Visiting a local market is one of the quickest and most enjoyable ways to immerse yourself in the regional culture. With products from down the road and genuine artisans at the ready, you can’t get much closer to the fruits of the land or the sentiment of the people; if you know the local language, you can even sidle into a conversation. Lanes of dangling wares and delectable scents will keep you entertained for hours, not to mention well-fed. Regardless of how long you’ll be in the city, try to work a market into your stay, and consider straying a bit off track for any one of these unforgettable local market experiences.
A relatively young city with a surprisingly old market, Toronto’s historic gem sits proudly in the city center, offering three buildings of delicacies for locals and visitors to enjoy. Its history stretches back 200 years and over that time, the quality and variety of vendors has grown and morphed into an impressive array of local flavor, from artisanal cheese makers to antiques dealers and artistic exhibitions. You can get your daily groceries here, too, and you won’t be disappointed with the quality. On from Tuesday to Saturday, the main market is a feast for the senses, and though it gets busy, it’s never too difficult to wind your way through the covered building.
Head south of the Thames to London’s Borough Market, a treasured corner of the city for foodies and gourmets of all budgets. This is where you come for specialty ingredients that you can’t find elsewhere, and street food that is simply done better than elsewhere. A trip through the 70 stalls will treat you to local cheese, ciders, cakes, and seasonal produce that’s difficult to resist. The stall operators are known to be welcoming and genuine, which will surely elevate your visit. The market also hosts events from time to time, and new traders may make an appearance – you can check out the market webpage to plan your visit.
A market with roots that stretch back to the 13th century, the infrastructure of La Boqueria retains a remarkably charming medieval quality, while the goods for sale are exceedingly fresh (and unmistakably Catalan). Fresh produce tumbles over stalls, and the seafood selection is particularly remarkable. But this sprawling market is not only the showcase for the region’s edibles, it also hosts a cooking school for visitors to pick up a couple of Catalan techniques. Even if you just duck in for a fresh fruit juice, in a city this colorful and vibrant, it only makes sense to swing by their most renowned market.
This is hailed as the largest market in Central America, having prospered for hundreds of years and having earned a place at the top of the tourist itinerary. It’s also culturally unique, resting on the traditions and workmanship of the resident Mayan communities, and shouldered by the mystical Lake Antigua, the landscape is quite astounding. Hand-woven textiles bring people from far and wide, with a vast array of colourful patterns aching to be taken as souvenirs, but there are other quality handicrafts for sale, too, like pottery and leatherwork. If you want to visit, try to get to the area before market days (Wednesday and Saturday) – local accommodations fill up fast, and the streets are packed by Saturday’s sunrise.
A legendary place with a singular vibe, Marrakech is a series of markets strung together that peddle different sorts of regional specialities. The tapestried alleyways glow with lantern glass and sunlight, which combats the claustrophobic passages. Soon you’re smelling the scents of dates, oranges and olives – stop for a bite at one of the food vendors, and eat with your hands. There are so many examples of pristine leatherwork, amazing kaftans, and a host of delicate trinkets to explore. Some travelers find the labyrinth to be a little overwhelming, so you may want to bring a guide book, or even take a guided tour (especially if you plan to devote more than one day to the markets).
A very old marketplace sits alongside the charming maze of Venice, where locals go to get their fresh food from the barges that move up the Grand Canal. The Rialto Market sets up each and every day, with the famous Rialto Bridge for a backdrop, and the frenetic pace and organized chaos is something to behold: knowing locals jostle their way through the crowd and up to the stands for seafood, but also fresh Italian produce. It’s worth the effort – you likely won’t find fresher fish anywhere in the city. If you don’t have your own kitchen facilities during your Venetian visit, you probably won’t take advantage of the variety of ingredients, but it’s certainly still worth a visit.
Organic and sustainable are the keywords here. Just a stone’s throw away from the Pacific, you can count on fresh, wild-caught seafood at the Portland Farmers Market, but the bounty from the land is even more impressive: a rainbow of veggies spills over the stalls, including varieties that you wouldn’t expect, and incredibly local meats and fruits. Where else can you find six types of organic greens alongside buffalo meat and fresh berries from up the road? This is a true farmer’s market, with the heart and soul of a committed rural community, but it’s also attuned to the sensibilities of the modern shopper. This is inarguably one of the best food markets in the country.
Paris is a paradise for market-goers, with a remarkable market in nearly every arrondissement, and a theme suited to every shopper. Quirky flea markets and pop-up fashion tents are worth a look, but for food and drink, you’ll want to make you way to the Marché Bastille, where you’ll find a wider selection of fresh produce than the supermarket more local cheeses than you could imagine. There are a few stalls of cheap goods tucked into the sprawl of food stalls, and there are some delectably artisanal offerings that will set you back a small fortune. On Saturdays, the food market turns its space over to arts and crafts, which is also worth a look.
Most big city markets count on foreigner traffic, and some vendors will try to cash in on your interest and natural ignorance. Take your time to look at the items and consider if it’s as “unique”, “homegrown” or “handmade” as they claim – after making a few rounds to see what else is out there, you’ll be better at separating the authentic from the generic.
