Eastern Market
Farmers' market · Capitol Hill ·
Historic market with produce, meats, crafts, art & live music
Historic market with produce, meats, crafts, art & live music
"Near the seat of the U.S. Congress, this historic market—operating since 1873—brings together farmers from Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia to sell produce, cheese, and meat (including ostrich, alligator, and buffalo). Weekends are particularly vibrant with live music and about 100 outdoor exhibitors plus countless artists and crafters in surrounding streets, while the South Hall Market inside offers specialty fare from butchers, bakers, and gourmet-food makers. Notable bites include blueberry-buckwheat pancakes and famous crab cakes from The Market Lunch, as well as half-smokes from Canales Quality Meats." - Veronica Stoddart
"In the heart of Capitol Hill since 1873, this National Historic Landmark pulses with longtime butchers and cheesemongers in the South Hall and a weekend spill of farmers and artists outdoors; Saturdays bring live music, grilled street food, and a mix of heirloom tomatoes and eclectic finds like vinyl records and foot scrubs. I often pick up a wedge of sharp cheddar or a soft-ripened goat cheese from Bowers Fancy Dairy Products and soak in the market’s wacky, wonderful character." - Wendy Pramik
"Eastern Market was one of the original public food markets in D.C., and it remains a vibrant centerpiece of neighborhood. The open interior houses traditional meat, cheese and produce counters, and the outdoor space is home to a weekly farmer’s market. However, the best time to visit is the weekends, when the outdoor market and surrounding streets transform into a sprawling, bustling craft and flea market." - Polygraph
"Open since 1873, Eastern Market is a National Historic Landmark and a beloved local institution. Long before farmers markets cropped up in every neighborhood across the city, Eastern Market was the go-to place for fresh produce, meat, cheese, and baked goods—and still is. One can easily spend an afternoon wandering the stalls, which are packed with fresh produce, cheeses, meats, poultry, and flowers, as well as items like shaved ice snowballs, canned pickles, and Filipino food. If you’re really hungry, sit down for a meal at Market Lunch, a 46-year-old institution famous for its blueberry-buckwheat pancakes. On weekends, local artists sell handmade wood carvings, letterpress prints, soaps, and the like. A community staple for more than 140 years, Eastern Market offers a fascinating look into local life DC—beyond the buzzy new restaurants and the politics." - Adele Chapin
"As a major event hub, Eastern Market implemented additional measures during the pandemic to reassure customers and staff that it was safe to eat restaurant-prepared food, joining other local businesses in trying to maintain public confidence while navigating cancellations and financial losses." - Eater Staff