Where New York City shops, snacks and lunches: the markets worth your morning.
Food markets, farmers markets and covered halls: where New York City shops, snacks and lunches.
Union Square Greenmarket has anchored Manhattan greenmarket shopping in New York City since 1976. Open mon, wed, fri, sat 08:00-18:00. At Union Square Park.
Go for: Hudson Valley produce, Pastry, Cheese, Fish
Tip: Saturday is the biggest spread but the most crowded. Wednesday morning is the calm market for chef shopping.
Chelsea Market on Ninth Avenue runs an indoor food hall in the old Nabisco factory in New York City. Open mon-sat 07:00-22:00, sun 08:00-22:00.
Go for: Lobster rolls, Tacos, Bakery, Spices
Tip: Avoid noon to 14:00 on weekends; the corridors fill. Los Tacos line moves fastest; Lobster Place is the slow seat.
Essex Market moved in 2019 to a glass-and-steel building on the Lower East Side in New York City. The 1940 public market continues as a 36-stall indoor hall.
Go for: Fish, Cheese, Mexican counters, Bread
Tip: Boubouki, Shopsin's, and Don Ceviche all serve full lunches; counter seating runs the length of the second floor.
Smorgasburg has run the city's biggest outdoor food market on the Williamsburg waterfront in New York City since 2011. Open apr-oct, sat 11:00-18:00.
Go for: Pop-up street food, Ramen burgers, Lobster rolls
Tip: Arrive at 11:00 for the cleanest queues. The market closes at 18:00; vendors sell out by 16:00 most weekends.
Queens Night Market in Flushing Meadows runs Saturday nights April through October in New York City. 100 vendors, most plates under $6, all five-borough.
Go for: Global street food, Family budget eating, Live music
Tip: Take the 7 train to Mets-Willets Point. Plates are capped at $6, $10 for premium; bring $40 cash for four people.
Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket runs Saturday mornings outside Prospect Park in Brooklyn New York City. Located in Park Slope. Open sat 08:00-15:00 year-round.
Go for: Brooklyn farms, Pastry, Cheese
Tip: Park Slope's biggest weekend draw; arrive before 10:00 for fresh bakery. The Bread Alone stall sells out by 11:30.
Kalustyan's on Lexington has run a South Asian spice and grocery shop in New York City since 1944. Four floors of dried chillies, lentils, oils.
Go for: Spices, South Asian groceries, Olive oils
Tip: Sumac, Aleppo pepper, urfa biber and rose petals are the four spices to take home. Mail-order ships nationally.
H Mart on 32nd Street runs the biggest Korean supermarket in Midtown New York City. Located in Koreatown. Open daily 08:00-23:00. At 38 W 32nd St.
Go for: Korean groceries, Banchan, Seafood
Tip: The food court upstairs runs noodle counters and a tofu room. Skip the lunch rush at 12:30; 11:30 or 14:00 are the easy seats.