Essex Market
8.5Friend Score / 10#2 of 8 Markets & Food Halls in New York City
Known foressex marketpublic marketlower east sidefood hall
The Lower East Side's public market since 1940 (in a modern home since 2019) — real grocers, butchers, and fishmongers alongside excellent cheap-eats counters like Shopsin's. It's what Chelsea Market feels like with a fraction of the tourists and actual locals shopping. A friend sends you here for lunch, happily.
Key facts
| Hours | Mon–Wed 08:00–20:00 Thu–Sat 08:00–21:00 Sun–Sun 10:00–18:00 |
|---|---|
| Price | $$ |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | Delancey St–Essex St (F/J/M/Z), directly across the street |
| Time needed | 45 minutes to 1.5 hours |
| Best time to go | Weekday lunch; note the shorter Sunday hours (10am-6pm) |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
8.5/10- Value8.5
- iconic7.0
- Freshness9.1
- Crowd level7.5
- Authenticity8.5
- Accessibility9.0
Frequently asked questions
- What are Essex Market's hours?
- Monday to Wednesday 8am-8pm, Thursday to Saturday 8am-9pm, Sunday 10am-6pm. Individual vendors vary a bit, and some food counters keep lunch-focused hours.
- What's the history of Essex Market?
- Mayor La Guardia created it in 1940 to get pushcart vendors off the crowded streets. It moved from its old WPA-era buildings across Delancey into the Essex Crossing development in 2019, bringing most legacy vendors along.
- What should I eat at Essex Market?
- Shopsin's is the cult classic — a famously eccentric diner with a gigantic menu (and house rules). Beyond that, graze: tacos, ramen, bagels with smoked fish, pastries, and whatever the fishmonger and cheesemonger tempt you with.
- Is the Market Line downstairs still open?
- The separate below-ground Market Line food hall largely shut down; Essex Market upstairs is the going concern. Stick to the main market floor and you won't miss anything.
- Is Essex Market expensive?
- No — it's one of the better-value lunches in Manhattan. Most counters serve solid meals in the $8-15 range, and grocery prices are fair for the neighborhood.
- Is there seating at Essex Market?
- Yes — a proper mezzanine with tables overlooking the market floor, plus counter seats at several vendors. Finding a seat is rarely a problem outside peak weekend lunch.
- How is Essex Market different from Chelsea Market?
- Essex is a genuine public market — city-owned, with working butchers, produce stands, and longtime LES vendors — while Chelsea is a privately run food hall. Essex is calmer, cheaper, and more local.
- What else is near Essex Market?
- You're a five-minute walk from Katz's and Russ & Daughters on Houston Street, and the Tenement Museum is around the corner on Orchard. It slots perfectly into a Lower East Side food-history day.
Nearby in Ask New York City
- AttaboyBar0.31 km · 4 min walk
- Clockwork BarBar0.38 km · 5 min walk
- Katz's DelicatessenRestaurant0.43 km · 5 min walk
- Russ & DaughtersRestaurant0.47 km · 6 min walk
- Lower East SideNeighborhood0.48 km · 6 min walk
Where to stay near Essex Market
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