Named the world's best food market by National Geographic, St. Lawrence Market has been feeding Toronto since 1803. This is the first place any food-curious visitor to the city should go.
Exploring The St. Lawrence Market Complex
Most visitors think of St. Lawrence Market as a single building. It's actually a complex of three: the South Market, the North Market, and St. Lawrence Hall, spread across the same block in historic Old Town Toronto. Each serves a different purpose and rewards a different kind of visit.
The South Market
The main building: a massive turn-of-the-century brick building with a cast-iron ceiling inspired by London's St. Pancras train station.
It houses 120+ vendors across two floors. The upper floor is the heart of the market: prepared food, specialty stalls, butchers, fishmongers, cheesemongers, bakers, and produce. Best for grocery shopping, quick grab-and-go meals, and exploring unique snacks you won’t find elsewhere in the city.
The lower floor (partially underground) is a mix of non-food vendors and additional food options, with seating where you can eat what you've bought.
Open Tuesday through Sunday. Monday is the one day nothing runs.
Butchers and meat: Some of the best butchers in the city operate here. Carnicero's Prime Meats is the anchor: prime cuts, exceptional quality, family-run. Di Liso's Fine Meats, La Boucherie, SK Quality Meats, and Sausage King round out one of the strongest meat sections of any market in Ontario.
Fish and seafood: Mike's Fish Market has been the go-to for live lobsters, smoked salmon, gravlax, oysters, and fresh catch since the 1990s. Seafront Fish Market offers a similarly deep selection: whole fish, fillets, crab legs, frozen options, and prepared seafood ready to cook.
Cheese and deli: Scheffler's Deli and Cheese is the standout, an exceptional counter of imported and local cheeses with proper accoutrements. Don’t leave without trying the hot turkey pepperettes. Olympic Cheese sits next door with a comparable range. Chris' Cheesemongers rounds out the selection.
Bakers: St. Urbain Bagel for Montreal-style wood-fired bagels (the Craigle, part croissant, part bagel, consistently goes viral on TikTok, but the lox bagel is the one to order). Stonemill Bakehouse for naturally fermented sourdough and pastries baked in small batches. Carousel Bakery for the peameal bacon sandwich, but also for focaccia and specialty loaves worth taking home.
Specialty and grocery: Kozlik's Canadian Mustard for handmade mustard in dozens of varieties, one of the best gifts you can take home from Toronto. Ponesse Foods for produce (operating since 1900). Dnister Ukrainian Store for kolbassa, sausages, and Eastern European specialties. Rube's Rice for gourmet and specialty rices. Honey World for local Ontario honey, or speciality imports from New Zealand.
The North Market
Brand new building, ancient tradition. The new four-storey atrium structure, with a glass and orange metal facade and central atrium views of St. Lawrence Hall and the South Market, opened in stages in 2025 after a $128 million rebuild that took nearly a decade.
The Saturday Farmers' Market returned to its original home in April 2025 after years in a temporary tent. Underground parking is available beneath the building, but fills up quickly.
The North Market runs two distinct markets depending on the day: the Saturday Farmers' Market and the Sunday Variety Market.
St. Lawrence Hall
One block north at 157 King Street East. Built in 1850, it's a National Historic Site of Canada and one of the finest examples of Victorian architecture in Toronto. The Great Hall inside is a magnificent event space still used for social and business functions today.
St. Lawrence Market Hours
South Market: Tuesday to Friday 9am to 7pm, Saturday 7am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 5pm, Monday closed.
Saturday Farmers' Market: Saturday 5am to 3pm. Farmers arrive before dawn. Best selection before noon.
Sunday Variety Market: Hours vary by season. Confirm at stlawrencemarket.com before visiting.
Local tip Saturday before 10am is the sweet spot: both the South Market and the Farmers' Market are running simultaneously, the energy is at its peak, and you'll beat the worst of the queues. The best producers at the Farmers' Market sell out before noon. If you’re looking to browse and want to avoid crowds, some vendors drop their prices towards the end of the day.
Getting to St. Lawrence Market
St. Lawrence Market is located at 92-95 Front Street East, Toronto, in the heart of historic Old Town Toronto.
Subway: King Station (Line 1 Yonge-University), then a 5-minute walk east along King Street East.
Union Station: 10-minute walk north-east along Front Street East, the most direct route from the city's main transit hub.
Streetcar: The 504 King streetcar runs along King Street and stops close to the market.
Parking: Green P garage at 2 Church Street (1,969 spaces). Saturday market shoppers get $2.00 for the first two hours, valid 5am to 6pm.
Exploring One of the Best Places to Eat in the City
The South Market has some of the best prepared food in the city under one roof. Saturday is the day every vendor is operating; on weekdays some reduce hours, so if you're making a special trip for something specific, check ahead.
The best way to enjoy most meals here is outside, getting comfortable at the picnic table on the upper patio or Adirondack chairs along the Esplanade. If it’s raining, there’s communal seating on the upper floor and floating tables between stalls.
Peameal bacon sandwich -- Carousel Bakery. The most famous stop in the market. Anthony Bourdain, Bobby Flay, and Guy Fieri have all made the pilgrimage. $6-8. Back bacon rolled in cornmeal, on a kaiser roll. Arrive early, the queue is worth it.
Peameal bacon sandwich -- Paddington's Pump. Less famous than Carousel, equally good, often a shorter queue. A proper sit-down option with an outdoor terrace.
Lobster rolls and fish and chips -- Buster's Sea Cove. A St. Lawrence mainstay for years. Fresh seafood, fast service, one of the best-known eateries in the building.
Rotisserie chicken and bifanas -- Churrasco of St. Lawrence. Portuguese-run, azulejo tiles on the storefront, open since 1989. One of the few places in Toronto for a proper bifana sandwich.
Dim sum and Chinese food -- Yip's Kitchen. Nearly 20 years in the market. Har gow, siu mai, Chinese comfort food done right. Expect a queue on weekends.
Italian sandwiches -- Uno Mustachio. The Godfather is the order: chicken parmigiana, eggplant, mozzarella, parmesan. One of the best sandwiches in the market.
Greek breakfast and lunch -- Yianni's Kitchen. Greek omelets in the morning, souvlaki and roast lamb at lunch. A market institution.
Montreal-style bagels -- St. Urbain Bagel. Wood-fired, family-owned 37 years. The Craigle (croissant-bagel hybrid) went TikTok-famous. Build your own with lox, cream cheese, or tuna. Alongside bagels, they offer speciality cream cheese at prices cheaper than most grocery stores.
What to Buy at St. Lawrence Market
Half the market is built for taking things home. These are the vendors worth knowing if you're shopping rather than eating.
Specialty mustard -- Kozlik's Canadian Mustard. Handmade in dozens of varieties including balsamic and fig, whole grain, and Dijon. One of the best things to take home from Toronto, travels well and tastes like nowhere else. A great gift for your foodie friend.
Cheese -- Scheffler's Deli and Cheese. Exceptional counter of imported and local selections. Olympic Cheese next door is equally strong. Between the two, you'll find everything from aged Ontario cheddar to obscure European rinds.
Fresh seafood to cook -- Mike's Fish Market. Live lobsters, gravlax, smoked salmon, oysters, whole fish, and a large frozen selection.
Prime meat and butchery -- Carnicero's Prime Meats. For exceptional cuts and pre-made meals like jerk chicken pie. Di Liso's Fine Meats and SK Quality Meats for everyday butchery. Sausage King for duck, lamb, pork, and chicken sausages you won't find in a grocery store.
Artisan bread -- Stonemill Bakehouse. Naturally fermented sourdough, baked in small batches with no preservatives. Their croissants sell out fast. On Saturdays, they usually sell out all of their stock by the late afternoon, so go visit them early.
Produce -- Ponesse Foods. Operating since 1900, one of the original market vendors. The colourful mural above the stall is impossible to miss.
Ukrainian specialties -- Dnister. Kobassa, sausages, and Eastern European deli items. A neighbourhood institution.
Honey -- Honey World. More than 100 different honey products with free samples. Local Ontario honey in multiple varieties. Imported products from New Zealand, including bee pollen and full honey combs.
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The Saturday Farmers' Market
The Saturday Farmers' Market in the North Market building is a different experience from the South Market, and for many locals it's the main reason to come. Farmers from across Southern Ontario arrive before dawn, some setting up as early as 5am.
These aren't resellers. You're buying directly from the people who grew it, raised it, or made it. The selection changes completely with the season.
Year-round: Pastured eggs from local farms, locally raised beef, pork, lamb, and poultry, artisan cheese from Ontario producers, fresh bread and baked goods, raw and creamed honey, jams and preserves.
Spring: Early greens (arugula, spinach, pea shoots), asparagus, rhubarb, maple syrup and maple products (butter, candy, taffy), fresh herbs, and seedlings for the garden.
Summer: Ontario stone fruit: peaches, plums, and cherries from the Niagara region, alongside strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Tomatoes, sweet corn, cucumbers, cut flowers, and fresh herbs at their peak.
Fall: Ontario and Quebec apples in dozens of varieties. Butternut and acorn squash, root vegetables, dried beans, late-season preserves, apple cider, and the last of the season's greens before winter.
Local tip 7am to 9am is the sweet spot: early enough for full selection, busy enough for atmosphere. The best producers sell out before noon. Bring a tote bag, bring cash, and don't rush.
The Sunday Variety Market
Every Sunday, the North Market hosts Sunday Variety, a rotating market of vintage goods, antiques, and handmade items. It's a different energy from the food market entirely: quieter, slower, more browsable. Good for an unhurried Sunday morning with no agenda.
What you'll find changes week to week, but the categories are consistent:
Vintage clothing and accessories -- curated pieces, not thrift-bin. Denim, leather, deadstock, and designer vintage. Check out Gallery 213 for vintage luxury, or Sweet Vintage for You for fur coats.
Mid-century furniture and home decor -- lamps, chairs, side tables, ceramics, and the kind of pieces that photograph well and last forever.
Vinyl records -- from classic rock and jazz to soul and obscure Canadian pressings. Don’t miss Selector Records.
Art, prints, and photography -- original work and vintage prints from independent sellers. Try Unvaulted Vintage for the best variety of prints.
Books and antiquarian finds -- first editions, cookbooks, local history, and general curiosities.
Vintage cameras and electronics -- film cameras, old radios, mid-century gadgets.
Jewellery -- Victorian to 1980s, across every price point.
Handmade goods -- small-batch makers selling ceramics, textiles, and wearables alongside the vintage dealers.
A note on naming: the original Sunday Antique Market, a Toronto institution that ran at St. Lawrence for over 30 years, relocated to Mississauga in 2022. Sunday Variety is the current iteration: a broader, more eclectic mix of vintage and handmade.
What Else to Do at St. Lawrence Market
The Market Gallery
On the second floor of the South Market building, the Market Gallery hosts rotating exhibitions dedicated to Toronto's art, culture, and history. Entry is free. It's a quiet contrast to the energy of the market floor below, and consistently well-curated.
The Market Kitchen
The Market Kitchen runs cooking classes for all ages and skill levels, right inside the market complex. From professional pastry cooks to TV personalities, instructors range depending on the season. Check the current schedule at stlawrencemarket.com.
Arts at the Market
From Fridays through Sundays, Easter to Thanksgiving, artisan vendors set up outside the main market buildings as part of the Arts at the Market programme. All work is handmade: jewellery, art, ceramics, candles, and functional craft items.
St. Lawrence Hall
A short walk north at 157 King Street East. Built in 1850 and restored in 1976, St. Lawrence Hall is a National Historic Site of Canada and one of the finest examples of Victorian civic architecture in the country.
Restaurants Near St. Lawrence Market
After a morning at the market, some visitors want to stay in the neighbourhood and eat properly. These are the best sit-down restaurants within a 10-minute walk of the St. Lawrence Market complex, all in Old Town Toronto.
Biff's Bistro -- Front Street East. Classic French bistro: steak tartare, duck confit, steak frites. One of the best French restaurants in downtown Toronto.
Terroni -- Adelaide Street East. Southern Italian, excellent pasta, no modifications accepted — or necessary. One of the city's most consistent Italian restaurants. Get the Farinata Con Le Barbabietole salad and
Amano Trattoria -- King Street East. Seasonally-inspired modern Italian in a romantic room. Bone marrow, grilled branzino, charred octopus.
Le Petit Dejeuner -- King Street East. Belgian-Canadian brunch in a cosy brick-lined room. Best known for Belgian waffles and seasonal comfort food. Get the croque madame or strawberry waffles, voted best in the city by BlogTO in 2023.
Sukhothai -- The Esplanade. Northern Thai cuisine with a legendary Pad Thai and a beef khao soi that justifies the trip on its own.
Hothouse -- Church Street. A multicultural menu, generous portions, long-standing neighbourhood institution. The Sunday brunch buffet is a local ritual — don’t miss the feature dish, which changes weekly.
Cafe Oro di Napoli -- Front Street East. Neapolitan pizza from a wood-burning oven, fresh gelato from G For Gelato, Italian wines. Good value for the location.
C'est What -- Church Street. Toronto's original craft beer bar, open since 1988. A hidden beer garden tucked at the foot of Farquhar's Lane, cosy seating, fire tables, and 30+ Ontario craft beers on tap. Bellwoods Brewery’s Jelly King Sour is a local favourite, best enjoyed in the sun.
Duke’s Refresher St. Lawrence — Front Street East. A casual, lively industrial-style bar with over 40 beers on tap, shockingly good nachos, and games like ping pong and mini basketball alongside retro arcade games. Best for those who like a chill vibe and who don’t mind loud music and a sticky bar.
Score on King — King Street East. A staple sports bar with extensive patio seating and excellent happy hour options. If you’re a fan of caesars, you can add toppings like nacho bowls, bacon wrapped scallops, or even a Cornish game hen.
Making a Day of It
Option A: The Full Saturday Morning (5 hours)
The definitive St. Lawrence Saturday. Start early, go hungry, eat well, stay on foot.
7am -- North Market. Hit the Saturday Farmers' Market first while the selection is at its peak. Budget an hour.
8am -- South Market. Cross Front Street for the peameal sandwich at Carousel Bakery. Browse the vendors, pick up cheese at Scheffler’s or exotic meat at Whitehouse Meats, mustard at Kozlik's. Don’t leave without taking home bagels from St. Urbain Bagels and macarons from Aren’t We Sweet. Another hour minimum.
9:30am -- Mofer Coffee Front. Right on the corner of Front and Church, offering air-roasted Ethiopian coffee beans. One of the best cafes in the area, with a warm and cozy room and plenty of seating.
10:15am -- Gooderham Flatiron Building. Five minutes east on Front Street. Toronto's most photographed building and a genuine landmark of Old Town. The Flatiron, a pub in the basement of the building, offers a phenomenal patio and refreshingly unpretentious menus. Add the hot beer cheese to anything you get.
10:30am -- Berczy Park. A short walk north. The dog fountain at the centre is one of the best pieces of public art in downtown Toronto. If you enjoy people watching, there’s few better places to hang out than Berczy.
11am -- The Distillery District. Fifteen minutes east on foot. For coffee: Balzac’s Distillery District has a second location inside a converted 1895 Pump House.
Lunch at the Distillery: El Catrin for the best patio in the district with Canada's largest mezcal collection and tableside guacamole that’s worth waiting for; Cluny Bistro for a quieter modern French brasserie; or Pure Spirits Oyster House for fresh oysters from both coasts.
Local tip Afternoon drink: Spirit of York Distillery, right in the Distillery District, does handcrafted cocktails made with their own spirits distilled on site. Expect smaller portions, better for a quick snack than a full meal, but excellent cocktails.
Option B: The Lazy Sunday (2-3 hours, any weather)
10am -- Sunday Variety Market. Start in the North Market with the vintage and handmade market. No rush.
11am -- South Market. The Sunday South Market is more relaxed than Saturday. Pick up something for lunch, or eat at Yianni's Kitchen for a Greek breakfast that stretches into the morning. Make sure you get the apple fritter.
After the market -- Balzac's on Market Street. The patio faces the market building. Good coffee, good carrot cake, an excellent place to do nothing for a while.
If the weather's good: walk east to Berczy Park, then continue into the Distillery District for a wander and a drink at Mill Street Brew Pub's patio. Ask the bartenders in the retail store for a tour of the brewery, and you’ll get a full rundown of how beer is made, start to finish.
If it's raining or winter: Market Gallery (free, second floor South Market), The Well at King and Spadina (50+ vendors, rainy afternoon destination), Hockey Hall of Fame (10 minutes south, unexpectedly good whether you follow hockey or not).
Local tip Sunday at St. Lawrence Market in January or February is one of the more underrated things to do in downtown Toronto. The South Market and Sunday Variety are both open. Come for the market, warm up at Balzac's, and pick a rainy-day option above.
A Brief History of St. Lawrence Market
St. Lawrence Market was founded in 1803, making it one of the oldest continuously operating public markets in Canada. The South Market building was built in 1845 as Toronto's City Hall, serving in that role until 1899. The current South Market building was erected in 1902, incorporating elements of the old city hall. In 2012, National Geographic named St. Lawrence Market the world's best food market, the first and only time a Canadian market has held that title.
One More Thing Before You Go
St. Lawrence Market is not a place you visit once and tick off the list. No matter how often you go, you’ll find something new and delicious. The vendors know their regulars. The Farmers' Market changes with the season. The market kitchen is running classes. The gallery is showing something new.
Come hungry on a Saturday morning, plan for two hours, and see where it takes you. It's been doing this since 1803. It knows what it's doing.
FAQ
Is St. Lawrence Market free to enter?
Yes. Entry to the market is free. You pay only for what you buy.
Do vendors accept credit cards?
All vendors accept cash. Many accept Interac and credit cards, but bring some cash to be safe, especially at the Saturday Farmers' Market where some producers are cash-only.
Is there WiFi at St. Lawrence Market?
Yes. Free public WiFi is available through the City of Toronto's ConnectTO programme. Connect to TOPublic on your device.
Is the market wheelchair accessible?
Yes. An elevator is available just inside the main doors of the South Market building. The surrounding area is cobblestone, but the floor of the market itself is flat cement.
How long should I budget for a visit?
A minimum of two hours for the South Market alone. Add an hour if you're doing the Saturday Farmers' Market. Add more if you plan to eat.
What's the best day to visit?
Saturday for the full experience: both the South Market and the Farmers' Market run simultaneously. Weekdays are quieter, but the financial district lunch rush usually hits the market around noon. Sunday adds the Variety Market but the Farmers' Market doesn't run.
Can I bring a stroller?
Yes. That said, it gets extremely crowded on Saturday mornings. A baby carrier is more practical if you have one and are visiting on the weekend.