The 10 Best Street Food Markets In Europe

From locally sourced produce to delicious traditional international dishes, feast your senses at some of Europe’s most incredible street food markets. You don’t have to dine Michelin star or spend a pretty penny to find a good bite to eat in these exquisite markets...

Mercado De San Miguel - Madrid

Nestled in the heart of Madrid lies the meeting hub for lovers of Spanish cuisine and delicious gastronomical delights, the Mercado De San Miguel. Welcoming over ten million visitors each year, this historical building has been a market for over one-hundred years, taking gastronomers and wanderers on a journey of different flavours and essences around each corner.

From the finest Iberian ham and freshest fish imported daily from Galicia to tasty Mediterranean dishes and delicious cheeses from other Spanish regions – you’ll be sure to find the very best highlights of Spanish cuisine here at the Mercado de San Miguel. With over thirty stands to choose from, be sure to visit the new Amaiketako stall where you can taste the traditional Spanish tapas and their most popular dish, “salad with tuna, anchovies and piparra chili peppers”, and many more.

De Foodhallen - Amsterdam

Home to a wide range of high-quality food stalls, this go-to destination for food lovers is the place to be. Located only a 15-minute walk from central Amsterdam, De Foodhallen is a nineteenth-century old tram depot recently renovated into a modern industrial chic street food market. You’ll find a mixture of flavours here, from local to international dishes, and with over twenty stands to choose from, you are spoilt for choice. Why not taste some Cantonese dumplings at the Dim Sum Thing stall, some homemade bitterballen (Dutch croquette-meatballs) prepared by Michelin star chef, Peter Gast, at the De Ballen Bar or some inspiring vegetarian options at Padron?

Fancy a drink? Get your sip on and walk down to the drinks area where you can enjoy some delicious cocktails at the Gin & Tonic bar, indulge in some local Gleuvenglijder beer and be surrounded by incredible Dutch culture!

Markthalle Neun - Berlin

In 2011, the historical market of Markthalle Neun reopened its gates to foodies, 120 years after its original opening. Located in Berlin’s trendy area of Kreuzberg, this street food market operates with an environmentally friendly mission, only working with locally made products and seasonal ingredients and are gradually reintroducing the small-scale food trades. The Markethalle Neun has many popular street food pop-ups, fresh, locally-sourced produce supermarkets, authentic kitchen crockery designs, bars and much more. It’s no wonder it is becoming the focal point of a new Berlin food craze.

With many options to choose from, why not try something different at the TofuTussis? Situated in the basement of the market hall, this tofurei produce fresh organic tofu with high-quality ingredients and soybeans exclusively from Germany. For all vegans out there, or those who are intrigued to try something new, indulge in some delicious vegan street food dishes and other incredible dishes.

La Boqueria - Barcelona

What is a weekend away in Barcelona without a visit to the famous Boqueria market?

Nestled in the beating heart of the incredible Barcelona lies the open market of La Boqueria, also known as Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, the perfect place to satisfy your ‘hangry’ self. Priding themselves on the quality of the products they sell and the professionalism of their traders, you can always rely on the people in this great food market.

The bustling market of La Boqueria was built on the ruins of an old convent called Sant Josep, where the full name Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria came from and originated as far back as the 1200s, starting as an open-aired market. It sells all kinds of food and fresh produce of the highest qualities. Marketing foods and cuisine from all over the world, this food hall definitely stands out from the crowd. Tantalise your tastebuds and eat like a local at the stall, Ramblero. Indulge in the Jamón ibérico, the famous acorn-fed Spanish ham or try some traditional Spanish tapas that you’ll find dotted around the market.

Mercato Centrale - Rome

Once an after-hours meeting place for railway workers and now the go-to destination for delicious food, Mercato Centrale in Rome opened in October 2016 after their market in Florence proved a success. Made up of eighteen food stalls, this gourmet lovers food hall is filled with fine dining, the finest food artisans and eclectic event spaces revitalising the historic area the city once deserted and bringing it back to life.

The series of artisanal food stands of some of the greatest chefs in Rome at Mercato Centrale is perfect not just for travellers passing through the main train station of Termini, but for those looking for a great variety of delicious Italian food in one space. The artisans of the stalls are the stars of this market, all creating and presenting astonishing foods for their visitors — you’ll be spoilt for choice and will have difficulty choosing where to start! They only have one slogan at Mercato Centrale: “La bontà è elementare”, meaning “Goodness is simple”, which is something all food stall owners here attest to.

Why not try the famous pockets of white pizza with an inside filling at Stefano Callegari’s stall, Trapizzino? Made fresh daily with sourdough and stuffed with an array of traditional Roman recipes, this mouthwatering dish is well worth the visit.

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Borough Market - London

“Your go-to-market for fresh produce in London Bridge”

Steeped in rich history, take a step back in time at London’s oldest food market. Serving visitors near and far for over one-thousand years, Borough Market is the place to be for sumptuous and varied food choices. With its ever-changing institution, the market is filled with over one-hundred stalls and many of its market stallholders are themselves the producers. Borough Market’s environmental commitment goes above and beyond; their mission is to put every leftover piece of food or material to the best possible use and to see raw, useable materials where others see refuse.

Feast on hot dishes from street food vendors and browse stalls heaped with fresh produce at this foodie paradise by London Bridge. From fresh British fruits and vegetables to international gourmet foods, handmade chocolate truffles, freshly baked goods and so much more, there’s plenty to peruse and tuck into from the many traders and restaurants at Borough Market. Why not try some delicious raclette at the Kappacasein stall, and let the exquisite tastes and flavours take over.

Torvehallerne Market - Copenhagen

Located in central Copenhagen lies the Torvehallerne food market, a trendy covered and open marketplace with a focus on diversity, taste and quality. Here you will find over sixty stands selling everything from fresh fish and meat to gourmet chocolate and exotic spices, as well as places to grab a quick bite to eat. Opening in 2011, Copenhageners got their first fixed high-end market place in the centre and is now the go-to place for delicious food in Copenhagen.

Taking cues from other urban food meccas such as La Boqueria in Barcelona and London’s Borough Market, Torvehallerne is everything and more (and very Danish). They specialise in selling the freshest products that aren’t often found in these kinds of markets and have a fundamental respect for raw materials, meals and food cultures.

If you have a sweet tooth, be sure to visit the Summerbird stall in the market. Known for its high-quality chocolate, truffles and just about anything covered or mixed with chocolate that your heart can wish for, Summerbird is Denmark’s best chocolatier.

Great Market Hall - Budapest

Built in 1897, the magnificent Great Market Hall is Budapest’s largest and most beautiful of all market halls (yes, there are more historical market halls to discover in Budapest!). Situated just a five-minute walk from the city centre, this grand indoor market was constructed in the late 1800s. Sadly, it got largely damaged during the Second World War, but this neo-gothic market was restored and reopened in the 1990s to its full architectural glory and is now unquestionably one of Europe’s finest indoor markets.

Covering three floors, the Great Market Hall is the place to discover traditional street food dishes and is the perfect spot for culinary exploration for those wishing to experience the full spectrum of local foods. As well as ready-to-eat foods, visitors can purchase other fresh goods and regional delicacies in the market, including: fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh fish, Tokaj wines, Hungarian spices and even kitchen and home items.

Pamper your tastebuds and try the delicious recipe of lángos, the best-known fast food dish in Hungary. This national dish is a deep-fried dough classically topped with sour cream, garlic butter and lots of shredded cheese. It may not sound too appetising, but lángos is an absolute must-try in Hungary.

Marche Des Enfants Rouges - Paris

One of the more atmospheric of Paris’ food markets, this street food market is an absolute must go. Taking its name from the sixteenth-century orphanage that once occupied the site, the Marché des Enfants Rouges (translating as the "Market of the Red Children") is the oldest covered market in Paris. The orphanage closed before the French revolution, but the imposing wooden monument remained and reopened as a luxury food market nearly twenty years ago today.

With an impressive range of local and international stalls, Marché des Enfants Rouges is now something of a touristic hotspot. Only a stone’s throw away from the Rue de Bretagne, local Parisians and tourists are spoilt for choice. The market offers fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers and bread, as well as restaurants. If a quick takeaway meal doesn’t satisfy you, there are plenty of artisanal and organic food stalls to choose from.

For those looking to spice up their mealtime and wish to try something different, visit the popular, Le Traiteur Marocain food stall. Unlike the other stands in the market, Le Traiteur Marocain stays open for dinner, making it an affordable and intriguing evening spot. Among the patterned tiles, mosaic tables and tagine pots, the chefs of this Moroccan food stand will cook you up some delicious traditional food leaving your stomachs feeling extremely happy.

Östermalms Saluhall - Stockholm

Named ‘the world’s 7th best food hall’, Östermalms Saluhall has been running for over 130 years now. Bringing the people of Stockholm and tourists from all over the world together in this gastronomical heaven, they are left feeling inspired by the cuisine that is at its best. However, to celebrate their 130 years with one of Stockholm’s main venues, the food hall is being renovated until winter 2020, and is temporarily being held at the Östermalmstorg hall.

This gorgeous 1880s market hall is filled with antique stalls packed with the best of the finest; from seafood and gourmet goods, numerous restaurants and cafes to several fresh smoothie and coffee stalls and much more, you can enjoy all traditional Swedish delicacies here and take a step into history. Östermalms Saluhall really is a paradise for tastebuds, therefore make sure you pop down to Mesh (former Planet Food), where you can choose from an array of healthy sandwiches, juices, smoothies, salads, etc and be spoilt with only the best of the best ingredients!