact operating hours may vary for specific stalls, but most close around 5-6 pm. It is generally less crowded on weekday mornings before noon.
To navigate the somewhat maze of vendors, Pike Place Market has an incredibly helpful interactive map on their website and detailed Market Directory with hours and descriptions.
Getting to Pike Place Market
After arriving at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), I took a taxi directly to my hotel, Inn at the Market. If you are going this route, be sure to use the official taxi stand located on the 3rd floor of the parking garage.
Another option is to take the 1 Line Link Light Rail directly from the airport to either Symphony or Westlake station. From Westlake, it is a 0.3 mile (483 meters) walk to the market. From Symphony, it is 0.4 mile (644 meters). If you are coming from Seattle Center/the Space Needle, the other monorail station is also at Westlake.
If driving, keep in mind vehicle access is limited between 10 am and 5 pm daily and may be fully closed during specific events. The entrances to the Pike Place Market Garage are located at 1531 Western Avenue and 1901 Western Avenue. The height clearance is 6’8.
Inn at the Market
For my time in Seattle, I stayed at the Inn at the Market- a boutique hotel at 86 Pine Street. As the only hotel directly at Pike Place Market, the location is absolutely incredible for those wanting to focus on the area.
To celebrate 40 years, they completed a major renovation in 2025. The building is now home to 79 rooms designed with the Pacific Northwest and Pike Place Market in mind.
I booked an Emerald City Skyline Luxe Room. Ideal for up to two people (I was solo for this trip), this room features a custom-crafted king bed (it was so comfortable), bathroom with plenty of counter space and amenities, desk, minibar, iron/ironing board, coffee maker, air conditioning, and large windows with sweeping views of the city.
My room was on the southeast corner and I especially enjoyed people watching from the table with the market sign and water in the background. There are also more expansive waterfront rooms available.
The most memorable part of my stay was the rooftop terrace with surrounding views of Elliott Bay, the shops below, and even the Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier further out on clear days.
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese
My very first stop after dropping off my bags was Beecher’s Handmade Cheese at 1600 Pike Place for a quick macaroni and cheese dinner before the shops closed.
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese has been in Pike Place Market since 2003 and is currently open daily with grilled sandwiches, soup, and mac & cheese plus an assortment of cheese and to-go items.
Through their glass-walled production area, you can also watch the signature Flagship cheese being made from either the standing area inside the cafe or from the sidewalk.
The World‘s Best Mac & Cheese (creamy blend of Flagship, Just Jack, penne pasta, and spices) was the perfect first bite after a long day of planes.
Hellenika Cultured Creamery
After macaroni and cheese for dinner, I stopped by Hellenika Cultured Creamery at 1920a Pike Place for dessert! It was a very dairy-filled hour.
Hellenika Cultured Creamery opened in 2023 and specializes in small batch cultured gelato. I sampled a couple of different flavors, but especially loved the Vanilla Malt. You can also buy pints to go.
Kitchen & Market
Kitchen & Market at 1926 Pike Place is a wonderful option for those looking for a light meal or snack in the hotel room or even for a few last minute food souvenirs to take back to family.
They also have seasonal meal kits, curated groceries, picnic options, and drinks. Additional locations are currently open in Medina, Madison Valley, Yarrow Bay, and Eastlake.
As a note, I picked up the Seattle-themed towel I used in the photos for the Almond Cardamom Syrup here.
Pufftown Bakehouse
Terumi of An Emerald City Life introduced me to Pufftown Bakehouse while we were walking through the market on my second day.
Pufftown Bakehouse opened their brick and mortar in the Champion Building at 1928 Pike Place in 2024. They have an exciting assortment of seasonal and innovative handmade laminated croissants and other pastries.
I picked the Croquetta (on the spring 2026 menu)- a croissant shell filled with béchamel and Serrano ham and a crispy Serrano ham panko topping. It was such an amazing start to the day.
Lands of Origin
Terumi and I also stopped by Lands of Origin.
Lands of Origin is currently open 10-6 Thursday-Monday at 1532 Pike Place with a focus on handcrafted African pastries, spices, and sauces. I absolutely loved the variety of sweet and savory options from Moroccan Lamb Rolls to Lentil Sambusas and South African Melkterte. As a note, it was card only during my visit.
I ultimately decided on the original Pastel de Nata- Mozambique style with a crisp, flaky pastry and caramelized custard center. On the weekend, they had the Pastéis de Nata in additional flavors.
Terumi picked the Shakshuka Roll- a vegetarian spiced pastry with scrambled eggs, potatoes, and pine nuts.
Oriental Mart
Oriental Mart has been in Pike Place Market since 1973 and features comforting, homestyle Filipino cooking plus a few shelves of groceries and pantry staples.
They are currently open for lunch 11-3 Tuesday-Sunday and closed on Mondays. Ordering is at the register with counter seating around the corner to the right.
I couldn’t decide what to get, so they gave me a little of everything with longanisa, pork adobo, and menudo alongside pancit and rice. It was all incredible and I spent the next couple of hours walking up and down the nearby hills, then along the water to make room for dinner.
Aditi Chai
Aditi Chai is tucked into the Corner Market at 1500A Pike Place.
Founded in 2018, they feature handcrafted Masala tea using their family‘s 100 year old recipe and recently started serving street food and breakfast items (Vada Pav, Bhel, Sev Puri, Dahi Puri, Ginger Stuffed Chai French Toast, and Masala Egg Bites were available during my visit). Their shelves have an assortment of pantry items, snacks, and spices.
The Original Masala Chai was perfect for pushing through jet lag with Indian black tea slowly steeped in fresh ginger, lemongrass, mint, a touch of sugar, and signature Aditi Chai spices.
Bite Society
Bite Society was definitely one of my highlights while in the market. This unique shop at Stall 4 is packed with small batch cookies, snacks, pickles, condiments, tea, and gift baskets in memorable packaging and tins designed by tattoo artists.
I especially loved the Vanilla Polka Dot Cookies. This cookie was Bite Society’s first and still remains their most popular with a classic vanilla butter cookie base and pearl sugar topping.
If you don’t make it to Pike Place Market, they recently opened up a location at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in Concourse C near Gate C2.
Puget Sound Cider Company
I first came across Puget Sound Cider Company when my friend Tori took me to a tasting inside Antiques 4U in Renton. I was excited to see them again as I was walking through the market.
They have been making small batch cider since 2017 using traditional cider apples grown in Ellensburg, Washington. The semi-dry black currant continues to be my favorite.
Lonely Siren
One evening, I stopped by Lonely Siren for small plates and cocktails. It was actually recommended to me while I was getting cookies at Bite Society!
Lonely Siren features a variety of Portuguese inspired drinks and petiscos with seafood, vegetable, meat, and sweet options. They are located down the sets of stairs under the Public Market Center clock sign. If you get lost, check out their Instagram. They have a pinned video with directions from different areas.
As a note, this is a 21+ establishment and valid identification is required. Seating is available at the bar, table, or enclosed glass patio. Walk in friendly and limited amount of reservations through their website.
I decided on Kicking the Beehive (a special cocktails week drink available during my visit in April- Michter’s rye, rum, honey Dijon, pineapple, abs saffron honey pickled pineapple), Cogumelos Salteados (mushrooms sautéed in garlic, shallot, and Madeira wine), and Housemade Papo Seco (Portuguese roll).
Freya Bakery & Cafe
Freya Bakery & Cafe is located down the stairs to Western Avenue. They have an assortment of Scandinavian-inspired sweet and savory pastries, cakes, sandwiches, toast, coffee, tea, and more.
There is a handful of indoor and outdoor seating or you can take orders to-go. An additional location with a larger cafe is now on 5th Avenue.
I started by day with a Cardamom Knot (soft twisted cardamom roll with dusting of powdered sugar- loved the crisp edges along the bottom from the butter) and a København Latte (almond cardamom with espresso and steamed milk).
Robot vs Sloth
Robot vs Sloth is such a fun and unique gift shop located on the corner of 1st and Pine. Opened in 2018 by Seattle-based artist and illustrator La Ru, the space is filled with her creations along with designs by over fifty other artists.
There is a second location in Magnolia Village with classes, art nights, and other special events.
So Much Yarn
My daughter is very much into crochet and requested I stop by So Much Yarn for her after I sent her a photo of the outdoor sign.
As the name suggests, this vibrant shop at 1525 1st Ave #4 is packed with shelves and more shelves of yarn and other supplies for crochet and knitting enthusiasts. They also offer classes for every skill level.
Metsker Maps of Seattle
I spotted Metsker Maps of Seattle as I was walking back to the hotel and am so happy I came across it!
This iconic store at 1511 1st Avenue has a vast assortment of maps, international and local travel books, regional souvenirs, journals, and other unique items.
The maps come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from antique prints and globes to present day fold-up maps covering city travel and hikes. If you are getting a rolled map, they have packing materials available to keep everything safe in transit.
DeLaurenti Food & Wine
DeLaurenti Food & Wine first opened in 1946 in the lower level of Pike Place Market. In 1972, they moved to their current shop at the Economy Building entrance on the southwest corner of 1st Avenue and Pike Street.
This market is filled with shelves of Italian and local sauces, spices, pasta, chocolate, cheese, meat, and other groceries. They also have a café with panini, pizza, snacks, sandwiches, salads, soups, and beverages.
This is just an overview of what Pike Place Market has to offer and what I got to within 2 days. Overall, I recommend at least a day with a glance at the market directory ahead of time to make a note of favorite and can’t miss experiences.
I do wish I had at least one more day and a bit more stomach room to fit in even more. This area is filled with such a wonderful and diverse assortment of vendors and restaurants and is definitely up there as one of my most memorable travel experiences.
Almond Cardamom Syrup
I was only in Seattle for 2 1/2 days, but I managed to fit in eight coffee shops during that time. For this first post, I wanted to focus on the coffee with a homemade flavored syrup inspired by the København Latte at Freya Bakery & Cafe.
This Almond Cardamom Syrup is infused with almond extract and green cardamom pods for a comforting blend of flavors that are a bit reminiscent of a cardamom bun. It is such a fantastic addition to a variety of drinks from coffee and tea to cocktails.
Start by toasted crushed cardamom pods until fragrant, then simmer with water and sugar to create a slightly thickened syrup. Stir in almond extract and vanilla extract before covering and allowing the mixture to rest for about 30 minutes for everything to settle.
Strain the Almond Cardamom Syrup into a glass jar and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
A Few Almond Cardamom Syrup Tips
Green Cardamom is a highly aromatic, warm citrus-like spice. Most of the flavor is in the seeds encased by the green pods.
You can buy cardamom whole or ground, but the seeds quickly lose their flavor once the pods are cut. I have been able to find the pods in the spice section of larger grocery stores and specialty spice stores/International Markets featuring South Asian products (recommended since they usually come in larger bags compared to American grocery stores and this recipe uses quite a few- for those in Northern Virginia, I usually go to Lotte Plaza Market or Triveni in Chantilly).
After toasting the cardamom pods, add the water to the pot first- NOT the sugar. I wasn’t thinking and added sugar first during one of my test runs. It went from caramel to burnt in about 2 seconds. Don’t do that. The smell and clean up were not fun.
This Almond Cardamom Syrup is incredibly versatile and can be added to a variety of drinks. For hot and iced coffee, I usually stir in about 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters). We also love it in an Old Fashioned- 1/4 ounce syrup to 2 ounces bourbon. Adjust the amount as needed to taste.
I incorporated a combination of granulated sugar and light brown sugar in the syrup to add a bit more depth and richness. If you are just using granulated sugar to create a lighter color, bump the amount up to 1 cup (200 grams).
The almond extract goes a long way. I usually keep it at 1 teaspoon. Adjust more or less to taste, but keep in mind it will start to overpower the cardamom if you go much higher.
The same goes for the cardamom. If the pods are really small, you may want to bump up the amount a little more. This is the best part about making your own homemade syrup. You can adjust the ingredients more or less depending on what you want to focus on.
The longer you simmer the syrup, the thicker it will become. I usually cook the mixture for 10-15 minutes.
Avoiding almonds or only have ground cardamom available? I have a recipe for a Cardamom Latte using simply ground cardamom, honey, and vanilla.
Looking for more homemade syrups?
Try my:
Almond Cardamom Syrup Recipe
Adapted from Life Currents
Almond Cardamom Syrup
Ingredients
- 25 green cardamom pods
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) water
- 3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup (50 grams) packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a mortar and pestle or on a cutting board with the side of a knife, lightly crush the cardamom pods until the seeds are exposed.
- Place a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Once hot, add the crushed cardamom and toast, stirring often, until fragrant, 1-2 minutes.
- Carefully pour in the water, then stir in the granulated sugar and brown sugar.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid slightly thickens and all the sugar has dissolved, about 10-15 minutes.
- Remove the pan from heat and stir in the almond and vanilla extracts.
- Cover the saucepan and set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.
- Strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve into a jar. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. The flavors are even better after a day or two.
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