Best European Food Markets
There are certain things or experiences that I try and seek out in every city I visit. Rooftop bars, a good hike and.....
Food Markets.
“Food Markets always showcase the local cuisine in such an authentic way. No fuss, no frills but great food and usually at low cost! ”
They also really give you a feel for the city and its culture, and so I would highly recommend seeking out a Food Market wherever you are in the world!
Here’s a list of those I have visited, and how they fare against each other!
At a glance
If you don't fancy reading the whole thing, here are my top picks across the world!
Barcelona - Mercado de La Boqueria
Madrid - San Miguel Market
Lisbon - Time Out Market
London - Borough Markets
Bologna - Mercato delle Erbe and Mercato di Mezzo
London - Spitalfields Market
Athens - Central Municipal Athens Market
1. Barcelona - Mercado de La Boqueria
Mercat de la Boqueria; Rambla, 91 08001 Barcelona
Website: http://www.boqueria.barcelona/home
#Spain really knows how to do food markets!
The Mercado de La Boqueria is home to over 200 traders! There are bars, butchers, delicatessens, grocers, fruit and veg stalls, and so much more! They are centrally located and so are walkable from the city centre, and are a must visit during your trip to Barcelona.
I visited around 6 different stalls and sampled so many cold meats, cheeses, croquettes and desserts - the whole lot!
2. Madrid - San Miguel Market
Pl. de San Miguel, s/n, 28005 Madrid, Spain
Website: https://mercadodesanmiguel.es/
Another Spanish market takes the number 2 spot!
First things first - The San Miguel Market has Sangria ON TAP. What a win. I came here on 2 different occasions as they are just so good. Both times were so busy it was hard to get a seat, but we got there! For a full rundown of what we ate, check out my Madrid Food Guide.
They have Paella, croquettes, mini sliders, Patas Bravas, all the good stuff!
These guys are over 100 years old, and although not as big as Mercado de La Boqueria, they have so many high quality places that you will keep wanting more.
3. Lisbon - Time Out Market
Av. 24 de Julho 49, 1200-479 Lisboa, Portugal
The daily spend includes food, drinks, miscellaneous items such as sun cream, plasters, souvenirs etc. For reference, we ate out for lunch and dinner everyday, and grabbed a pastry and coffee to-go each morning. The places we went to ranged from cheap ‘grab and go’ eateries to boujie restaurants. For the full rundown of everything we ate, check out my Athens Food Guide. We usually allocate £108 per day for the 2 of us on average, and so far we have not gone over! We could absolutely manage on less, however this is the sweet spot for us with seeing, eating and experiencing whatever we want. This might be different for you depending on your priorities.
4. London - Borough Market
8 Southwark St, London SE1 1TL
Website: https://boroughmarket.org.uk
Borough Market is the one. Cold cuts of meats and cheese, mouthwatering sandwiches and fresh local produce. It's a great place to mooch on a weekend morning, try all of the samples and then stock up on food to make one hell of a charcuterie board that night.
One place you can't miss is The Black Pig. This is food porn at it's finest. Dan and I actually split one of their sandwiches and it sorted us both out! They have one called 'The Best One' but truth be told, they're all 10/10.
For my full list of London food recommendations, check out my London Food Guide.
5. Bologna - Mercato delle Erbe and Mercato di Mezzo
Via Clavature, 12, 40124 Bologna BO, Italy
Taking the number 5 spot is Bologna’s Mercato di Mezzo. Only a short walk from Piazza Maggiore, this market has a range of restaurants and stalls full of fresh pasta, pizza, cheeses and drinks!
This is an Italian food market at its finest. What more could you want?
Despite it being centrally located, it’s tucked away down the narrow streets of Quadrilatero, and so be sure to add this to your list and make a visit!
6. London - Spitalfields Market
56 Brushfield St, London E1 6AA
Website: https://www.spitalfields.co.uk/
Some of the best food markets have not just been found on my travels abroad.
Living in #London, I have visited Spitalfields Markets multiple times and it’s always a great place to try delicious food from local vendors, and do a bit of shopping at the same time!
They have every cuisine under the sun at Spitalfields, along with some banging desserts!
The surrounding area is also home to some high end retailers and so make sure you explore the whole of Spitalfields!
My personal favourite is Humble Crumble, I literally cannot get enough of the stuff, but try as many as you can and let me know your favourite!