Istanbul’s Spice Bazaar And More: Popular Food Markets From Around The World
Image Credit: Vritti Bansal. Different types of tea at the Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem, Israel.

Food markets are places where food-enthusiasts can be seen at their most earnest: looking, listening, sniffing, feeling and shopping. Shopkeepers and vendors yell greetings in different languages while customers haggle noisily. The aroma of floral teas, high-quality spices and freshly baked goods wafts through these places that are considered meccas of food. Here are seven food markets from around the world that you must visit: 

Kashgar Market in Kashgar, China

Considered the biggest market in Central Asia, Kashgar Market runs only on Sundays. Kashgar was an important trading point along the Silk Road for over 2,000 years. The market is known for its large scale and the variety of goods that are sold. Fruits, spices and nuts dominate the produce. Lamb kebabs are also sold here, making a good lunch for those who visit and spend the morning shopping. 

Spice Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey

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Originally designed to be used as both a commercial and residential property, Delhi’s Gadodia Market is located in Khari Baoli, which is considered one of the world’s largest spice markets. Built around a Mughal-era bungalow, the market sells spices from Northern, Western and Eastern India. The chillies sold at Gadodia Market are the most sough-after. Even restaurants in Delhi have been known to source their spices from here. 

St. Lawrence Market in Toronto, Canada

Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market is made up of three major buildings, each selling different kinds of produce. Find everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to meat and dairy at The South Market. The Saturday Farmer’s Market, which is a part of The North Market, is a 200-year-old tradition. Dealers selling antiques also appear at The North Market on Sundays. 

Union Square Greenmarket in New York, USA

Vendors at the Union Square Market in New York change every week and this keeps things interesting. Open every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, the market sells locally sourced organic vegetables, different cuts of meat and baked goods. Food trucks here serve tasty street food to hungry customers.