Food hall vs traditional market
Two distinct categories: traditional food markets (vegetable stalls, butchers, fishmongers — for shopping) and modern food halls (curated stall restaurants — for eating). The cities below have either or both at flagship level.
Lisbon
Lisbon Time Out Market (Mercado da Ribeira) — opened 2014, became the model for the global format. Curated by Time Out food critics; 30+ stalls of Lisbon's best chefs at counter prices. Daily 10am–midnight. Santos walking distance. Lisbon also has good traditional Mercado de Campo de Ourique.
London
London Borough Market (1014 — yes, that old) is the traditional heavy-weight; Bread Ahead, Neal's Yard Dairy, fishmongers, butchers, plus food stalls. Mercato Mayfair, Time Out Market Waterloo (2024 opened). Borough base.
Madrid
Madrid Mercado de San Miguel (the iron-and-glass tourist food hall by Plaza Mayor — touristy but quality high), Mercado de San Antón (rooftop), Platea Madrid (former cinema, now food hall). Mercado de la Cebada more local.
Florence
Florence Mercato Centrale — ground floor traditional food shopping, upper floor curated food hall. Less touristy than San Miguel; equally polished.
Copenhagen
Copenhagen Torvehallerne — pure food hall, top Nordic-quality stalls (Hallernes Smørrebrød, Coffee Collective, Grød). Daily 10am–7pm. Nørrebro-adjacent.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam Markthal — MVRDV-designed inverted U with apartments overhead. Food hall ground floor, supermarket basement. Architectural icon plus food.
Strategy
Lunch (12–2pm) busiest; off-peak 3–5pm calmer. Most halls cash + card; some stall-by-stall. Eating across multiple stalls (one starter, one main, one dessert) common — works because tabs paid stall-by-stall.