The Athenian Inn

The Athenian Inn was first opened by three Greek brothers, about 1909. Starting out as a bakery and luncheonette, it was one of the first restaurants in Seattle to be issued a liquor license, for beer, in 1933.

The sign over the front door is the original one hung there over half a century ago. From the bakery to a tavern and then to a restaurant, the Athenian Inn’s story is typical of the growth and opportunity of our country.

The Athenian offers you a magnificent view of the Seattle waterfront. Relax and enjoy the food, drink, comfort, and camaraderie appreciated by so many for so many years.

You are now in a historical restaurant in a historical Seattle district, the Pike Place Public Market. This is an area that has been set aside as a reminder of “how it was done in the year 1907”. With the finishing of the parking garage below the Market, the rejuvenation of the Pike Place Farmer’s Market is essentially complete. On the main concourse there are still some of the old-time places interspersed with daily farmers, from Don and Joe’s Meat Market on the south, to City Fish Market on the north, with Pike Place Fish, Brehms Deli, Chicken Valley, Pure Food Market, Barb’s Gourmet Deli and the Athenian Inn (you are here) between them, with the high stalls across the concourse from them. Now there are many eating places, candy shops, ice cream shops, vegetable stalls, cheese shops, etc., etc.

Visit the many nooks and crannies in the Pike Place Farmer’s Market, which includes an interesting walkway, elevator and stairway down Pike Street to the waterfront and the Aquarium. Then to the east, Pike Street (which intersects the Pike Place Farmer’s Market) is an interesting strip for enjoyable shopping from the Aquarium on the waterfront to the Washington State Convention Center and Interstate Highway I-5. To the north of Pike Street is a complex of the finest hotels, motels, apartments, department stores, specialty shops and the Westlake Mall where the Monorail leaves for Seattle Center.

To the south, you will find Freeway Park, the financial district, more hotels, apartments, condominiums, Rainier Square, underground concourse, and many shops on your way to Pioneer Square, the International District and the Sports Arena. Just think of it -- to the west is a most-interesting developing waterfront served by an old-fashioned trolley car, -- to the south, the sports center bursting with excitement, and the International District, --to the north, the remodeled city center and famous Space Needle,-- and to the east, the most elegant “downtown shopping center” in the whole USA .... and you are sitting in the center of the Pike Place Public Market, the hub of Seattle’s downtown shopping district.

The Athenian Inn is open daily except Sundays and holidays from 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The Athenian Inn is the preparation facility for the Homeless Meal Program. They generously donate their space and time. Thank you!