Do you make it a point to visit farmer's markets or outdoor food markets when in a new city? If so, then you may want to add these 10 food markets to your list, ranked as the best in the world by National Geographic.
The Best Food Markets in the World
1. St. Lawrence, Toronto, Canada: "More than 120 retailers dispense everything from seafood to coffee."
2. Union Square Greenmarket, New York City: "The market's variety in this now revitalized area bewilders many supermarket shoppers."
3. Castries Market, St. Lucia: "Stock up on island spices (star anise, mace, cinnamon); breadfruit, bananas, and other tropical fruits; condiments like hot-pepper sauce; hot food, including rotis; or the fishermen's catch."
4. Ver-o-Peso, Belém, Brazil: "Noisy and chaotic, yet irresistibly atmospheric, with parallel rows of fishmongers selling odd-looking specimens..."
5. Mercado Central, Santiago, Chile: "Under a wrought-iron, art nouveau canopy dating from 1872, this animated fish market groans with an extraordinary shoal of sea creatures..."
6. Kreta Ayer Wet Market, Singapore: "Like most things Singaporean, this Chinatown market is spotlessly clean, its floor hosed down regularly for hygiene, hence the term 'wet market.'"
7. Kauppatori, Helsinki, Finland: "Star buys include moose, reindeer, and bear salami; chocolate infused with salted licorice; and salmon and herring delicacies."
8. La Vucciria, Palermo, Italy: "...the smell of barbecued sausages and kebabs permeates the air."
9. Cours Saleya, Nice, France: "Lined with cafés and seafood restaurants, the market has a different atmosphere on summer nights, when it becomes a covered eating area."
10. Borough Market, London, England: "London's oldest food market... delights foodies with its cornucopia of fine foods from independent suppliers throughout the U.K. and beyond..."
Read More: Top 10 Food Markets at National Geographic
Related: 10 US Farmer's Markets Worth a Trip
(Image: Gregory Han)
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A fun list to peruse. When I travel (which I wish I did more of), I always make a point to visit a local farmer's market. Its a great way to immerse yourself into the culture of wherever you are visiting whether its here in the US or abroad.
Would consider adding Eastern Market in Detroit.
Loooove Borough Market! Had some awesome venison burgers there.
I just visited Mexico City, and always on my travels I seek out the non-touristy markets. Mexico City if full of markets of all sorts - so fascinating. Thanks for this list.
Love that I've been to three of these... NYC, Nice, and Toronto... But where is San Francisco's Farmers Market? It's my favorite! Huevos Rancheros made fresh for you with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Doesn't get better than that!
See you haven't been to the Boqueria in Barcelona!!
The market in Nice is nice (haha) but fairly touristy. I'd swap in the Sunday market along the river in Bordeaux. Beautiful produce, amazing breads, butchers and fishmongers galore...all finished up with a glass of wine and fresh oysters! Now that's the way to shop...
I second Detroit's Eastern Market being on this list, besides the amazing buildings, range of flowers, produce, meats, fish, grains, nuts, honey, and vendors like McClures Pickles, Zingermans, and avlon bread. Also It has incredible restaurants surrounding the market.
West Side Market in Cleveland! Get falafel, stroll around the indoor and outdoor markets. (gotta be indoor, this IS NE Ohio!)
Eastern Market in Detroit definitely deserves a place on this list.
Machane Yehuda in Jerusalem, Shuk Ha Carmel in Tel Aviv. Really, without any middle eastern markets on the list, it's a joke.
How about a list of top markets within the US? I'd LOVE to visit all of these markets, but the chances of me doing any major traveling any time soon are sadly slim.
I think the Italian Market of Philadelphia is missing from this list-- the name is a bit of a misnomer, as the Market is also home to a huge Mexican/Latin American and Asian population. There is a long open-air market (the oldest in America!) and many, many shops-- everything from gourmet cheese and charcuterie to freshly made tortillas to specialty dim sum and pho shops. It's amazing, vibrant, a little dirty but very, very diverse. A great place and a great market!
Love the list but there is no way the Union Square market outranks the Ferry Building market in SF.
I loved the night markets in Kaohsiung and Taipei in Taiwan. If you are a foreigner at the not-touristy markets, they make you sample and get a real kick out of it if you are adventurous enough to try everything.
You really missed the Jean Talon Market in Montréal that is twice or even three times the size of the St. Lawrence in Toronto.
I second Barcelona's Boqueria!! Maybe it's because I live here, but I've seen many far more vast and wide-ranging food markets than Union Square's Greenmarket. Granted, I do love having it as an option, not complaining!
I second the West Side Market in Cleveland. I'm from Cleveland, but have moved to Minnesota... and I swear I have dreams about the West Side Market.
St Lawrence Market is ok, but it's really just a meat-fest with little else. I have only been to 3 of the markets on this list, so I can't speak for most, but Union Square NYC really is fantastic.
I'd also like to add the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia is superior to St Lawrence because it's the same concept in a similar venue, but done properly.
I'm gonna go ahead and second both the Italian Market and Reading Terminal Market comments (both in Philadelphia). I may be biased, but you can get incredible produce from both, and for incredibly low prices. Of course, there are all types of shops in each. Amazing.
They must be crazy at NatGeo! The best in the U.S.: Madison Farmer's Market in Wisconsin. I think it's the biggest producer's market in the U.S., too. Fabulous. Really!
I third Barcelona's La Boqueria. RTM in Philly is my main squeeze but I'm biased in that way.
Kim... do you mean the Bay Bridge? Because the Ferry Building markets are right next to the Bay Bridge, not the Golden Gate.
Judiau, totally agreed. The Ferry Building markets are amazing. Someone, go there for me, find the Alfieri Farms stand, and enjoy the HECK out of their almond brittle! (Why, whyyy don't they mail out to Australia?)
NYC but nothing in California? Really?
I'm surprised at the omission of California markets. I would also add a little asterisk for the Fulton market in Seattle, not so much for the fish (which is probably good, but I wouldn't know), but for the incredibly beautiful, incredibly cheap flower bouquets. I wish the Union Square Market had anything on those enormous fistfuls of poppies for $5!
Yes to Dane County Farmer's Market in Madison, Wisconsin. Simply the best!
Definitely Detroit's Eastern Market. Its huge. You can feel the history & promise. Check out Zimmeran's visit
@threechordme: If all you're seeing at St Lawrence is the 'meat fest', you haven't explored it thoroughly. The south Market has a huge bulk store in the lower level (Domino's), Kitchen Place sells kitchen wares, there are bakeries upstairs & down, at least 2 giant cheese shops, several fishmongers, restaurants, jewellery stands & single-product stands (Honey World, Kozlick's Mustards, Lily's Teas, bulk pasta, coffee beans roasted while you wait, rice from around the world), as well as several greengrocers. Farmers take over the north Market on Saturdays with local produce indoors & out. There's a maple syrup seller who's been there, rain, snow or shine every Saturday for over 20 years (best I've ever tasted). On Sundays the north Market becomes a flea market. Give St Lawrence another try; there must be some reason it's in the number one spot on the list. Oh, and check out their website: http://www.stlawrencemarket.com/
Findlay Market in Cincinnati!!!!!
http://www.findlaymarket.org/
Amphawa Floating Market near Bangkok, Thailand, is pretty amazing.
So is Jagalchi Fish Market in Busan, South Korea (there's more than just fish!)
Soulard Farmer's Market in St. Louis, MO is pretty great, too. :)
Farmers Market in Downtown St. Paul. Fabulous.
Madison, WI.
in the US, the farmer's market in the french quarter...while sippin a chicory-to-go from cafe du monde
INDIGO, I thought that Soulard was pretty great as well.
La Boqueria in Barcelona; I fourth it! Amazing place.
Love this list and all the other suggestions and long to go travelling again soon.