St. Lawrence Market
Visitor Guide to Toronto's Famous Food Market
⏱ 1-2 hours👤 All agesFree
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St. Lawrence Market, in the historic St. Lawrence neighborhood (the heart of old Toronto), has been a hub of the city's food culture for generations and is consistently ranked among the world's best public markets. Its grand South Market building houses the main market hall, with two floors of vendors, while a North Market and the historic St. Lawrence Hall complete the complex (a popular farmers' market and antique market operate on certain days).
Inside the main hall, dozens of merchants sell an abundance of fresh and prepared foods: produce, meats and charcuterie, cheeses, fish and seafood, breads and pastries, mustards and preserves, coffee, and international specialties reflecting the city's diversity. It's a paradise for grazing and for assembling a picnic. The signature must-try is the peameal bacon sandwich — back bacon rolled in cornmeal, grilled, and piled on a soft bun, a Toronto original associated with the market (the Carousel Bakery's version is the most famous). Beyond it, you can eat your way through cheeses, oysters, empanadas, and much more.
It's free to wander (you pay only for what you eat or buy), and it's a wonderful, atmospheric stop — busiest and most vibrant on Saturdays (with the farmers' market) and generally closed Mondays, so check the days when planning. Its location in old-town downtown puts it within walking distance of the Distillery District, the Hockey Hall of Fame and Financial District, and the waterfront. Go hungry, and allow an hour or two to browse and eat. It's a highlight for any food lover visiting Toronto.
What to Expect
Format
Free to wander the historic market hall of food vendors — produce, meats, cheeses, seafood, baked goods, and prepared foods. Self-paced. Generally closed Mondays; the farmers' market runs Saturdays.
Best Time
Saturdays are most vibrant (with the farmers' market) but busiest; weekday mornings are calmer. Go hungry, around a meal time. Check days — it's generally closed Mondays.
Duration
1-2 hours to browse and eat.
Tips
Go hungry — the eating is the point. Try the famous peameal bacon sandwich (a Toronto original), then graze cheeses, oysters, and more. It's free to wander; you pay only for food. Check the days (generally closed Mondays; Saturdays add the farmers' market). It's walking distance from the Distillery District and the Hockey Hall of Fame.
⚡ Quick Picks
Best For
Foodies and anyone wanting a casual, local, atmospheric meal or picnic supplies in historic surroundings.
Families
Easy and fun with kids — the variety, samples, and casual eating suit families. Busy on Saturdays.
Couples
A relaxed grazing date through one of the world's great markets, then a walk in the old town.
Pair With
The Distillery District, the Hockey Hall of Fame and Financial District, and the waterfront are all walkable.
Time Needed
1-2 hours.
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Get Tickets →Frequently Asked Questions
What is St. Lawrence Market?
Toronto's famous historic food market — a bustling market hall in the old town downtown with dozens of vendors selling fresh produce, meats, cheeses, seafood, baked goods, and prepared foods. It's consistently ranked among the world's best public markets.
What should I eat there?
The must-try is the peameal bacon sandwich (cornmeal-crusted back bacon on a bun), a Toronto original associated with the market. Beyond it, graze cheeses, oysters, empanadas, pastries, and international specialties.
Is it free?
Yes — wandering the market is free. You pay only for the food and goods you buy.
What days is it open?
It's generally closed on Mondays, and Saturdays are the most vibrant (with the farmers' market) but busiest. Weekday mornings are calmer. Check current hours when planning.
What's nearby?
It's in old-town downtown, within walking distance of the Distillery District, the Hockey Hall of Fame and Financial District, and the waterfront.
More Toronto Attractions
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The Distillery District
A beautifully preserved Victorian industrial district turned pedestrian-only village of cobblestone lanes — galleries, boutiques, restaurants, cafés, and a craft-and-design scene in the city's best-kept heritage setting. Free to explore.
Hockey Hall of Fame
The shrine of hockey, in a grand former bank building downtown — interactive exhibits, the game's greatest memorabilia, a hall honoring the legends, and the chance to see (and pose with) the Stanley Cup itself.
Toronto Islands
A car-free chain of islands in Lake Ontario, a short ferry from downtown — beaches, parkland, bike and boat rentals, a vintage children's amusement park, and the city's most famous skyline view. Free (small ferry fare).