Information
Landmark: St. Lawrence MarketCity: Toronto
Country: Canada
Continent: North America
St. Lawrence Market, Toronto, Canada, North America
Overview
In Toronto’s Old Town, the St. Lawrence Market has stood for generations, its brick walls and bustling stalls steeped in history.For more than two centuries-ever since Lieutenant Governor Peter Hunter marked it as “Market Block” in 1803-it’s been at the heart of the city’s social and economic life, alive with the smell of fresh bread and the buzz of early-morning trade.The market complex has three main buildings, with South Market as the busiest-its doors swing open six days a week and stay shut on Mondays.Inside, more than 120 specialty vendors sell everything from crisp apples and buttery cheeses to fresh-caught fish, warm loaves of bread, and ready-to-eat meals.You’ll also spot one-of-a-kind crafts and handmade goods here, like a mug still warm from the kiln.You’ll find the Market Gallery-home to the city’s Cultural Services-up on the second floor, just past the smell of fresh coffee from the lobby café.North Market’s current building is being redeveloped, with scaffolding rising along its brick facade.For now, a pop-up location is running at 125 The Esplanade, just past the corner café.On Saturdays, the North Market comes alive with its Farmers’ Market, as growers from Southern Ontario arrive with baskets of crisp apples, jars of honey, and other fresh goods for the city.People have kept this tradition alive since the early 1800s, when lanterns first lit the dusty streets at dusk.Every Sunday, the North Market sheds its usual bustle and fills with worn wooden tables stacked high with antiques.St. Lawrence Hall, built in 1850, now serves as office space and hosts special events in its magnificent Great Hall, where sunlight spills across the polished wood floor.Retail shops set up on the ground floor, where you can smell fresh coffee drifting out the door.St. Lawrence Market has worn many hats over the years-it once housed Toronto’s very first City Hall, and even a jail where iron bars still rattled in the breeze.The market buzzes with independent merchants, local farmers, and skilled artisans, many carrying on family traditions that have thrived here for generations.They provide personalized service and top-notch products, from fragrant spices to handwoven scarves, all capturing Toronto’s diverse spirit.Known as a culinary hotspot, the market draws crowds with crisp local produce and fragrant spices from around the world.Locals and visitors can wander in and find fresh flavors-maybe the warm spice of cinnamon or a twist they’ve never tried-alongside rich culinary traditions.Every Saturday, the Farmers’ Market bursts to life as Ontario growers set out baskets of crisp apples, fresh cheese, and cuts of meat, keeping a beloved tradition alive by selling straight to the people.On Sundays, the Antique Market buzzes with vendors showing off weathered trunks, porcelain teacups, and other vintage treasures for sale.(Note: Some sources indicate this market may have relocated).Note: A few reports suggest the market’s packed up and moved to a new spot.Market Kitchen hosts lively cooking classes and hands-on demos for everyone, from first-time cooks to seasoned pros, sometimes with the scent of fresh herbs in the air.Right in the heart of Old Town Toronto, you can hop off at King Station and walk a few steps; there’s even a handful of parking spots nearby."World's Best Food Market": National Geographic once recognized St. Lawrence Market as one of the best food markets in the world.You’ll find the main South Market at 92–95 Front Street East in Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1C3, right across from the old brick clock tower.National Geographic once named St. Lawrence Market among the world’s best, a bustling hall where the scent of fresh bread drifts through rows of colorful produce.
