I spend a lot of time at markets, farmer's markets, and food shops and wanted to list some of the best. I'm sure I've left a lot off the list, but these are ones I can personally vouch for and those that I frequent in the cities I've lived in and the cities I've been. All of them I highly recommend! See below for Berkeley/Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Aix-en-Provence, Barcelona, London, and Cusco.
5300 Claremont Ave.
Oakland, CA 94609
Sundays, 9am-1pm
My go-to market of choice when I lived in the East Bay. There is a great little crepe stand here with the best crepes - savory and sweet. Also, there is a Blue Bottle Coffee stand here, but good luck; the lines are usually insane on Sundays!
Grand Lake Farmer's Market
My go-to market of choice when I lived in the East Bay. There is a great little crepe stand here with the best crepes - savory and sweet. Also, there is a Blue Bottle Coffee stand here, but good luck; the lines are usually insane on Sundays!
Grand Lake Farmer's MarketGrand Lake Ave. & Lake Park Ave.
Oakland, CA 94610
Saturdays, 9am-2pm
Saturdays, 9am-2pm
Incredible market in Oakland, probably the biggest in the East Bay. Tons of choices of food and produce galore. My favorite is the Waffle truck that parks right on Grand Ave.
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| Photo courtesy of La Farine French Bakery. |
La Farine French Bakery
6323 College Ave.
Oakland, CA 94618
The only bakery where I bought my bread! My loaf of choice was their Sweet Batard or, depending on my mood, the Sour Batard. Words can't express how much I miss this place! Everything is good here, from their morning buns to their giant tarts.
| Photo courtesy of theshot.coffeeratings.com |
Cole Coffee
307 63rd St.
Oakland, CA 94618
Oakland, CA 94618
My preferred coffee of choice when I lived here. They have a front cafe area where they brew each individual cup while you wait. The back shop is where you can buy bulk beans and drip coffee.
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| Photo courtesy of the San Francisco Chronicle. |
6321 College Ave.
Oakland, CA 94618
Berkeley, CA 94710
The best place for the best produce (when you can't make it to the farmer's markets). You can find any fruit or vegetable here, with rarities from all over the world.
5095 Telegraph Ave.
Oakland, CA 94609
Lines for sandwiches and deli meats here run out the door of this small shop in the Temescal. Go early on the weekends! The salamis here are the best.
Lines for sandwiches and deli meats here run out the door of this small shop in the Temescal. Go early on the weekends! The salamis here are the best.
Pasta Shop/Market Hall
1786 4th St.
Berkeley, CA 94710
2370 Telegraph Ave.
Oakland, CA 94612
This is a Korean market in the heart of Koreatown, bordering Downtown Oakland. My favorite thing to get is the marinated bulgoki and shortribs that you can throw on your grill at home!
This is a Korean market in the heart of Koreatown, bordering Downtown Oakland. My favorite thing to get is the marinated bulgoki and shortribs that you can throw on your grill at home!
300 Webster St.
Oakland, CA 94607
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| Photo courtesy of Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant. |
Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant
1605 San Pablo Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94702
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| Photo courtesy of the Ferry Building Market Place. |
1 Ferry Building
Embarcadero BART
This is an absolute must if you're visiting S.F. It's where I took all my friends and family who were new to town. Make sure to check out the Poulet Roti truck with the rotisserie chicken and the pork loin sandwiches!
ACME1 Ferry Building #15
Embarcadero BART
2325 Pine Street
Pacific Heights
OR
1000 Cole Street
Cole Valley
Cowgirl Creamery
1 Ferry Building #17
Embarcadero BART
373 Columbus Ave. (b/t Grant Ave. + Vallejo St.)
North Beach/Telegraph Hill
North Beach/Telegraph Hill
Larchmont Farmer's Market
542 1/2 N. Larchmont Blvd.
Sundays 10am-2pm
My neighborhood and weekly market that you can find me at every Sunday.
Hollywood Farmer's MarketIvar & Selma Ave. at Hollywood Blvd.
Sundays 8am-1pm
Overwhelmingly huge, this market sprawls! There are tons of food stands here and some great produce finds. Also, some awesome oysters and fresh crab.
La Brea Bakery
624 S. La Brea Ave. (@ Wilshire Blvd.)
Mid-City / Miracle Mile
Joan's on 3rd
8350 W. 3rd St. (b/t La Cienega Blvd. + Crescent Heights Blvd.)
Mid-City West
This is a really great market hall and food/deli/bakery that has exploded in recent years. It has expanded in the last couple years from the original storefront they had which was *tiny*. There is now ample seating inside and out, spilling onto the sidewalk on 3rd street. It can be quite a scene here with a celebrity sighting almost daily. Watch out for paparazzi.
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| Photo courtesy of dailycandy.com |
8777 W. Washington Blvd.
Culver City
This store is an incredible gem off the beaten-path in Culver City. It's really a restaurant supply store, but you can find anything and everything from paella pans to cast iron skillets and napkin dispensers to gourmet cheeses.
Sprouts
5660 Sepulveda Blvd.
Culver City SouthPlace Richelme
Everyday, mornings
Produce
This daily market was the closest to my apartment and one that captured the quintessential French experience for me. Along the periphery of Place Richelme are loads of cafes with outdoor seating areas where the locals would perch and sip their coffee and people-watch. It was busy absolutely every single morning, as if it was a weekend market every day.
Place de l'hôtel de ville
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday mornings
Flowers
I'm a flower fiend and this was a market that was truly special. Flowers of all shapes and colors, three times a week, in the main square of Aix. You always knew it was a flower market day because it was so fragrant!
Place de Prêcheurs
Le grand marché - Saturday mornings
Produce, Arts/Crafts, Textiles, Goods
This was the mother of all french markets. Like a farmer's market and flea market rolled into one - a vintage fiend's dream. A definite must-see if you're visiting Provence.
Mercat de la Boqueria
c/la Rambla 91
This is the main market off the Las Ramblas in the heart of Barcelona. Try a taste of the Spanish horchata here - it's a world away from the flavors of the Mexican horchata that I'm so familiar with. And of course, get a sampling of their incredible jamon!
Tube: London Bridge
South East London
This market was such a gem in the middle of a gritty area of London! This partially covered market was full of the most incredible sausages and sandwiches and food. Flower vendors, cheese vendors, and fish mongers were interspersed with produce and pantry goodies. You could pretty much find anything and everything here. The picture below isn't the greatest as it's just a load of trash bins, but it gives you a good idea of the expanse of the place!
near the Estación de Tren San Pedro
Definitely not for the faint of heart. This is a nitty, gritty market that feels like it caters more to locals than to tourists, but not in a good way. There is a huge area of local produce, fresh coca leaves and Peruvian herbs, nuts, and especially a meat market section. This butcher section is something you could never imagine, with body parts of animals you never new existed out on display - truly one of the quintessential Peruvian experiences.
Definitely not for the faint of heart. This is a nitty, gritty market that feels like it caters more to locals than to tourists, but not in a good way. There is a huge area of local produce, fresh coca leaves and Peruvian herbs, nuts, and especially a meat market section. This butcher section is something you could never imagine, with body parts of animals you never new existed out on display - truly one of the quintessential Peruvian experiences.
