Head to any big city in America and ask the locals for their recommendations, and you’re bound to get a few great people pointing you toward open-air, character-driven, and public markets around town. If you want to truly experience the flow of local life and get to know the neighborhoods, don’t balk on the recommendation.
These markets are the epitome of a cultural melting pot, bringing together people from all over town. Vendors offer a diverse array of goods that showcase their heritage, interests, and excitements. It’s a niche, boutique experience you won’t get at Walmart or Target.
The best markets are more than just markets. They’re fixtures of the community, and they service kickass cuisine along with all the ingredients needed to go home and make it yourself.
Below, we highlight 11 San Diego public markets that are bursting with culture. They’re a great addition to any local trip, and you’re guaranteed to get a true feel for the local pulse across different neighborhoods. What’s best, these are all sourced from locals who know where to find the best the city has to offer.
1. Neighborhood Farmers Markets
Most people in San Diego will tell you that the farmers markets are where you should start. And the best part is that you’ll be able to find one no matter what day of the week it is. The market rotates between neighborhoods Monday through Sunday, and each one has its own niche vibe.
Little Italy is the biggest physically, but since it happens every Saturday morning it also brings in the most people. It’s set up so you can snag a gorgeous view of the ocean through the skyscrapers as you browse the booths. In full disclosure, parking can be really tough here.
Hillcrest is one of the most popular farmers markets because of its central location, great variety, and size. It’s not too big, not too small, and you can make it down the entire row of vendors in about 15 to 20 minutes. Plus, since it happens on Sundays, parking is free.
The Ocean Beach farmers market happens every Wednesday evening, and it’s my personal favorite. Newport Ave., the main drag in OB, is shut down between Cable St. and Bacon St. to accommodate the mass quantities of food, live music, sage burners (it’s OB after all), and art. There’s no better place to watch the sunset during the week.
This is a small taste of the farmers markets. Make sure to check out the full lineup for days and times to tailor your visit perfectly for your next trip.
2. Olive Tree Market
At the corner of Sunset Cliffs Blvd. and Narragansett Ave. is a staple of the Ocean Beach community: Olive Tree Market. It’s a tiny market that’s been around since 1987, and they specialize in gourmet items, craft beers, countless specialty items, and everyday groceries.
Creative and delicious sandwiches (award winning sandwiches, at that) made-to-order at their deli counter is one reason it’s such a hit with the locals. It’s the perfect place to pop in for a quick lunch, or you can grab an entire $6 rotisserie chicken and all the fixings for a proper dinner. Whatever you do, make sure to grab some of the gigantic homemade cookies or Julian Pies at the register when you checkout (assuming they haven’t sold out by noon—they’re that good).
3. Seaside Market
A quick glance at sites like Yelp will reveal a common thread that almost everyone seems to hit on in their reviews of Seaside Market: Cardiff Crack. They’re famous for this burgundy pepper tri-tip roast, and you’re seriously missing out if you don’t grab some. In fact, people come to Cardiff, in North County, from miles around to get their hands on it.
Seaside Market has been in business since 1985, and they’re dedicated to excellence above all else. This is apparent in the quality of their groceries, meats, seafoods, and produce. But the staff will also go out of their way to ensure you’re getting the best shopping experience, from the butchers to the cashiers.
4. Pata Negra Market
There’s a great tapas restaurant in Pacific Beach called Costa Brava, named for the region in Northeastern Spain, where you can grab some amazing Spanish bites. Located directly next door is the Pata Negra Market, where you can buy everything you need to whip up your own tapas at home, and then some.
Whether you’ve ever been to Spain or not, you’ll be amazed by the foods you can buy that come directly from Spain. There aren’t many places that sell pure jamon iberico and jamon serrano here. No matter what you buy, make sure you’ve got some great Spanish beer, cava, or sangria to go along with it.
5. Mona Lisa
When it was founded in the 1920s, San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood was a landing for Italian tuna fisherman. In fact, it was once considered to be the center of the world’s tuna industry. The original Mona Lisa Restaurant was started in 1956, and it operated as a wholesale import business to supply Italian provision to these fishermen, as well as other local restaurants.
Then, in 1973, they opened a second restaurant-deli-market location which established it as an institution for Italian food and culture in Little Italy. Today, they’re in their third generation of family management. Grab some hearty fare and fill your cart with everything you love about Italian cuisine.
6. RoVino The Foodery
There’s another Italian restaurant in Little Italy called RoVino, and they recently made the move to open an Italian market in East Village. The Foodery, as locals call it, has a full deli counter where you can order chicken parmesan, Sicilian meatballs, killer sandwiches, pizza, and loaves of buttery focaccia.
While you’re waiting, stroll through the market and grab some pre-made pasta, sauces of all variety, cheeses, meats, candies, gelato, beer, wine, and even fully prepared meals. This is one of my favorite markets in the entire city, and it’s not just because they have amazing food. The owners provide a level of service that’s personal, professional, and fun. Get to know them, because they won’t forget your face.
7. Butcher Block
Take a trip to Barrio Logan for one of the most authentic carniceria meat market experiences you’ll find in San Diego. A normal butcher shop will get you great cuts of meat, which The Butcher Block will absolutely deliver. But they’ll also deliver specialities like carne asada, pollo asado, and fresh bone marrow.
Plus the butchers are some of the most patient and helpful you’ll meet in town—they’ll answer your questions, tell you the best ways to prepare the meat, and show you how to package it for lengthy shelf-life. You can’t beat the price point either.
8. 99 Ranch
We discussed the Convoy Area in our blog about San Diego’s best restaurants, citing it as the place to go for the best Asian food in town. That same praise holds up when it comes to the Asian markets in San Diego, and while it’s a small chain, 99 Ranch is a top option.
In 1984 Roger Chen opened the first 99 Ranch to fill a gap he noticed in American markets that didn’t serve the wants of Asian communities. As such, they present some of the most unique and popular Asian foods you can buy, while also inviting Asian eateries to be incorporated into their stores. You can easily spend two hours browsing the litany of exciting options.
Still, there’s great debate among San Diegans about which Asian markets are truly the best. To that end, I want to give a shoutout to two others that should make the itinerary when you’re up on Convoy. Visit Mitsuwa for Japanese groceries, and Zion Market for Korean delights.
9. Liberty Public Market
Fun fact: Liberty Public Market used to be a Naval Training facility built in 1921. It grew leading up to World War II, and continued to grow in an effort to house the 33,000 people living there. In 1993 however, the U.S. Navy decided to close the facility which would lay dormant until 2012. It underwent heavy renovations, and the interior was redesigned into a thriving market where some of the city’s hottest shops and restaurants rent booth space.
Plus, the surrounding buildings have been turned into full size restaurants, coffee shops, and boutique shops. There’s a lot of action here, so check out the full guide to plan your route. It’s the perfect place to stuff your face and then walk it all off with a stroll with backside views of Downtown San Diego. Don’t forget to explore the countless surrounding buildings either, there’s hidden experiences everywhere.
10. Tuna Harbor Dockside Market
Tuna Harbor Dockside Market is an incredible experience that’s open every Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm. First, it’s an open-air market so you’ll get some great sunshine and fresh air. Second, you’ll get access to seafood that’s literally direct from the boat.
This is a perfect market for those who want to know where their food came from, get an understanding and appreciation of fishing and aquaculture, and be inspired to try something exciting and new. My biggest piece of advice here: talk to everyone at this market. You’ll learn everything from how the fish was caught to how best to cook it.
11. Kobey’s Swap Meet
Kobey’s Swap Meet was founded in 1967, and it’s going strong every weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). It’s held in the massive parking lot of the Pechanga Arena, and for only $2 you get admission to browse seemingly endless aisles of exciting stuff.
It has a flea market air about it, where you can dig up rustic pins, old video games, skateboards, furniture, instruments, TVs, and so much more. They have food trucks on-site, but right in Point Loma you have access to such better dining options. Personally, I go in the morning and then head out around lunch for some ribs and fries from Phil’s BBQ.
Next time you’re in San Diego, make sure you spend time visiting these niche, boutique markets. It’s a surefire guarantee that whichever of these San Diego public markets you visit, you’ll learn something interesting about the culture of the neighborhood and people that surround it. Plus, you’re going to get some amazing food. Come back next week as we dive headfirst into engaging adventures you can have around San Diego.
Image Credit: RoVino The Foodery