Essex Market
New York City, NY
The Lower East Side’s Essex Market has been a neighborhood meeting and eating hub since the 1940s. First built on the site of a previous outdoor market as a way of bringing street vendors together, the multilevel indoor space continues to be a one-stop shop for quality food and produce, and has grown into a modern food hall full of choice eats.
The basics
More than 40 vendors at Essex Market sell everything from fresh fish to Thai-style burgers, ceviche to croissants. Special events are held here as well, and many are free. Check the market’s website to see if a cooking demo or cultural happening is taking place during your visit.
Many travelers come here independently to eat and shop, but you can also take a guided tour of the market. Food-focused walking tours of the Lower East Side often stop here too.
Things to know before you go
- The food vendors for takeout and dining in the market are downstairs, while the produce vendors are upstairs.
- Note that at some counters that sell alcohol, you must stay at the bar to drink rather than take your drink away (unless it’s a sealed container to take home).
- There’s plenty of seating and tables in the market, as well as WiFi, air conditioning, and restrooms with an entry code.
How to get there
Essex Market is on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, right across from the Delancey Street–Essex Street subway station (F, M, J, and Z trains). It’s also right by the Williamsburg Bridge that crosses the East River to Brooklyn, so it’s an easy place to visit if you’re driving between Manhattan and Brooklyn.
When to get there
The market is open daily, except on a few major public holidays (including Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s Day, among others.) Monday to Saturday it’s open from early in the morning to late evening; on Sunday, it opens later and closes earlier. Note that individual vendors may keep different hours. Since the market is indoors, you can come in any season or weather.
Visit the Tenement Museum
The Essex Market is just two blocks east of the Tenement Museum, so it’s worth visiting both of these Lower East Side landmarks on the same day. This museum recreates the living quarters of diverse immigrants who settled in New York City from the 1860s to the 1980s, offering a rich experience of the city’s multicultural past and present.
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