Downtown

The tiny brick Esquin Wine Merchants (2700 4th Ave., 206/682-7374, www.esquin.com) shop is big on Italian wines but also carries Northwest varieties and offers tastings, classes, and reasonable prices.

The Waterfront

The stalls at Pike Place Market are the place to go for fresh fruit, veggies, nuts, and even jalapeño jelly. Pick up some flowers for your honey while you’re at it—and maybe even some honey, too! Those big bears full of the golden stuff sold at the day stalls in the North Arcade will make you swear off grocery store honey forever. Most of the following markets are open during the market’s peak hours of 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday.

You can find the pepper jelly at Mick’s Peppouri (1531 Pike Pl., 206/233-0128) a permanent fixture in the Main Arcade that mixes up unique blends featuring horseradish, lime, garlic, and more. It might sound a little weird to the uninitiated, but wander over here for a taste — they’ve always got samples out — and you’ll likely be hooked for life!

Pick a pinch of penne at Pappardelle’s Pasta of Pike Place Market (1519 Pike Pl., Ste. 8, 206/340-4114, www.pappardellespasta.com), right in the Main Arcade. With dozens of lusciously fresh pastas on hand at all times, this place is a must when looking for a starchy accompaniment for seafood snagged at the market.

Even though Pike Place is best associated with the flying fish guys over at Pike Place Fish, that’s far from the only quality fishmonger at the market. Try Pure Food Fish (1511 Pike Pl., 206/622-5765, www.freshseafood.com) for cheaper prices and some of the best shellfish at the market.

If you really want to walk on the wild side, why not pair up those mussels you just bought with some artisan-crafted andouille? You’ll find the best sausage in the shop right next to Pure Food at Uli’s Famous Sausage (1511 Pike Pl., 206/839-1100, www.ulisfamoussausage.com), a market fixture and a favorite among award-winning chefs around the city.

You can also find a number of shops across the street from the Main Arcade with plenty of specialty goodies, including DeLaurenti Market (1435 1st Ave., 206/622-0141), filled with gourmet imported groceries and wines from Europe. Pike and Western Wine Merchants (1934 Pike Pl., 206/441-1307, www.pikeandwestern.com) at the Pike Place Market has groceries, along with a diverse choice of Northwest wines.

The cheese is out of this world and so are the prices at Beechers Handmade Cheese (1600 Pike Pl., 206/956-1964, www.beechershandmadecheese.com), where it is not impossible to plunk down $25 or more for a little wedge. But I’m telling you, it is worth it, particularly if you’re already spending a mint on some good Washington wine. The specialty is the Flagship cheese, aged one year.

For something on the sweeter side, pop into Post Alley and pick out a selection of cocoa-laden treats at Rose’s Chocolate Treasures (1906 Post Alley, 206/441-2936, www.roseschocolatetreasures.com), which not only offers artisan bonbons and truffles but also spicy chocolate ideal for whipping up a perfect mole sauce.

International District

The International District has a quite a few small markets selling Asian groceries, but none compare to the sprawling Uwajimaya (600 5th Ave., 206/624-6248, www.uwajimaya.com). The largest Asian supermarket in the Northwest, it sells everything from high-quality groceries to Japanese furniture. Step inside for an eye-opening venture across the Pacific, plus excellent light meals in the Japanese deli.

Snag the tastiest — and sometimes funniest — fortune cookies at Tsue Chong Co. Inc. (800 S. Weller St., 206/623-0801, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Mon.–Fri., 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Sat., closed Sun.), where you can buy bags of uniquely flavored fortune cookies, witty “misfortune” cookies stuffed with predictions unseen in most Chinese desserts, as well as the standard fare. Tsue Chong also sells scrumptious egg noodles.

Fremont & Wallingford

As might be expected, Seattle has quite a few natural and organic grocers. The oldest is Puget Consumers’ Co-op Natural Markets, a.k.a. PCC, with seven stores around Seattle offering bulk foods, organic produce, and other healthy edibles. You don't have to be a member to shop here, though prices are a bit lower if you join. Several of the markets—notably the one in Fremont (716 N. 34th St., 206/632-6811, www.pccnaturalmarkets.com, 6 a.m.–midnight daily)—have fine delis with both vegetarian and meat dishes.

Fremont Sunday Market brings a farmers market, jewelry, flea market, and live music to N. 34th Street in Fremont between late April and Christmas. During the winter months it moves inside a parking garage at 400 N. 34th Street. It takes place 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sunday.