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 less 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 lines form at the prepared food stands like Gayle V’s Best Ever Broiled Cheese and Cookies and Carnitas, which serves famously amazing chili, tacos, sandwiches, and, you guessed it, cookies. 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 almost year-round, heading indoors during the chillier months as the only weekly winter market in Chicago. For the rest of the year, it 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, in case you're feeling peckish at the market. 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 décor, second-hand clothing, home furnishings, and sterling silver jewelry. There are plenty of vendors selling resh 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 one could easily spend an entire day enjoying everything on offer.

The New Maxwell Street Market was the place where immigrant families would sell their wares from pushcarts in the early 1900s. While it relocated from its original location, today it’s still a place to enjoy more of 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. Located inside the larger MetraMarket Mall in the West Loop neighbourhood, it includes nearly 30 specialty vendors selling all sorts of delectable artisan dishes from across the globe.

You’ll find meat, 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 café that’s not only ideal for dining, but fantastic photo-ops too.