Trying out the local food is one of the best things about travelling, but to get a real feel of a place, you need to steer clear of the obvious tourist traps. Finding where the locals eat is key to getting a true taste of a destination, so you really want to find out where the little known markets are.
So where are some of the best hidden food markets in the world? Read on to find out.
Marché St. Quentin
Paris has a fantastic culinary reputation, but there is a huge difference between the types of places catering to tourists visiting the French capital and the people who live there.
One of the best hidden food markets in the city can be found at Marché St. Quentin, which has a huge range of speciality cheeses, as well as some of the freshest produce available in Paris.
In total there are about 30 different stalls to explore at Marché St. Quentin, but visitors need to make sure they get there early if they want their pick of the best food on sale.
Detroit Eastern Market
Detroit has had a hard time of it in the last few years, but it is still home to one of the best food markets anywhere in America and offers some of the freshest and most delicious foods you’ll find in the US, not like you’ll find on this post!
The Detroit Eastern Market is open every Saturday and the marketplace, which is laid out over six blocks, even opens up on Tuesdays during the summer months.
Perhaps the best time to visit the Detroit Eastern Market is on Flower Day, which takes place every May. This is where hundreds of growers descend on the city to show off their trees, perennials and much, much more.
Visit the official website of the Eastern Market for more information.
Mercado de San Ildefonso
Mercado de San Ildefonso might be located in the heart of Madrid, but if you do not know where to look, the chances are you will walk right by, without ever knowing it was there.
Located on Calle Fuencarrel, a busy shopping street, from the outside Mercado de San Ildefonso looks like a regular Spanish ham bar.
But peek through the pig and you’ll see one of the most varied food markets in the Spanish capital. There’s fresh seafood up for grabs, as well as a gourmet burger station and even a wine bar. Laid out over three floors, the Mercado de San Ildefonso even has its own outdoor terrace.
If you’re interested in visiting Madrid Holiday Supermarket have some good deals.
Hoi An
Vietnam is becoming increasingly popular with tourists visiting south-east Asia, but much of the country remains fairly unknown.
That is certainly the case for the incredible food market at Hoi An, where amazing crusty Banh Mi can be bought, as well as the terrific Vietnamese beef noodle soup, Pho.
Snack food is available to buy on almost every street corner of Hoi An and daring diners can even try foods such as hot vit lon, which is a fertilised embryo egg. The spicy beef noodle soup – Bun bo hue – is a much safer choice, along with a superb Vietnamese coffee.
Maltby Street Market
There are loads of food markets to choose from in London, but the best known of them can be extremely busy, making it hard to get the best stuff.
But the Maltby Street Market, tucked away in the south-east of the city, is different.
Just a short walk away from the Jubilee Line, Maltby Street market serves everything from Argentinian steak burgers to oysters and even homemade ginger beer.
And unlike most of the well-known food markets that are dotted around London, Maltby Street Market is mostly free of tourists, giving you plenty of time and space to pick out produce.
