As if the colours and fragrances weren’t pleasant enough, these stunning markets make food shopping a feast for the eyes.
By Jessica Keller
0/13
Food
The World’s Most Inspiring Food Markets.
Kupetz Eliseevs Food Hall, Moscow
Kupetz Eliseevs Food Hall, Moscow: The upscale eats, from caviar to macarons and the finest cheeses, may not be the first thing you take in here, at the grande dame of Moscow grocery stores. Over a century old, the Art Nouveau building and its lavish food hall have been carefully restored to their pre-revolution grandeur. Take it all in while sipping tea under the giant pineapple in the middle of the market. kupetzeliseevs.ru
1/13
Food
The World’s Most Inspiring Food Markets.
English Market, Cork
English Market, Cork: Built in the mid-19th century, Cork’s English Market suffered severe damage by fire in 1980 and was extensively restored according to its original Victorian style. Now, in addition to being a popular stop-off for tourists, it’s home to the suppliers of the city’s most sought-after restaurants. englishmarket.ie
2/13
Food
The World’s Most Inspiring Food Markets.
Fertile Market, Milan Expo
Fertile Market, Milan Expo: A market that grows the food it sells? That’s the vision of Paris-based architects XTU, who’ve designed the French Pavilion for this year’s Milan Expo. Herbs and vegetables burst from the wooden lattice structure, which houses an exhibition of French food and wine, as well as a restaurant serving produce grown in the pavilion. france-milan-2015.fr, x-tu.com
3/13
Food
The World’s Most Inspiring Food Markets.
Markthal Rotterdam
Markthal Rotterdam: Love it or hate it, you can’t miss the brand new covered market that opened on Rotterdam’s main market square last autumn. The vibrant behemoth encompasses restaurants, a supermarket, food stalls and retail spaces, all under a 40-metre arch that houses more than 200 residential apartments. markthalrotterdam.nl
4/13
Food
The World’s Most Inspiring Food Markets.
Mercat de la Barceloneta
Mercat de la Barceloneta: Originally built in the 19th century and then re-imagined in the early 2000s, the Barceloneta market building was envisioned as a confluence of yesterday and today: a cast iron frame hearkens to the original materials, while undulating roof extensions lend an oh-so-modern touch. Even more cutting-edge: solar panels in the roof meet 30% of the building’s energy needs.
5/13
Food
The World’s Most Inspiring Food Markets.
Torvehallerne, Copenhagen
Torvehallerne, Copenhagen: Two iron-framed, glass-walled market buildings, alive with natural light, located on a cobblestone square; this is minimalism at its best. Just add hearty Nordic eats and sweets (plus a few foreign treats) and Torvehallerne is a hungry aesthete’s daydream. visitcopenhagen.com
6/13
Food
The World’s Most Inspiring Food Markets.
San Francisco Ferry Building
San Francisco Ferry Building: Once a main transport hub for San Francisco, this historic landmark fell out of fashion when two other landmarks were erected: the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge. Now, the restored Beaux Arts building is home to the city’s most famous farmers’ market. ferrybuildingmarketplace.com
7/13
Food
The World’s Most Inspiring Food Markets.
Beşiktaş Fish Market
Beşiktaş Fish Market: Nothing stinks about the striking industrial design behind this fish market in Istanbul’s bustling Beşiktaş district. Bare suspended lightbulbs — the choice lighting solution of fishmongers across the city — illuminate curved, iridescent food counters and their contents. gadarchitecture.com
8/13
Food
The World’s Most Inspiring Food Markets.
Mercat Central de Valencia
Mercat Central de Valencia: It may look like a cathedral from the outside, but inside, it’s a temple for epicures. More than 1,000 vendors peddle everything from fresh produce to fish, meat and local delicacies across an 8,000-sq-m space that’s as photogenic as any. mercadocentralvalencia.es
9/13
Food
The World’s Most Inspiring Food Markets.
Casablanca Sustainable Market Square, Morocco
Casablanca Sustainable Market Square, Morocco: Back in 2012, Dutch firm TomDavid Architecten won first place in a competition to design an eco-friendly market for Casablanca. Their proposal relies on leaf-shaped canopies that provide shade while funnelling rainwater into underground storage tanks for later use. Alas, it seems for now the concept is just that: a concept. ac-ca.org
10/13
Food
The World’s Most Inspiring Food Markets.
Leadenhall Market, London
Leadenhall Market, London: Dating to the 14th century, this market is one of the oldest in London –though the current building is not quite 150 years old. It is, however, a stunning work of architecture that has served as a music video set (Erasure’s ‘Love to Hate You’), part of the Olympic Games marathon course, and a filming location for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. cityoflondon.gov.uk
11/13
Food
The World’s Most Inspiring Food Markets.
Mercado Central, Santiago
Mercado Central, Santiago: This beautiful wrought iron market is the place to go for the freshest Chilean specialties, whether you purchase them at the food stalls or have a sit-down meal in one of the market’s cafés. Don’t miss out on the paila marina seafood stew in particular. mercadocentral.cl
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