The best pop-up food markets coming to New York City this spring

March 19, 2018

Although it seems like winter may never end, the opening dates have been released for many of New York City’s seasonal pop-up markets, finally signaling the start of warmer weather. This spring, try standbys like Smorgasburg, Broadway Bites, and the Hester Street Fair. Or check out under-the-radar, but just as tasty, pop-ups like the Red Hook Food Vendors and LIC Flea & Food. To make it easy to taste test the endless options offered up, we’ve put together a list of 11 pop-up food markets coming to the city this season.

Manhattan

Photo via Hester Street Fair on Facebook

1. Hester Street Fair
25 Essex Street, Lower East Side
Runs Saturdays from April 14- Oct 27

With its ninth season kicking off in April, the Hester Street Fair promises to bring some of the city’s best local vendors to the Lower East Side. Founded in 2010, the fair is a mix of both flea market and food court, creating the perfect day of eating and shopping. The fair is also credited with jumpstarting businesses from side hustle to full-time brick-and-mortar gigs. NYC faves like the Macaron Parlour, Melt Bakery and Gordos Cantina all got their start at the Hester Street Fair. The fair opens on Saturdays starting April 14 to October 27, from 11 am to 6 pm.

Graphic via Grand Bazaar NYC

2. Grand Bazaar’s Food Truck Fest
100 West 77th Street, Upper West Side
Sunday, March 25

For one day in March, New York City’s largest curated weekly market, the Grand Bazaar NYC, will bring a free food truck fest to the Upper West Side. Dubbed the NYC Food Truck Fest, the event will feature 12 gourmet food trucks, as well as the bazaar’s typical 100+ vendors selling antiques and artisanal items. On March 25, New Yorkers can enjoy empanadas, fresh lobster, sweet crepes and more. Like the market does every Sunday, 100 percent of donations will go to four local public schools. Don’t miss the tasty event on Sunday, March 25 from 10 am to 5:30 pm.

Photo of Broadway Bites via Urbanspace NYC

3. Broadway Bites
Greeley Square, Midtown
Summer market runs May 2- June 15

Urbanspace NYC operates both public year-round food halls (like Urbanspace Vanderbilt and Urbanspace 570) as well as a few pop-up food markets in Manhattan. Wedged between 32nd and 33rd Street, Broadway Bites opens daily during the summer and fall and includes some of the city’s most beloved vendors. Last season, the pop-up brought Jicama California Street Food, Red Hook Lobster Roll, Domo Taco, and more. While the market squeezes onto a small parcel of land, there is definitely no shortage of high-quality, yummy snacks. The summer market kicks off May 2 and will be open from 11 am to 9 pm.

Photo of Mad. Sq. Eats via Urbanspace NYC

4. Mad. Sq. Eats
Worth Square, Flatiron District
Spring market runs May 5- June 1

Mad. Sq. Eats, a semi-annual culinary market, will pop up just in front of the Flatiron Building between 24th and 25th Streets starting May 5. Operated in partnership between the Madison Square Park Conservancy and Urbanspace, Mad. Sq. Eats brings classic vendors like Roberta’s and Gotham Poké to the historic neighborhood, as well as impressive newbies. Last fall, flavorful favorites like Chick’n Cone, KBBQ by Korilla, Renegade Vice Parlour and Gumbo Bros set up shop. This spring we’re expecting the same, if not even tastier, goodies. Mad. Sq. Eats operates daily from 11 am to 9 pm.

Photo of Garment District via Urbanspace NYC

5. Urbanspace Garment District
Broadway and 40th, Midtown West
Spring market runs June 4- July 13

This spring foodies in Midtown will be able to enjoy Urbanspace’s Garment District pop-up, a market serving up delectable goodies beginning June 4. Last summer, the market, located between 39th and 40th Streets, featured a beer garden as well as well-known vendors like Croton Reservoir Tavern, Coney Shack, La Sonrisa Empanada and more.

Via MLB

6. MLB FoodFest
415 5th Avenue, Midtown
April 21 & April 22

Once known for simple hot dogs and cracker jacks, ballparks across the country are stepping up their culinary game. Instead of traveling to every stadium to test these wacky, locally-oriented cuisines, Major League Baseball is giving fans an opportunity to try dishes from all 30 ballparks. For one weekend in April, munch on Pittsburgh’s Pulled Pork Pierogi Hoagie, Los Angeles Dodgers’ Cheeto-Lote, or Boston’s Lobster Roll. And don’t forget about the local teams. The Yankees will serve up Adobo Baos and the Mets will offer a classic NY Deli Pastrami Sandwich. Food-only tickets cost $25 for a two-hour time slot and include a taste of all 30 stadiums, soda and water. The $40 ticket includes the same deal, but with three beer tickets. See the full menu and find more information about the event here.

Photo via the Ninth Avenue Association

7. 9th Avenue International Food Festival
Ninth Avenue between 42nd Street and 57th Street, Midtown West
May 19 & May 20

Stretching fifteen blocks along Manhattan’s Ninth Avenue, this international food festival calls itself the oldest and largest food market in the city. The two-day only event will feature food from around the world, more than 60 booths of artwork, children’s rides and live performances. This year, vendors will sell jerk chicken, cheese curds, fried Oreos, empanadas, pot stickers and much more. Check out the endless dining options on Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20 from 10 am to 6 pm.

Brooklyn

Photo via Smorgasburg

8. Smorgasburg
90 Kent Ave in Williamsburg and East Drive at Lincoln Road in Prospect Park
Opens March 31 in Williamsburg & April 1 in Prospect Park

As the largest weekly open-air food market in the U.S., Smorgasburg has evolved into a real institution in Brooklyn. With two locations, Williamsburg on Saturdays and Prospect Park on Sundays, the market offers something for all taste buds, with over 100 vendors and plenty of Instagram-worthy dishes. Last season, Smorgasburg welcomed new vendors like Baked Cheese Haus, Ube Kitchen and Destination Dumplings.

Photo via Red Hook Food Vendors

9. Red Hook Food Vendors
Red Hook Recreation Fields, Red Hook
Runs from the end of April to end of October

Craving authentic Latin American food? Head to the seasonal pop-up run by the Red Hook Food Vendors, a group of Vendy Award-winning food truck chefs and merchants that set up at the ball fields in the Brooklyn neighborhood. As the marketplace’s 44th year of operation, expect perfected traditional dishes like pupusas from El Olomega and horchatas and aquas frescas from Vaquero. At the end of April, the market will open every Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 8 pm until the end of October.

Queens

lic flea and food, flea market, food market
Photo via LIC Flea & Food on Facebook

10. LIC Flea & Food
4-45 46th Ave, Long Island City
Runs monthly, starting May 12

If looking to indulge in treats but don’t want to waste the day waiting in line for them, check out the LIC Flea & Food in Queens. The market boasts 80 curated vendors, including diverse food options, vintage clothing, antiques, art and furniture, but with fewer crowds. There’s also a craft beer garden with drinks from local breweries. In addition to this monthly market, look out for special festivals throughout the season.

Photo via the Queens International Night Market on Facebook

11. Queens International Night Market
New York Hall of Science, Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Saturdays, April 21st- Aug 18 and Sept. 29- Oct 27th

Since 2015, the Queens International Night Market has celebrated the borough’s diversity with over 100 independent food and art vendors. Even better, food is capped at $5 or $6. Mouth-watering offerings include pork and duck buns at C Bao, ramly burger from the Malaysian Project and Japanese rice flour crepes from Tswirl. There is also a fenced-in beer and wine garden. Held at the New York Hall of Science in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the spring market starts up Saturday, April 21st, from 6 pm to 12 am.

RELATED:

Lead photos via Wally Gobetz/Flickr; Elisa Paluan/Flickr; Ninth Avenue Association; Urbanspace NYC