New York has always been a city dedicated to commerce, so it’s no surprise that the markets in NYC are some of the best in the United States. Although some markets run year round, they really blossom during the spring, summer, and fall when they pop up like wildflowers in every borough and offer some of the best food and shopping in NYC.
For most visitors, the plethora of street food that most markets in New York City offer is the main reason to seek out these meccas of culture and cuisine, but don’t forget that there’s much more than just food on offer—a real New York Market celebrates the artists, artisans, collectors, cultures, and traditions of its home borough and it’s often one of the focal points around which various communities in the city unite.
If you want to check out a New York street market on your next trip, take a look at our list of the 10 best markets in the 5 Boroughs. Oh, and bring your appetite.
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Smorgasburg
It’s not just the idyllic views of Manhattan that attract thousands to this market. The king of food markets in NYC is also in some of the coolest parts of New York. Smorgasburg sets up shop on Fulton and Church Streets in downtown Manhattan, right across from the otherworldly Oculus.
On weekends you can find the market at one of these locations:
- Make your way across the East River into Brooklyn to find it at the East River State Park at Kent Ave. and N. 7th Street in Williamsburg, its original location.
- Or if you head to Breeze Hill in Prospect Park.
- Be sure to check out their website to see where they will be.
Regardless of where it’s held, it’s ground zero for the type of fusion foods that New York has become famous for creating and/or popularizing like the (in)famous Ramen Burger. Dubbed “the Woodstock of Eating” by the New York Times, this is where you go to sample the city’s trendiest foods and flavors, from banh mi and kalbi tacos, to waffle sundaes, craft beers, or just a good old fashioned hot dog –topped with kimchi and seaweed.
Brooklyn Flea
When you’re full from sampling all the food at Smorgasburg, we recommend doing some shopping over at the Brooklyn Flea, held on the weekends in DUMBO and also over the river in Manhattan in Chelsea.
This NYC market, which sells crafts, vintage furniture, clothing, collectibles and more, is a haven for quirky finds. Show up early and dedicate at least a couple of hours to simply getting lost among tables representing over 100 local vendors.
There isn’t much that isn’t on sale here but we especially enjoy looking for vintage jewelry and antiques along with items made by local artisans, like handbags. Music heads can also geek out at the various stands bursting with old vinyl.
LIC Flea Market
Many visitors to New York never leave Manhattan and if they do it’s to go to Brooklyn. In doing so, they miss what might just be the most interesting borough of them all – Queens. Don’t make the same mistake.
Just minutes from Manhattan on a plethora of subway lines (the 7, N, Q, R, E, F, G, and M trains all pass through there), Long Island City is a spicy stew of Latin, Caribbean, and Asian cultures with incredible views of Midtown to boot. All of these different cultures vying for space in the neighborhood mean that the LIC Flea Market (46th Ave, 5-25) is one of the most exciting and vibrant of the markets in NYC.
The market has some of the same crafty, collectible vibe as Brooklyn Flea, plus it offers a variety of food vendors and a special music series in the summer. It’s not quite as trendy as its Brooklyn counterpart, but it’s where all the Smorgasburg vendors go to get the inspiration for their next creations – one of the best markets in NYC for ethnic foods of nearly any persuasion.
*Note: As of April 2024, LIC Flea Market isn’t currently running, but they’re offering online experiences. They hope to be back soon with their flea market.
Queens Night Market
The vast and eclectic mix of cultures thriving in Queens (home to America’s most diverse neighborhoods) make for more than just great flea markets; the borough also has some of the best restaurants in NYC. With this in mind, the city decided to create a food market that captured the astounding culinary diversity of Queens one food stall at a time.
Thus was born the Queens Night Market. At this NYC market you can find 100+ vendors selling crafts, food, and art, along with cultural performances and entertainment, all under the stars. The list of vendors reads like something out of the United Nations: Romanian chimney cakes, fried ice cream, Korean Pancakes, Chilean street food, Sri Lankan snacks, Trinidadian shark sandwiches…the list goes on and on.
Unlike the other markets in New York on this list, this open-air extravaganza is held at night, on the weekend, starting in the Spring—and then a break in late summer for the U.S. Open—and concluding in the fall until the following year. It takes place at the New York Hall of Science in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens.
Union Square Greenmarket
Are you halfway through your holiday in New York City and getting tired of rich restaurant food? The Union Square Greenmarket (open throughout the week and weekend on the west side of Union Square) is the perfect remedy for that.
This market is a favorite among locals for its wide variety of local produce, wines, cheeses, and other foodie staples that make a perfect picnic lunch for anyone visiting the city. In the fall, it is the perfect place to get delicious, fresh apples that flood in from upstate.
We recommend grabbing some fruit and bread from the bakery and finding a good spot near the dog park to watch New York at its most active and vibrant.
Chelsea Market
Chelsea Market is often labeled “touristy” in the guidebooks. It’s true that there are a lot of tourists here; but there are also plenty of locals. In fact, there is a lot of everyone because the market is simply jaw-dropping. Open year-round and indoors, Chelsea Market is still the number one must-see market in NYC.
This site, along the High Line in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, offers over 35 vendors selling food, cooking supplies, and collectibles in all varieties.
You can eat sushi, pick up some baked goods, have lunch (or multiple lunches) or just get a glimpse of some of the most interesting foods available in New York. It’s a must-see for first-time visitors in New York, so be sure to put it on your list and plan to eat at least one meal there. And fun fact: the building that houses the market was once the Nabisco factory that made the original Oreo cookies.
Red Hook Food Vendors
Red Hook Food Vendors is the best market in NYC for Latin American food. Although New York City is awash with Latin foods, this is the market for those who want food cooked by Latins for Latins—from Mexican tacos to Peruvian ceviche to Salvadoran pupusas to good ol’ Costa Rican gallo pinto with fried plantains.
Don’t expect trendy fusion treats, or kimchi in your tacos though – these food stalls tend to take a purist approach to whatever cuisine they specialize in.
It can be a bit of a trek from Manhattan but the food and culture on display is a real treat – a fact attested to by it being a multi-time winner of NYC’s Vendy Award. The vendors are open for business and slinging tacos and other delights every weekend turning “Red Hook” into “Gancho Rojo.”
Eataly
Eataly, the first of its kind in the United States after taking its native Italy by storm, is similar to the Chelsea Market in that you can expect to be inundated by visitors the second you step inside.
Located right across from Madison Square Park, Eataly emulates the food markets of Italy, complete with freshly-made pasta, wine and cheese bars, and a beer garden on the roof. Stop in for a full meal, or just grab a few ingredients for dinner. There are also Eataly locations now at the World Trade Center and, most recently, in SoHo.
Kalustyan’s
This market is not like the others on the list, but it’s too good not to mention it. Kalusytan’s (Lexington Ave, 123) is a two-floor Indian and Middle Eastern specialty spice and food store in Manhattan’s Murray Hill neighborhood.
One of the best-kept secrets in NYC, it’s the place to go for hard-to-find hot sauces, spices, and all manner of specialty foods. There’s even an entire aisle of hundreds of varieties of rice from around the world. The tea and spice selection alone is worth a stop for locals and visitors alike.
This family-run operation has been in business since 1944 and It’s one of our favorite markets in the city just to go and browse. Kalustyan’s is open year-round, and even if you don’t buy anything, it’s a great place to browse for ideas.
Market 57
Opened in Spring 2023, Market 57 is brought to us by the James Beard Foundation. This food hall and market is located on Pier 57, wedged between the Chelsea Market, Chelsea Piers, the Hudson River, and Little Island.
There are about a dozen food purveyors here and they’re all superlative choices, each one representing a different cuisine: Thai, Mexican, Japanese, Middle Eastern, Caribbean barbecue, New England Seafood, Chinese dim sum, even craft beer, and third-wave coffee.
Update Notice: This post was updated on April 17, 2024.
Looking for more foodie adventures in NYC? Join us on our Lower East Side Food & History Tour. Discover the Lower East Side, where old meets new in a mix of classic and inventive foods. Taste iconic dishes like Jewish deli meats and international flavors from immigrant cultures. Meet the local shop owners who’ve crafted this unique food scene over generations. You’ll leave with a newfound love for the neighborhood’s delicious diversity!
