Glen N.
Yelp
It's what you'd expect from a French market: It's a market but with tongue.
The reviews, like the homeless, are all over the place, so let's get the terminology down first:
The "French Market" is a central landmark and specific historic marketplace known for its diverse stalls, while the "Farmers Market" is a specialized section within it, more focused on food, the subject of most reviews here.
The "French Market District" refers to the broader area along the riverfront that includes these markets, plus the Upper Pontalba and Colonnade, the Craft Bazaar (separate review), Oscar Dunn Park, the Moon Walk (separate review), and Crescent Park. In other words, if French Market District is United Kingdom, then Farmers Market and Craft Bazaar make up Great Britain. And the stack of empty Lafitte's styrofoam cups and vomit-soaked bead necklaces is Stonehenge.
As a whole, the French Market District is a must-experience, as it has been around since 1791 and marketed as the city's center for "commerce, community, and culture".
Anyway, dining options include restaurants and food booths. The restaurants include world-famous Cafe De Monde (separate review), Gazebo Cafe, and the Market Cafe, which seems like the easiest way to enjoy food, people watch, and hear live music. This also includes Alberto's Wine and Cheese Bistro, Cafe Pontalba, Corner Oyster House, plus the Fudgery, Southern Candymakers, and Aunt Sally's Praline shop. Please excuse her (math geeks will get that).
The Farmers Market includes the food-trucky booths like Holy Crepes, J's Seafood Dock, Loretta's Pralines (separate review), Meals From The Heart, and World Famous N'Awlins Café and Spice Emporium (separate review), plus French Market Produce, Mother Nature's Cupboard, Organic Banana, all along vendors under one roof. And don't miss The Angry Addict. That's not a food booth- he hangs out by the bike rentals.
What people call the "Flea Market" (maybe because it's buggin') is the Craft Bazaar (separate review). These "booths" include Carnival Candle, Kettle Moraine Soap, Latin's Hand, Name Art, New Orleans Stones, Oscar of New Orleans jewelry, Paradise Gardens, and Rendezvous Linens and Lace, Smoky Greenwood music, Tamalyn Harris childrens books. The actual stores include Baby One, Belle Louisiana souvenirs, Cella's Boutique, Chapel Hats, City Sightseeing, Dutch Alley Artist's Co-Op, Gallery Cayenne, Gray Line Tours, Head to Toe, Lalosh Silver, Little Toy Shop, Merry Christmas & All the Jazz, Motherland African Art, Muse Inspired Fashion, Nawlins Sport apparel, Nola Foot Candy (shoes), OMG gifts, Pop City, Socks on the Square, Voodoo Harley Davidson, and What's New. Don't miss "The Brown Pile". No actually, do miss it: it's on the sidewalk up ahead.