Market Watch

Nothing says summer like a leisurely stroll through your local farmers market. Or someone else’s. From Mexico to Melbourne, indoors and out, we offer you a guide to the world’s most impressive food markets. So pack an appetite and embrace the chaos.

OAXACA
Mercado Benito Juárez
There are a dozen, if not more, destination markets in the towns outside outside of Oaxaca City, but within closer reach is Mercado Benito Juárez, a block south of the town’s central square. This indoor market spills over with produce (oranges, mangos, cactus paddles), spices and dried chiles, and regional specialties like chapulines (grasshoppers) and quesillo (a stringy white cheese).
Bring home: A molinillo — a wooden whisk that will grind down a disk of chocolate while frothing up milk, for the perfect Mayan style hot chocolate.
Between Calles 20 de Noviembre and Miguel Cabrera at Las Calas. Open daily.

LONDON
Borough Market
This market’s roots go as far back to the 11th century, when traders would hawk their loads under the protection of the London Bridge. Today it’s a hub for the capital’s gourmet set. During lunch hours, crowds of hungry professionals gather for specialty meat pies and savory kebabs, while shoppers stock up on mushroom pâté and goat’s milk ice cream.
Bring home: A couple of Flaxjacks® from Flax Farm — a delicious spin on the traditional granola bar, and the perfect in-flight snack.
8 Southwark Street, between the Thames and Borough High Street. Thursday 11am-5pm, Friday 12pm-6pm, Saturday 8am-6pm

MELBOURNE
Queen Victoria Market
Famous for its vast array of fresh produce, the Queen Victoria Market — or simply Vic Market — embodies old world charm. More than 150 years running, this open air bazaar (the largest in the southern hemisphere) is very produce-driven. You’ll find nearly every kind of fruity delight imaginable, from prickly pears and guavas to lychees and kiwis.
Bring home: The Double Bubble–colored bubblegum macaroons and a pound of espresso from Coffea, to fend off jet lag.
513 Elizabeth Street. Tuesday and Thursday 6am-2pm, Friday 6am-5pm, Saturday 6am-3pm, Sunday 9am-4pm

ISTANBUL
The Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar is a bit more than a market. With 4,000 vendors it could be classified as its own civilization. We recommend spreading your visit to the Bazaar across a couple of days, leaving enough time to build a solid spice collection, while not rushing into any carpet purchases.
Bring home: Spices — but don’t invest too heavily in the ground kind. Look for cinnamon bark, whole peppercorns, and dried herbs.
Take the tram to Beyazit, Üniversite or Sirkeci. Monday through Saturday 9am-7pm.

BARCELONA
Merkat de la Boqueria
La Boqueria has offered the best of Catalonia for over 700 years. It’s not for the squeamish, though. Legs of jamón dangle on display next to cases of head cheese, tripe and blood sausage. If you’ve still got your appetite, cozy up with the locals and enjoy a few plates of pintxos or tapas for immediate gratification.
Bring home: Bomba rice and pimentón, a smoked paprika, to recreate the perfect paella at home.
La Rambla 91. Monday through Saturday, 8am-8:30pm.

PALERMO
La Vucciria
Palermo’s proximity to major trading centers like Genoa, Pisa, and Venice helped establish La Vucciria as a gathering place for merchants as early as the 12th century. To this day, vendors announce their wares at the top of their lungs; no wonder “vucciria” means confusion in Sicily. The sight of mounds of purple artichokes and fresh pulpi, just pulled from the ocean, is the worth the price of pandemonium.
Bring home: Pine nuts or pignoli, a staple of the Sicilian diet and a more affordable alternative to stocking up at Whole Foods.
Between Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Piazza San Domenico. Monday through Saturday. Opens at dawn and closes at 2pm.

SAN FRANCISCO
Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market
This market is a winner for its stellar location — right on the San Francisco Bay — as well as the quality of produce and artisanal foods to be enjoyed. While the lines are long at RoliRoti and Pizza Politana, it’s for a good reason — this is some of the city’s best food, most certainly worth the wait.
Bring home: A serving bowl from Heath Ceramics, the Sausalito potters who supply tableware to legendary NorCal restaurants like Chez Panisse.
1 Ferry Building. Tuesday and Thursday 10am-2pm, Saturday 8am-2pm.

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