Ummm…Best Donut Tour in Seattle? My Honest Review
Did someone ask about the best donut tour in Seattle?!
Let me tell you, there is one, I repeat ONE, sweet, fried dough walking tour in Seattle with the Underground Donut Tour.
Like Homer Simpson, donuts are my kryptonite! So I was stoked to find out that there was a donut tour in my home town of Seattle and see what the hype was about.
Is it worth it? It sure is!
The Underground Donut Tour is a unique Seattle foodie tour that brings baked goods, history, and scenic sights into one experience. As a Washingtonian, I wasn’t expecting to learn new things, but surprisingly I did!
I “suffered” 😉 just for you to give you an honest review of this donut tour.
Don’t have time to read and just wanna get donuts in your belly?
Book the Seattle Donut Tour Now!
Underground Donut Tour Seattle
The sweetest 2hr walking food tour in Seattle! Try different varieties of donuts and learn some of the city’s history along the way! I loved it!
Perfect for all ages!
Please Note: this is NOT related to Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour. You will not be going below Seattle city streets.
Checking In to the Seattle Donut Tour
We began our donut tour by meeting your guide in front of Top Pot Doughnuts in Belltown. I was told they will either be in front of the building outside or up the stairs inside, depending on weather.
It was the beginning of summer when I went, so my guide Bella met us outside on a sunny, blue sky day.
She took our names to check in and told us to go inside Top Pot to order an espresso/tea drink from the bar “on the house”. I didn’t realize that was part of my ticket, so I was pleasantly surprised at that touch.
Apparently the Ovaltine latte is a signature Top Pot drink, so I had to try it. The barista asked what size I wanted. Again, I was surprised I had a choice in size as well!
As I waited for my drink, I peeked through the windows at the back and saw trays of fresh donuts being made. This is the Top Pot flagship and all their donuts are made here before being sent out to the other stores.
I don’t know if I’ve ever even had Ovaltine before in my life (I know the commercial tho!). However, I found the latte to be delicious and would definitely order it again.
Be aware that donut stops can change at the discrepancy of the tour, and you may hit different donut shops than I did.
On the Underground Donut Tour
Once all of us in tour group had our drinks the tour began!
Top Pot Doughnuts
Bella began with introductions and a history about Top Pot Doughnuts. Then she passed around a box of their donuts, two flavors of donuts cut in half: chocolate cake donut and maple old fashioned.
As we munched she gave us more history and donut factoids.
Some of us wanted to pace ourselves with our donut intake, so Bella gave us bags to put our unfinished donuts in to save for later.
We then walked a few blocks down, with Bella skillfully walking backwards on the sidewalk while carrying the box of excess donuts and pointing out Seattle landmarks. She has a soft spoken voice so it was hard to hear her sometimes, but I got most of it all.
Dahlia Bakery
Our next stop was Dahlia Bakery, a Tom Douglas restaurant. We waited at the covered outdoor tables on the sidewalk while Bella went inside to get our next treats.
She came out with bags of beignets (aka Dahlia Donuts) that she shook up with sugar first before serving.
They were served warm with sides of mascarpone and a seasonal jam which we could scoop onto the donut ourselves if we wished. The jam flavor that day was blueberry, which is typically not my favorite flavor, but oh my! it was incredible!
Once we had scarfed those down (hands down my favorite stop on the tour!), we continued our walking journey. Again, Bella continued to give us some Seattle history that even I didn’t know, and I’ve been a local for ten years!
We arrived at the edge of Pike Place Market where she parked us away from the crowds. Normally the view would be decent, but there was major construction happening on the waterfront and in front of the market, so it was a bit of an awkward location.
However, this was our next donut tasting spot and the view was soon forgotten.
OH Mochi Donuts
OH Mochi Donuts do not have their own storefront yet, so uses Dahlia Bakery’s kitchen at the moment. Instead of eating these donuts at Dahlia Bakery, we were given time to walk off the beignets and have a change of scenery here at the market.
As the name implies, these were mochi donuts, a fusion of American doughnuts and Japanese mochi. The use of tapioca and rice flour in the batter results in a fluffy, moist texture with a satisfying chew. And they’re gluten free.
OH Mochi has different flavors every month. We were given a strawberry(or raspberry?) glazed mochi donut.
It was a lot breadier than I was expecting, as the only other mochi donut I have had is from the Mountain View Bakery on the Big Island, Hawaii which has more of a gooey chew, closer to real mochi.
I like how mochi donuts have a such a different texture; you either love it or hate it. I’m one who likes it.
Once we finished these donuts, Bella expertly guided us through the ungodly crowds of the market, still stopping and giving us interesting factoids along the way.
She brought us to the famous Gum Wall where we were given about 5 minutes to admire (or avert) and get our selfies. Again, this is something you either love or are repulsed by it!
Daily Dozen Doughnut Company
Our last donut stop was the Daily Dozen Doughnut Company, a Pike Place Market staple. You can watch the machine make these mini donuts right before your eyes before getting them served hot and fresh in your hands.
Bella then brought us to a quiet back area of the market where we could sit and enjoy our last bites of the tour.
The End of the Donut Tour in Seattle
We tried 5 different types of donuts on the tour, but I figured we ate about 3 full donuts worth and I was definitely sweeted out by the end, which is a good thing!
To conclude our tour, everybody received little donut memorabilia. Bags were passed around to pick out a variety of stickers, little pins, and cute donut keychains.
Bella hung around to answer any remaining questions people had, regarding donuts or just Seattle in general.
There is usually leftover donuts after the tours, and today was no exception. Bella handed out the extras to those who wanted to take them home. I snagged the last mochi donut😜.
I know every group dynamic is different, but by the end of the tour, I felt like we were all friends. No one was feeling rushed to leave the group even after it had ended. And we all said goodbye to each other before going our separate ways.
CONCLUSION: I had such a lovely time on this donut tour, I would definitely recommend it! The price point may seem a little high for eating donuts, but consider:
- you get an espresso drink
- a small historical walking tour
- 5 varieties of donuts
- donut swag
- Plus, it’s one of the cheapest walking food tours in Seattle!
Book the Underground Donut Tour in Seattle
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Is Your Mouth Watering Yet?!
➡️ Get your Underground Donut Tour tickets here!
If you still have some doubts on whether this tour is for you, here are some Pros and Cons to help answer some questions:
Donut Tour Pros
Donut Tour Cons
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Underground Donut Tour in Seattle FAQs
Does Seattle have good donuts?
Yes! Seattle has many good donuts, hence the need for a donut tour.
My absolute favorite place for donuts IN THE WORLD is at Despi Delite Bakery up on Beacon Hill. They are the fluffiest and robust donuts that have set the bar for any and all donuts.
Is there more than one underground tour in Seattle?
The Underground Donut Tour in Seattle is a deceptive name as there are other actual underground tours. There is the famous Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour as well as Beneath the Streets Underground History Tour .
Who is the Seattle donut tour for?
The donut tour in Seattle is for all ages and all donut lovers!
There is less than a mile of walking involved, with options to sit at each tasting. There are a couple of hills, but not too bad.
How long is the donut tour?
The donut tour takes about 2hrs. The time is split between walking and resting for donut tastings.
How many people are on the donut tour?
Up to 15 people are allowed in the donut tour group. This helps keep the group manageable and more intimate.
Where to park for the Seattle donut tour?
I would suggest parking closer to Pike Place Market as your tour will end there and you will probably want to do some wandering around afterwards. So you’ll be more tired after the tour and dread the walk back if you parked closer to the start of the tour.
There are many parking lots and garages around Seattle. Some offer Early-Bird parking, meaning cheaper parking if you arrive before 8:00am-10:00am, depending on the lot.
Street parking is also an option but finding 4hr+ parking can be tricky. HOWEVER, street parking is free all day on Sundays and holidays.
Check Out These Other WA Food Tours!
Pike Place Market Food Tours
Best Food Tours in Seattle
Snohomish Wine Walk
Is the Underground Donut Tour in Seattle Worth It?
Heck YES it’s worth it!
The Underground Donut Tour in Seattle is a great way to explore the city, learn some of its history, and enjoy a variety of delicious donuts. With an espresso drink included and free swag at the end, it’s hard to beat this tour for value.
Whether you’re a local or visiting from out of town, the Underground Donut Tour is definitely worth it and will give you something sweet to remember your time in Seattle!
🌲 Washington Travel Planning Guide 🌲
🚨 Should I buy Washington travel insurance?
YES — I recommend Travel Insurance Master because you can compare multiple options with one click. With plans starting at $5/day per person, why not give yourself piece of mind? Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it!
🚗 Is it safe to rent a car in Washington?
YES — It’s totally safe to drive in Washington. And unless you are planning to just stay in Seattle, renting a car is pretty much a necessity! Beware of tolls whether crossing bridges or driving in HOV lanes. I recommend Discover Cars as they have some of the best prices around.
📞 Will my phone work in Washington?
YES — All major cell providers work in Washington. However, be prepared for some dead spots in the more remote parts like in the middle of the cascades.
🛏️ What’s the best way to book my Washington accommodations?
For Washington hotels, Booking.com is amazing because you can often reserve your room with no money down. If you are looking at Airbnbs for a more home-like stay, don’t forget to check VRBO for potentially better prices and options.
✈️ What’s the best site to buy Washington flights?
I recommend looking at Skyscanner for finding cheap flights. Pro Tip: check if flying into Everett is cheaper than flying into Seattle.
🛂 Do I need a passport to visit Washington?
NO — If you are a US citizen, you do not need a passport as Washington is part of the United States. If you are from out of the country, the same passport and visa requirements are the same as entering anywhere in the United States from your country.
🧳What should I pack to Washington?
Layers! Layers! Layers! Weather can get finnicky, so prepare for both rain and sunny warm days. Wear comfortable walking shoes that can go from city strolls to mountain hiking.
