A stroll through some of the world’s best food markets can provide more entertainment, drama, and eye-candy than anything you’ll find on the Food Network. The offerings not only tell a complex story about a country’s landscape, they relate what’s in season, what’s for dinner, and what a culture holds dear. They provide sustenance while doubling as a community center, with endless delicious pay-offs within. These 15 iconic markets around the world are some of the richest in product, history, and local flavor.
By Kathleen Squires
Borough Market, London, England
Traditionalists shop side-by-side with trendsetting artisans at London's">, which dates back 800 years. More than 100 stalls proffer baked goods, confections, cheese, charcuterie, wine, beer, fruit, veggies, spices, meat, fish and seafood, along with a staggering variety of dining options, from Thai street food to Indian dosa and Argentine empanadas. The market is so popular, it even publishes its own magazine, Market Life.
Carmel Market, Tel Aviv, Israel
Fish Market, Bergen, Norway
While browsers can buy some vacuum-sealed salmon to bring home as a souvenir, it’s best to pull up a stool at one"> to dive right into gems from the surrounding Nordic waters. This is where to compare and contrast crab and determine (once and for all) whether stone, king, or brown is what floats your boat; it’s also where the adventurous can nibble on whale meat.
Jemaa el-Fnaa, Marrakesh, Morocco
It’s always show time right in the middle of the Old"> main square, where snake charmers, fortune tellers, belly dancers, and monkey handlers provide the entertainment among stalls selling fresh-squeezed orange juice and exotic teas. When night falls, however, the energy considerably brightens in Marrakesh’s center as over 100 open kitchens take over, grilling kebabs, stewing tajines, and cooking cous cous well into the wee hours.
Kreta Ayer Wet Market, Singapore
Anything that wiggles, wriggles, or writhes populates this market, which proffers eels, frogs, snakes, and reptiles in addition to meat, produce and herbal remedies. A landmark of Singapore‘s Chinatown, the term “wet market” comes from the ritual of constantly hosing down the floors, so wear shoes that can wade through small rivulets. Pop in the food hall upstairs for noodle and tofu dishes.
La Boqueria, Barcelona, Spain
Welcome to jamon heaven! Sample the best of Spain’s cured meats, from bellota to chorizo to Serrano inside">, which sits right off of the city’s popular pedestrian strip, Las Ramblas. Then pick up some Manchego cheese, manzanilla olives, and marcona almonds to round out an entire day’s snacking. Or settle into one of the tapas bars for a Catalonian chickpea stew. A market has stood on this site since the 13th century; today, more than 250 vendors bustle inside the iron-framed hall.
Les Halles de Paul Bocuse, Lyon, France
Local hero Paul Bocuse is one of the world’s most influential chefs; so his seal-of-approval promises extraordinary quality. The modern"> opened in 1971, though Bocuse lent his name to the space in 2006, and the site has served as a marketplace since 1859. What to expect inside this Lyon icon: a wealth of regional products, from escargot to oysters; foie gras to tarte framboise. Don’t be surprised if you bump into other Michelin-starred names here.
Mercado de la Merced, Mexico City, Mexico
Mercado del Puerto, Montevideo, Uruguay
Accomplished asadors fire up steaks, poultry, game, sausages, and maybe a vegetable or two, at each of a dozen parrilla-style grill restaurants inside"> in Montevideo. Grab a quick appetizer at Empanadas Carolina near the Piedras Street entrance before settling at a counter at one of the restaurants for a meaty feast. Finish with a medio y medio, the signature sweet-and-dry white wine refresher at Roldo’s.
Mercato Centrale, Bologna, Italy
One look-around here reveals exactly why Bologna is known as the food capital of Italy. The area is responsible for many of the country’s culinary gems, from prosciutto di Parma to balsamic vinegar to mortadella. This is the place to pick up these regional treasures, along with housewares like pasta cutters and salumi slicers. Enjoy lunch at the adjoining café of the gourmet shop A.F. Tamburini, where the homemade pasta is irresistible.
Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne, Australia
Spice Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey
Vibrant, colorful mounds in saffron, gold, green, ruby, and amber make a veritable feast for the eyes and a favorite for shutterbugs. Just adjacent to Istanbul's vast Grand Bazaar, the 88 “rooms” in this structure date back to the 17th century, when it was dubbed the “Egyptian market” for selling goods shipped in from Cairo. In addition to spices, this is a great souvenir stop for herbs, oils, nuts, soaps, dried fruit, and boxes of Turkish delight.
St. Lawrence Market, Toronto, Canada
Tsukiji, Tokyo, Japan
Sushi: it’s what’s for breakfast on the outskirts of this world-famous">. With 2,000 tons of fish and seafood moving through each day, it’s hard to find fresher fare after the excitement of the tuna auction, when restaurateurs, retailers, and wholesalers compete for the best catch. Only licensed purchasers are allowed to buy, and while access to the wholesale market is restricted, a limited number of spectators are welcomed to the auctions in the early mornings.