While food and drink can be bought affordably in a supermarket, there are many traditional market halls, bazaars and fish markets which make shopping an experience in its own right.
Market halls contain retailers for food and similar products, in particular goods such as meat, seafood, cheese, confectionery, herbs and spices, wine, alcoholic beverages and farmed goods such as flowers and holiday ornaments, often with restaurants on the same site. Common in Europe and Japan, market halls had their heyday in the late 19th and early 20th century, in the transition from outdoor markets to supermarkets. A district with an old rail station and a grand old hotel is likely to have a legacy market hall, too. Many market halls mainly have retailers selling high end quality products; others (generally away from tourist areas) have retailers selling cheap clearance products, such as fruit which is the wrong size for supermarkets or broken cookies straight from the factory. The retailers (stall-holders) in a market hall are usually small businesses independent of the hall management.
A fish market or seafood market can be either wholesale or retail; in the latter case a good place to buy seafood more fresh than in a supermarket.
Many of these markets, in particular those for fish, focus on wholesales for local retailers and restaurants. They open early in the morning, and might be closed at weekends.
Many legacy department stores have a high-end food section.
Legacy food markets are extremely common throughout Latin America. Most large cities have dozens (some even hundreds) of legacy food markets. Traditional markets are found in most cities and towns of any significant size. Towns that don't have a permanent market usually have tianguis, which are temporary marketplaces that "pop up" on a certain day of the week. Many towns have a Tianguis that has operated continuously since pre-Hispanic times. In many large cities, one or more of the marketplaces have evolved into significant tourist attractions. These include about a dozen major markets in Mexico City, as well as the largest markets in Bogota, Santiago, and Buenos Aires. In some towns, the local tianguis has also developed a reputation among tourists and has become an attraction in itself. Famous tianguis include the Bazar de Sabado in Mexico City/San Angel and those in Chichicastenango, Guatemala and Otavalo, Ecuador.
Destinations
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Europe
[edit]- 1 Feskekôrka, Rosenlundsgatan (Gothenburg, Sweden). The indoor Fish Market, called "Feskekôrka" (Fish Church) because of the shape of the building and Gothenburgers' legendary devotion to fish, is by the canal near the harbor. Renovated in 2024.
- 1 La Boqueria Market (La Rambla, Barcelona, Spain). Tempt your tastebuds at this delightful food market where the food is plentiful, fresh and can be cooked to order in one of about five small restaurants. Also a place for fresh juices and some takeaway snacks. To avoid heavy crowds, or to buy the freshest perishables (e.g., seafood), go well before noon. At least in late fall, winter and early spring months, La Boqueria is closed on Sundays.
- 2 Borough Market (off Borough High St, London, United Kingdom). One of London's favourite wholesale working food markets, on Fridays and Saturdays offering a general retail market with specialties sold directly from the producers, organic products, delicatessen, cheese, wines, fish and imported continental fare. Around the market are other excellent food shops, for a total food experience! Pick up some food and enjoy it under Southwark Cathedral. For market shopping, it's best to go in the morning, or after 2PM, since it starts to get very crowded by around 11:30AM when the lunch crowd comes in.
- 3 Viktualienmarkt (Munich). The pedestrianised street and outdoor market.
- 1 Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı) (Istanbul, Turkey). Istanbul's grand old bazaar with an estimated 4,400 shops lined along covered walkways. It is said to be the world's oldest shopping mall, covers several blocks and features a labyrinth of side streets to keep you lost for the better part of a day. The shops are organized around their wares, e.g. the silver jewellers are clustered together, the carpet shops are clustered elsewhere and the shoe shops are bunched together somewhere else. Parts of it now are modernized and rather touristy—most locals don't shop here—and you are likely to pay up to twice as much as elsewhere. However, with the vast selection you will find what you're looking for and it is one of Istanbul's character pieces.
- 2 Mercado de San Miguel (Market of San Miguel) (Madrid, Spain). Near Plaza Mayor is this indoor market, identifiable by its ornate iron posts. Built in 1913, it's full of a wide range of high quality food. Even if you're not buying anything, it's worth entering for the sights and smells of dried ham, fine wine, freshly baked goods and other treats from the vendors inside. Sets the ambience of a traditional market, with the advantages of the new times. It has an iron and glass structure from the 20th century. This is also a good place for tapas and drinks.
- 3 Old Market Hall (Vanha kauppahalli) (Helsinki, Finland). Next to Market Square, this old brick building houses Finland's best collection of gourmet food boutiques. Try to find the stall that sells beaver sausage.
- 4 Östermalms Saluhall (Östermalmshallen), Östermalmstorg (Stockholm, Sweden). A market hall in a beautiful 1880s red brick building, with all kinds of expensive food, especially seafood, meat, and cheese, as well as a food court. Re-opened in 2020 after a renovation.
Oceania
[edit]- 5 Queen Victoria Market (the QVB), Queen St (Melbourne/CBD, Australia). One of the largest markets in the southern hemisphere, most of the structures were built in the 2nd half of the 19th century. It has a mix of open air sheds and indoor food halls.
- 4 Adelaide Central Market (Adelaide/City and North Adelaide, Australia). Historic market in the heart of Adelaide.
Asia
[edit]- 2 Toyosu Market (豊洲市場 Toyosu Shijō), 6 Toyosu, Koto-ku (Tokyo, Japan). Toyosu is new home of the world's largest wholesale market for seafood and produce after its relocation from Tsukiji. Unlike the old facility where tourists could almost walk up to the fish, Toyosu's market has large enclosed observation decks and dedicated paths for tourists to view the action, including the famous tuna auctions. However, early morning fish sales start before public transit opens, so take a taxi for those. Free.
North America
[edit]- 5 Reading Terminal Market, 12th and Arch Sts (Center City East, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States), ☏ +1 215-922-2317. M-Sa 8AM-6PM, Su 9AM-5PM. The Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia is a major produce market and dining center. It is particularly noted as home to shops selling many of Pennsylvania's Amish merchants here, ranging from baked goods to meat to fresh organic produce. Other, non-Amish shops and restaurants also abound, offering a wide variety of foods for on-site consumption (lunch is particularly popular) and as groceries.
- 6 Central Market (downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States). Tu F 6AM-4PM, Sa 6AM-2PM. The Central Market in Lancaster, Pennsylvania is oldest continuously operating farmer's market in the United States. You can find just about anything here. The Amish and local vendors all bring their products to sell here. Everywhere you walk, you will see and smell all kinds of food.
- 3 Pike Place Market, 1501 Pike Pl (Seattle, United States). One of Seattle's most touristy destinations, Pike Place Market is a functioning public market; one of the oldest in the country. Mostly indoors, it consists of dozens of little shops tucked into a few square blocks downtown, situated on multiple levels. Even if you hate shopping you might still like this place, with its colorful atmosphere and quirky gimmicks, like the famous seafood stand where the staff toss fish from one end to the other.
- 4 Lexington Market, Baltimore (Light rail or Metro to Lexington Market). A marketplace has existed at this location since 1782, though the current building is new, having opened in 2022. Some of the merchants in this market have operated here for over 200 years. A number of fresh seafood and produce vendors provide fresh food to city residents and restaurants though today's market has more grab-and-go restaurants to better fit modern lifestyles.
Inside Mercado Libertad in Guadalajara - 5 Mercado La Merced, Mexico City/Centro (Metro line 1 to La Merced). Traditional marketplaces are common throughout Latin America and especially so in Mexico City where more than 300 mercados supply most of the food and household supplies consumed by the city's 20 million or so hungry residents. Mercado La Merced is Mexico's most famous and Mexico City's largest traditional marketplace covering an area of several city blocks with additional specialty stores and vendors in the streets surrounding the market. The market consists of hundreds of vendors selling fresh produce, seafood, baked goods, meats, and unusual spices that are the critical ingredient in myriad authentic Mexican recipes.
- 6 Mercado Libertad (Mercado San Juan de Dios), Guadalajara. Huge traditional marketplace that spreads over several city blocks in the downtown area (Centro) and across many levels in the main market building. Bustling place that is well organized with vendors clustered in groups for different types of merchandise. In addition to fresh vegetables, meats, and other agricultural commodities, there are vendors with clothing, candies, household items and much more. The prepared foods area has restaurants serving many specialties of the region's cuisine, including a number of vendors with excellent birrias.
- 7 Mercado San Benito, Mérida. The largest marketplace in the Yucatan Peninsula, the market was newly built in 2003 and is a large, concrete structure with market halls on four levels. Fresh foods are the dominant types of product sold in the market though there are also vendors selling shoes and household items. The marketplace sits next to a second large marketplace called Mercado Merida. Many more vendors are along nearby streets.
South America
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- 8 Mercado Central de Santiago (Santiago Central Market), Santiago/Central (Metro to Puente Cal y Canto). As in most Latin American cities, there are at least a dozen large public marketplaces in Santiago. Some are known for having the freshest vegetables, or perhaps the most pork vendors, or bread vendors. The Mercado Central is the largest of Santiago's market halls and its "specialization" is the freshest seafood. Of course you will find a bevy of produce vendors, meat vendors, and every other type of staple, as well as vendors selling prepared food including the most authentic traditional and regional cuisine available anywhere.
- 9 Mercado de San Telmo (San Telmo Market), Buenos Aires/Centro. Buenos Aires has dozens of traditional marketplaces, but San Telmo is one of the largest and most tourist friendly. Established in the late 19th century, the marketplace has vendors selling fresh produce as well as locally made prepared foods, including cheese shops, fresh made pasta shops, empanada shops and dozens of vendors selling traditional and regional dishes.
- 10 Plaza de Mercado Paloquemao, Bogota. Huge central marketplace with fresh produce, prepared regional dishes, and particularly well-known for its variety of flower vendors. The fruit vendors have almost any kind of fruit imaginable, including a number of tropical fruits that are virtually unknown outside the local region.
- 11 Mercado Ver-O-Peso, Belem. Huge waterfront marketplace. Most famous for its mind-boggling selection of fresh seafood. The marketplace is one of the oldest continuously operating markets in Brazil, having been established in the 17th century.