What are the best city markets in the US? (2 Viewers)

[dgreen]

I haven't been to a ton of city markets. I love Reading Terminal Market in Philly. That's been my favorite. Since I live near DC, I've been to Eastern Market and Union Market many times. Nashville has a nice market. I went to Chelsea Market in NYC for just a few minutes probably 10+ years ago. I walked by Pike Place Market in Seattle one evening but it was closed, so I haven't been able to experience that. But I did see (and smell) the Gum Wall, so I got that going for me.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I haven't been in many years, but Lexington Market in Baltimore used to be really good.

 

[urbanhack]

Portland St. Market on Saturday mornings is pretty terrific.

 

[dgreen]

Portland St. Market on Saturday mornings is pretty terrific.

Oregon? Maine?

 

[urbanhack]

Portland St. Market on Saturday mornings is pretty terrific.

Oregon? Maine?

OR

 

[zamboni]

Agree on Reading Market in Philly - so many varieties of things to eat. Pike Place in Seattle is also good but was uber crowded the one time I went.

Milwaukee's public market is also quite good.

 

[Jayrod]

Just went to NYC & Boston and hit up Chelsea Market in NY and Quincy Market in Boston. Also hit up Kensington Market a year ago in Toronto.

Enjoyed all of them, but I'd rank them:
1. Quincy - Boston
2. Kensington - Toronto
3. Chelsea - NYC

The first two seemed bigger and more food centric. Quincy Market is actually comprised of 3 large buildings and we didnt even cover all of it. It also has more of an outdoor space between the buildings for just sitting and eating with street entertainers that I liked a lot.

Kensington had the best variety of food, IMO but that's kind of a thing in Toronto. It is a 3 story single building Market and took a while to walk through but there was tons of variety and everything we had was good.

Chelsea has some good places to eat but is mostly one indoor corridor. It's a cool place and worth a visit but has fewer food options and feels more like a tourist trap (although all 3 are to an extent). I think the thing with NYC is that a lot of neighborhoods have their own feel so you can't really get a NYC centric Market in one place.

 

[dgreen]

Just went to NYC & Boston and hit up Chelsea Market in NY and Quincy Market in Boston. Also hit up Kensington Market a year ago in Toronto.

Enjoyed all of them, but I'd rank them:
1. Quincy - Boston
2. Kensington - Toronto
3. Chelsea - NYC

The first two seemed bigger and more food centric. Quincy Market is actually comprised of 3 large buildings and we didnt even cover all of it. It also has more of an outdoor space between the buildings for just sitting and eating with street entertainers that I liked a lot.

Kensington had the best variety of food, IMO but that's kind of a thing in Toronto. It is a 3 story single building Market and took a while to walk through but there was tons of variety and everything webhadbwas good.

Chelsea has some good places to eat but is mostly one indoor corridor. It's a cool place and worth a visit but has fewer food options and feels more like a tourist trap (although all 3 are to an extent). I think the thing with NYC is that a lot of neighborhoods have their own feel so you can't really get a NYC centric Market in one place.

I've been to Boston several times but for some reason never went to Quincy Market. I'll have to try it next time I'm there.

I had the same impression of Chelsea Market.

 

[Don Quixote]

I’m not a huge city market person, but Lancaster Central Market in Lancaster, PA was really good. I think it is oldest continuously operated one in the US. Some great bakery treats (long johns and whoopie pies), and produce and other baked goods fresh from the local farms.

 

[General Malaise]

Agree on Reading Market in Philly - so many varieties of things to eat. Pike Place in Seattle is also good but was uber crowded the one time I went.

Milwaukee's public market is also quite good.

Pike Place isn't really an "open air" market, so it is crowded and cramped. But it is open year-round.

I much prefer open-air markets in nice weather. Small town farmers' markets are a wonderful slice of Americana. Have hit some terrific little markets in Waldport, OR where the little acoustic band was banging out sweet covers of Gordon Lightfoot. There's one on Whidbey Island that had giant carrots in all sorts of beautiful colors. There's one we can walk to a mile or so from our house in downtown Beaverton. Fantastic family outing and now with craft beer, local wines and even fancy spirits!

 

[Ron Swanson]

I enjoy the Houston Farmer's market with a few caveats.

1) Don't go in the summer. It is super hot and not air-conditioned.
2) If you don't enjoy Mexican culture, ingredients, and markets you won't enjoy it. But if you're interested in those items you can't go to a better market outside of Mexico.
3) There is very little bougie element to it, it is a working Farmer's market with a few nice touches. Some of the best tamales on the planet, a really good Asian crawfish place, etc.

 

[dgreen]

I enjoy the Houston Farmer's market with a few caveats.

1) Don't go in the summer. It is super hot and not air-conditioned.
2) If you don't enjoy Mexican culture, ingredients, and markets you won't enjoy it. But if you're interested in those items you can't go to a better market outside of Mexico.
3) There is very little bougie element to it, it is a working Farmer's market with a few nice touches. Some of the best tamales on the planet, a really good Asian crawfish place, etc.

Hmm, maybe I finally have a reason to go to Houston. Other than the no a/c thing (that's insane!), sounds like a place I'd really like. Just looked at some pic on Google Maps...it looks awesome.

 

[Zow]

I’m not a huge city market person, but Lancaster Central Market in Lancaster, PA was really good. I think it is only oldest continuously operated one in the US. Some great bakery treats (long johns and whoopie pies), and produce and other baked goods fresh from the local farms.

Oh yeah, I remember going there as a kid. I remember liking the food.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Most markets in Florida are the Suxor, just being blunt as a longtime Florida native
Everything seems to be pumped thru the grocery stores
Oh sure you can find a farmer's market here and there but no consistency

What we do have that's really good in Florida is fresh fish and you can find markets for that but it certainly is not cheap
We have a couple fresh fish markets around my area in Jupiter, fresh off the boats daily and you pay for it.

 

[Desert_Power]

Most markets in Florida are the Suxor, just being blunt as a longtime Florida native

Have you tried the Jacksonville Riverside Arts Market? It is under the I-95 bridge so nice and shady. Very nice spread of things. Always impressed when we go.

 

[MTskibum]

I enjoy the Houston Farmer's market with a few caveats.

1) Don't go in the summer. It is super hot and not air-conditioned.
2) If you don't enjoy Mexican culture, ingredients, and markets you won't enjoy it. But if you're interested in those items you can't go to a better market outside of Mexico.
3) There is very little bougie element to it, it is a working Farmer's market with a few nice touches. Some of the best tamales on the planet, a really good Asian crawfish place, etc.

I knew Houston had smaller farmer markets, but didn't know about a larger one.

Quick Google search shows it is 45 minutes from my house. Seems a long way to drive for a farmers market, but maybe someday.

 

[Mister CIA]

I also think Reading Terminal Market is great. Go hungry!

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Most markets in Florida are the Suxor, just being blunt as a longtime Florida native

Have you tried the Jacksonville Riverside Arts Market? It is under the I-95 bridge so nice and shady. Very nice spread of things. Always impressed when we go.

Jacksonville is one of those cities I tend to not visit often but I live in South Florida
Even when i travel up to the Smoky Mountains and the National Park, I travel up I-75/441 along the West side of Georgia and stay away from I-95
Takes me a little longer but well worth the relaxation and back roads I find along the way to break up the drive/trip

-I had to take I-95 all the way last year to help a friend up in Raleigh after he had open heart surgery, 40 yrs old
It was one of the worst road trips from FL to his spot ever and I've driven cross country several times
I also was trying to outrun one of the major storms from last year that came across the West Coast of Florida

If I'm not in South Florida, my 2nd favorite spot is St Pete/Tampa Bay, just drop me off there and I can figure it out, never have a bad time when I visit
I'm bias though, forgive me

 

[Alex P Keaton]

I haven't been to a ton of city markets. I love Reading Terminal Market in Philly. That's been my favorite. Since I live near DC, I've been to Eastern Market and Union Market many times. Nashville has a nice market. I went to Chelsea Market in NYC for just a few minutes probably 10+ years ago. I walked by Pike Place Market in Seattle one evening but it was closed, so I haven't been able to experience that. But I did see (and smell) the Gum Wall, so I got that going for me.

Been to most of these, as well as some type of market in downtown LA. I love all these places, but Reading Terminal Market is my absolute fave. Been there maybe a half dozen times. It makes it all worthwhile to suffer the smells and vagrancy issues of downtown Philly to get the payback of eating all the foods at Reading Terminal.

 

[fatness]

The York Central Market has been around for 125 years or so and is still going: https://www.centralmarketyork.com/#introduction

It looks a bit more tailored to social outings, and less tailored to regular everyday food shopping like it used to be when I grew up there. I used to hop on the bus with my grandma, ride to the Market, and just wander around amazed. Especially at all the fresh fish which I never saw anywhere else. I'm a little kid, staring through the glass at all these huge (to me) fish laid out on ice, begging grandma to buy one and always getting turned down. All the Lebanon bologna, longhorn cheese, and apple butter from that market made me into the man I am today.

It's not too long a drive from where you live. And if you actually stay in York the Market is real close to the Appell Center (music and films) and the Yorktowne Hotel which has a cool rooftop bar.
Lots of market photos here.

 

[rockaction]

Doesn't Baltimore have a good one also? I've been to it. Lots of crab. Very tasty.

 

[fatness]

Doesn't Baltimore have a good one also? I've been to it. Lots of crab. Very tasty.

Yes, Lexington Market. But I haven't been there since the 1970's when I took a long bus ride from way outside Baltimore to go there, finally bought a fresh fish, and on the long bus ride home discovered why my grandma wouldn't take fresh fish on a bus ---- they start to stink really fast.
So much seafood at that market.

https://lexingtonmarket.com/