5 Best Markets in Chicago

The Green City Market has been around for over 20 years. It started out as a rather modest row of vendors, with fewer than 10 set up in an alley by the Chicago Theater. It’s a different story today, thanks to blossoming culinary trends, with Saturdays bringing around 55 vendors and hundreds of shoppers to what’s become a big social event.

Long queues form at the prepared food stands like fan-favourite Gayle V’s Best Ever Grilled Cheese and the ever-popular Noble Fat where you can pick up bao buns, spring rolls and meat skewers made from locally sourced ingredients. On a sunny day, you’ll see lots of families picking up ingredients for a picnic, enjoyed on the grass with their dogs.

The Logan Square Farmers Market takes place on Sundays for as long as the weather will allow, usually until the last Sunday in October, and sits along a section of Logan Square’s historic boulevard. The market hosts vendors who come from as far as Wisconsin and Michigan.

You’ll find a wide range of fresh fruits and veggies, consumer goods and artisan-made items like soap. Most dishes are cooked to order, so if you’re feeling peckish at the market you’ll find plenty of choices to suit your tastes. With live music and free events like yoga sessions and Pilates, this one is not to be missed.

The Randolph Market is a European-style, indoor/outdoor market in Chicago. it offers everything from upscale items and collectables to quirky decor, second-hand clothing, home furnishings and sterling silver jewellery. There are plenty of vendors selling fresh food and beverages, along with live music and other entertainment.

Unlike most, there is a small admission fee for those 12 years and older to enter, with discounted tickets available online. The Randolph Market is well worth the cost as you could easily spend an entire day enjoying everything on offer. Markets run a couple weekends a month, so check the website for the next date and theme.

The New Maxwell Street Market was historically the place where immigrant families would sell their wares from pushcarts in the early 1900s. Although it has since relocated from its original location, it’s still a place to enjoy an international experience with a focus on authentic Mexican fare, some of the best you’ll find in the city.

Special events are hosted celebrating everything from Dia de los Muertos to Hispanic Heritage Month and the Jewish New Year. There are plenty of bargains to be found as well, with a wide array of collectables, clothing, furniture and household goods.

The only true year-round indoor market in the city, the Chicago French Market is a European-inspired marketplace for fresh food and the finest ingredients. Located inside the larger MetraMarket in the West Loop neighbourhood, it includes around 30 specialty vendors selling all sorts of delectable artisan dishes from across the globe.

You’ll find meats, fruits and vegetables, as well as freshly prepared dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Expect just about everything, from bakery items and burritos to sushi and gelato. There’s an onsite seating area reminiscent of a Parisian street cafe that’s not only ideal for dining, but fantastic for photo-ops too.