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. Hudson Valley farms supply chefs and home cooks four days a week.
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. Los Tacos No.1, Lobster Place, Sarabeth's, Doughnuttery, daily lunch crowd.
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. Saturday market, 100 vendors, East River views.
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 cuisines.
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. Thirty-five Hudson Valley and Long Island farms, year-round operation.
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, the chef supply for half the city.
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. Banchan counter, full fish market, dried-goods aisles, food court on the second floor.
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.
Peak food season in New York City is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. New York City rewards trust.