Soda City Market

After Kara Chamberlain Robinson posted about this place a few months ago, I saved it on my map to visit one day. Well I decided to take a trip to Columbia for the long weekend. I will say I'm glad I saved this on my map to visit, it was worth it. This market is much larger than I expected. The only issue was too many dogs. Someone allowed their dog to poop and NOT picked it up and everyone was stepping in it. This market would be better if they didn't allow dogs. I felt like I was at a dog market.

Great atmosphere, fantastic variety of vendors. We went on a "slow" weeked the Saturday after Christmas. One vendor shared there was less than half the usual vendor booths but it was still packed with all kinds of options. Loved seeing so many true local businesses and artists (not MLM, imported goods). Purple Cup Coffee was a highlight and well worth the wait for a fantastic latte!

Soda City Market is always a lot of fun, and is one of my favorite things to do in Columbia! I love getting to know all of the different vendors, and checking out the really cool miscellaneous items that they're selling. Today, I learned that there's a shop in Five Points that sells vintage, 1980s-style clothing, as well as Jamaican, Brazilian, and Belgian-themed restaurants in the city. I never would've known that before going to Soda City. I also got a decent slice of pizza, as well as a solid cup of coffee. And... the dogs! If you're a dog lover, I'm not sure there's a better place on Earth to find some beautiful dogs than Soda City, they were precious! There's really only two (2) downsides to Soda City: the prices are very expensive relative to the quality you're getting. Now, you are supporting local businesses, so I don't mind paying a little bit more for it. However, nearly $20 for a good, but not great, slice of pizza and cup of coffee isn't particularly ideal. Also, there's always very obnoxious religious zealots who either scream into a megaphone, or spout race-based conspiracy theories on the street corner. I don't mind the people who have a booth and welcome you to talk to them, but the ones who scream into their microphones kinda ruin the vibe.

It's a fun place for families to come and enjoy delicious ethnic foods with a great environment.

Lucky to have been visiting when we went. Pride was ongoing and the number of vendors and support vendors were amazing. Lovely people and great food and products.

So many vendors offering delicious food, drinks, crafts…. It’s the best market I’ve ever been to.

It was like waking street fair in NYC lots of vendors and live music. My food experience here was terrible guess I have to find the right vendor . Food was priced high had paella seafood in rice it was awful 😫. Salty fishy and costly. They had a car show and the art was just fantastic. There was a young guy there with Lakers painting and just beautiful prints . Did not catch his name but I will return . Parking was good. I would rate five if it weren't for the bad food experience. No Spanish food I would suggest. Stick to other food.

Soda city has been an amazing addition to my Saturday morning. There is alot of different cultures from foods, natural items, and personal things to buy. Fun place to bring your dog and meet friends listen to music and much more.

I love this market! I stop by every-time I'm in town. They have a lot of vendors, fresh flowers, fresh vegetables, food trucks, jewelry, anything and everything. Parking is nearby in the parking garage. I park and walk the entire strip up and back down. The vendors are nice and friendly and they really do showcase a sense of pride for their community. Also, there are a lot of gluten free and vegan food vendors here. I've tried everything from gluten free pound cake, brownies, arepas, it's good! The lemonade twins are my favorite and I also stop at their truck whenever I'm here. If you're in the area for the weekend, I highly recommend to stop by and support the locals.

I took my family to Soda City, and it was just such a blast. Truly an enjoyable experience every trip. The food, the flowers, the specialized interest, and the vibes are all amazing! Everyone is pleasant, and it's truly worth every second.

I enjoyed the vendors at the market. There was plenty of food options. The only thing I would change is getting there early. The lines were extremely long for food, parking was hard to find, and it was crowded walking through the market. If you like unique finds and a variety of items. Go!

The best outdoor market in the entire state ! I said I meant it and is getting better every year. Love the fresh mushrooms and pupusas they're the best. Parking sucks ass but it's worth walking a few blocks to experience this market. Love my city.....

Columbia, which is sometimes abbreviated as "Cola" and this grew into the nickname "Soda City." Something that I only learned as I headed to the Saturday Soda City Market. Starting at around 9am and running until around 1pm, this open air market runs about 8 or so blocks along Main Street near the South Carolina State Capitol. Police have blocked off the street so it's a pedestrian zone though some of the cross-streets are still active. You'll find dozens of food trucks with a tremendous variety of eats ranging from bagels to Cuban to paella and more. There's a farmer's market trailer with fresh local produce. And a long line of tents with locally-produced artworks including paintings, jewelry, clothing, antiques and accessories. Arriving hungry as there are vendors ready to go with coffee and breakfast or maybe you'll stick around and have lunch, too! [Review 2181 of 2024 - 1155 in South Carolina - round number 23200 overall]

I love Saturdays when im off from work and the weather is nice. Soda city market covers blocks and blocks of downtown Columbia with different food vendors, fresh produce, jewelry, dog treats, apparel , art and so much more. There's live music on almost every block, people walking their dogs and the vibes are always just making it a perfect day. Some of my favorite finds so far have been- a pupusa vendor which I find myself craving all the time, then there's a truck that hand makes Mini donuts which I'm obsessed with, we've also found some fun bath bombs for the kiddos that they've enjoyed, oh and the agua fresca selection here. There's so much more and the aroma hits you as soon as you park and walk to the market. If in the Columbia area on a Saturday the soda city market is a must.

Soda City Market is always a lot of fun, and is one of my favorite things to do in Columbia! I love getting to know all of the different vendors, and checking out the really cool miscellaneous items that they're selling. Today, I learned that there's a shop in Five Points that sells vintage, 1980s style clothing, as well as Jamaican, Brazilian, and Belgian-themed restaurants in the city. I never would've known that before going to Soda City. I also got a decent slice of pizza, as well as a solid cup of coffee. And... the dogs! If you're a dog lover, I'm not sure there's a better place on Earth to find some beautiful dogs than Soda City, they were precious! There's really only two downsides to Soda City: the prices are very expensive relative to the quality you're getting. Now, you are supporting local businesses, so I don't mind paying a little bit more for it. However, nearly $20 for a good, but not great, slice of pizza and cup of coffee isn't particularly ideal. Also, there's always very obnoxious religious zealots who either scream into a megaphone, or spout race-based conspiracy theories on the street corner. I don't mind the people who have a booth and welcome you to talk to them, but the ones who scream into their microphones kinda ruin the vibe.

Great little weekly street fair. People are very hospitable. There are a lot of food trucks and vendors. If you like crafts, you will see a large assortment. Some people are making crafts on site. Casual and layed back environment. This is a great family outing.

This outdoor market is so cute and full of all different kinds of vendors! So many food trucks, it's impossible not to find something you might like! Vendors include everything from fresh baked bread, fresh flower bouquets to wood crafts, jewelry, clothes and even a fresh vegetable stand! Really enjoyed walking through and seeing pups!

If you visit Columbia, or live here, you MUST go at least once to the Soda City Market (but I'm confident you'll find yourself going again and again). The people watching is superb, there are always a wonderful mix of vendors including food (local produce and food stands, drinks galore), clothing, crafts, jewelry, fresh flowers, and live music. You'll see people of all ages and lots of furry friends (I've seen dogs, cats, a sugar glider, and even a goat). Parking is never difficult, as there are several parking garages surrounding the market.

Soda City Market was one of the top recommendations I got for Columbia, and it exceeded expectations! The nearby parking garages were full, but I was able to find street parking just a short walk away. The market went on for many blocks and featured a huge variety of vendors. I couldn't resist the freshly squeezed lemonade stand and got a Basil Mint Hibiscus Lemonade, which was fantastic - so refreshing! The clothing and jewelry vendors were also impressive, and prices were surprisingly reasonable. We spent some time at the Palmetto Wildlife Rescue area, where they had raccoons, squirrels, skunks, and opossums. There were also multiple live music performers, and the ambiance was so pleasant. Overall, a fun Saturday activity!

Today the market was packed!!! Weather was nice and it seems everyone decided to come out and enjoy! Lots of good food, vendors and music! If you haven't been and decide to visit there's a large parking deck on Washington street -Washington Plaza parking garage and it's free on the weekend.

We love Soda City! There are so many different vendors and food trucks to choose from. There are many homemade goodies and products. There is live music and so much to see. Highly recommend!

My all time favorite thing to do on a Saturday! Fun and inviting atmosphere for all, great food, great people. And make sure you grab a beautiful bouquet of flowers on your way out as well! Full video: @thesodascene

I love coming to Soda City Market on Saturdays! It's such a fun way to get out and experience some good food and finds. I have come a few times now, and I will say the earlier you get there, the better. This past time I went, it was packed, as it was a nice sunny day, so it was hard to get around. However, we did find some really good avocado toast, which I would 100% get again!

Saturday at Soda City... the sites, the food, the music and the people. Wifey and I totally enjoy going every chance we get.... so amazing

With so many varieties, the choices are endless. The food trucks are in abundance along with flowers, handmade pottery, jewelry, pet treats and so much more. The service at some of the food trucks, requires patience and also timing because the lines can be long. It is always lively, and exuberant at Soda City. This is one of the most amazing places to be part of on Saturday mornings supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Looking for a fun, free, family-friendly activity? Then, take a leisurely Saturday stroll through the streets of downtown Columbia. You're likely to find this nice open air market with vendors selling just about everything under the sun. Located on Main Street, the Soda City Market is open from 9am - 1pm. There's music, food and produce, various crafts, flowers, jewelry, and more available to purchase. And it's dog friendly, too.

Overall a great experience that is worth visiting. It's an open air market with many options. There are plenty of food options ranging from the basic pizza, pallela or Columbia's food. Much of it is fried but it's all good. The coffee spots are many and the one I had was exactly what I wanted. Although it's hard to mess up an espresso. The people are great and it's dog friendly. Next time your in downtown Columbia SC on a Saturday, make sure to visit and take a stroll.

Always a good time here. Definitely a couples fest though so a bit uncomfortable for loners. Parking can be tricky but at least it's free.

This is one of my favorite things to do in Columbia! They have SO many vendors! I feel like it has grown so much over the past few years! I was able to get a ton of Christmas shopping done with small business venders and grab a bite for breakfast. So many food and drink options! Also, very drink friendly!

Love coming here! Wide variety of foods from all over - Brazilian, Venezuela, Spain, Indian, Thai, Filipino, and more! Gonna be broke trying to buy everything to try! Everything we've gotten tastes great, and everyone is so friendly! I recommend the Brazilian grill because that steak was cooked to perfection! We bring our dog and he loves it! All the dogs I've seen there are friendly and well behaved...but if you don't like dogs then this may not be for you.... There's a lot of vendors and people who craft items at home to sell. So many beautiful and unique creations! I didn't get any pictures of the flowers but boy are those fresh cut bouquets gorgeous! Ppls walking around like they won the beauty pageant and each one I saw was huge and beautiful, with rare flowers but it works somehow. Go early to get your pick! PS the donuts were from Bked Shop, out of Charleston. Found it on the map!

My family and I visited this event today; 8 adults, 1 toddler, and 1 infant. It is a family-friendly event but not catered specifically for children or teenagers. There are a variety of vendors that sell clothing, artifacts, drinks, miscellaneous items etc. There is also live music throughout the event. We had a lot of fun and was able to purchase some neat items and eat some good treats. Event is from 9 AM to 1 PM. I was a bit surprised that there were no portable bathrooms available for the attendees. We had to walk around to find someplace that would let us use their facility's bathroom. This was very inconvenient.

We had visited here almost 18 months ago and it is much more lively now. They seem to have shifted things a couple of blocks further away from the capitol building, but they may also have extended it further overall (?). They are still blocking off the segments of Main Street for pedestrian use, though the cross-streets still have traffic. From what I saw the booth distribution seemed to be about 40% food, 20% clothing, 20% craft items, and 20% art. Though there were more food vendors than before, there was also a different mix (neither of the vendors from whom we got our lunch last year were here again). There were somewhat more tacos than other foods, but there was still a wide variety. There were also several street musicians (a guy with a harp, a lady with an electric violin, etc.). It wasn't bad earlier in the day (just after opening, around 9:10 a.m.). However, later (after a visit to the museum and a quick lunch - by around noon) it was noticeably more packed. It was also much warmer with less shade by noon. This is absolutely worth checking out if you are in this area on the weekend.

Yesterday, my daughter and I ventured downtown for our first Soda City visit and we left excited and thrilled at what they had to offer. We spoke to a lady who informed us that in the colder months, it's smaller than the normal 4 blocks, but with it only being two blocks yesterday, we still found some great buys. We purchased shrimp and grits, beef jerky, pecan apple butter (which I can't wait to try on this new biscuit recipe I found), we bought miniature donuts from The donut man, we got coffee and hot cocoa, and lastly, some delicious paella! Of course all of this was not consumed while we were out there, but some was! There was music, fresh produce, jewelry, soaps, and almost any food you could think of having. We will most definitely be returning to enjoy the rest of what Soda City has to offer when it warms up!

I'm a SoCal transplant and farmer's markets are abundant in California. I was forelorn and homesick, discovering this gem in downtown Columbia brightened my day. The cultural diversity is mind blowing. Fresh fruits and veggies and an assortment of Jamaican, Thai, Venezulan, Spanish (from Spain) foods are abundant. Every vendor I have encountered has been nice and accomodating. The service is top tier. The only downside for me is it is a very dog friend event. I am not a dog person. Get there early because parking fills up quickly.

Fantastic venders great food nice people. Great for dogs. Beautiful art and plenty of plants and flowers.

I love this market on saturdays. Year round, rain to shine, 9-1. There's plenty of free parking around if you don't mind walking. Every one at the market is a maker which means they make their own food or products that they are selling. Food ranges from paella, to smoothies, to biscuits, to arepas, to tacos... bbq, anything you want. Bring your cash and get ready to eat

Good food and vendor choices, that's for sure. If you in any way value the human body and the innocence of your children then this isn't the place. Saw more butt cheeks hanging out(I mean damn near underwear) than I have in the club, and that's not an exaggeration. I would never think to expose myself like that in public, and certainly not around peoples children. But hey, not everyone is self-aware enough to recognize their lack of class. It's is 2022 after all, so I guess I shouldn't judge.

Great things offered here and I would come back! It was across an extensive amount of blocks and so much food to eat. I think it was genius to have on a Saturday!

My husband and I love taking our daughter and sometimes our dog to soda city on Saturdays! There is always a variety of vendors and food trucks. We love supporting local business, and also local talent. Definitely worth a trip downtown!

Love this market! I stopped by on the Saturday of my visit before a food tour and wish I could have tried more of the foods! I ordered some potstickers and rolls and they were delicious. They had so many great stands and it was great to visit on the summer day (2018 so no COVID)

This came up on a "to do" while in Colombia. We headed out early on a Saturday morning. 3 blocks of downtown area are closed off to traffic. Parking is tricky but there are coin meters throughout the area which are a lot cheaper than the parking structures. Soda city open on Sat only. Vendors line downtown with lots of goods. You can find food trucks, jewelry makers, artist, homemade items, live musics and dancers. Family friendly and lots of pets.

This is one of my favorite places to be on Saturday mornings, I get to to pick up all my fresh veggies for the week! Absolutely amazing addition to our community. They have everything that big city mkts have, plus I get to support all the local small businesses. There is alot of food, crafts and some seating for those who jus wanna people watch like myself. Each week there may be different artist and vendors selling, so you literally have to check in weekly. *Tip- go early to avoid the parking issues, so far Ive been lucky with parking and getting things before they sell out. Jus go, I promise you willl enjoy the vibes.

Fun surprise to find this farmer's market right outside our hotel. Hubby woke up to bagpipes playing. The vendors were so friendly..love that Southern hospitality. Beautiful fruits and vegetables. Great selection of ready to eat foods. Found a Biscuit Stand for breakfast. They had a homemade biscuit with pork belly, cream cheese and jalapeño jelly. It was delicious. So many choices-would have loved to sample more but sadly we were here for only the night. Worth your while to put this on your agenda if you are in Columbia on a Saturday morning.

One of the cutest farmers markets I have been to. There is a variety of food selection, lots of small business local vendors, craft beer (yes!), and the best part? It's super dog friendly! Parking can seem a bit intimidating since it's all metered street parking but keep circling and you'll easily find spots opening up. The only thing I have to complain about is the lack of authentic Asian food. All the Asian vendors we've tried were all more of an American- Asian fusion.

Smaller outdoor market scene than I expected. Even so, it's a couple blocks in length and as long as you keep your expectations realistic, you might be just fine. Various food trucks and vendors selling their wares. We found a great taqueria food truck that served up a monster breakfast burrito with chorizo for only 8 bucks including tax. Was big enough to feed the two of us without any problem. Lots of arepa stands and various Central and South American food styles were well represented. We really didn't see to many stand selling fresh fruits and vegetables. This was much more of an outdoor food truck/food tent kind of thing. Street parking available where you can find it.

I absolutely love stopping by this market on Saturday mornings. I usually convince my boyfriend to go around 11 am until they close and bring my pup Ava with me for a day out. It's usually about three blocks of food, entertainment, and fun shops up and down the streets. Some of them are the same each week while others are different per week. You just never know what you might find there!

Words cant really describe what this event is like! They close off a number of streets and the folks from the surrounding area descend on the vendors here! We never knew this was a thing in Columbia! Plenty of garage and street parking a short distance away and if you cant find anything you want here you just aren't looking! We found many vendors who were willing to share their story of why they sell what they do. Found a vegan candy make and bought some amazing chocolate bars! One of our favorite vendors was a man and wife who take old books and cut them into letters or strange shapes. So talented, yep we bought one----the letter M! I do recommend this to anyone who wants to discover what one vendor told me, the underbelly of Columbia arts. Most of the businesses are open as well that's how we found a great restaurant which will be another review!

I was wondering why everybody was referring to Columbia as "Soda City" when I visited, but a tinder date answered the question for me when I asked. Did you know Columbia is called Soda City, because the first two syllables are "Cola"? I was like Oh! ... duh! Soda City is also the name of the street fair that's held downtown every Saturday rain or shine. Complete with food trucks, live music, and various other local vendors selling products. My date and I absolutely enjoyed ourselves, grabbing a couple drinks and sharing belgian waffle breakfast sandwiches from their well known food truck. I love a good street fair, and it was great to see a community coming together to have fun.

We visited the holiday market last weekend and had a nice time! We expected more vendors but assume many had left for the day because we got there in the evening and it was a bit chilly. The food booths looked amazing! We got hot chocolate from Agape Chocolates which was delicious. They had a few options including a dark chocolate hot cocoa made with almond milk, which can be hard to come by at events like this! We also bought a few of their homemade chocolate bars, which had a lot of fun flavors. There was a lot of cute artwork for sale at the various booths including a vendor actively making art! My family personally enjoyed just walking around and looking at the crochet holiday decor on the trees on Main Street.

What an way to spend a Saturday. Soda City has a lot of diverse vendors and some exotic food. They usually have live music set up. It streches several block of Main St and is always a different experience.

I don't understand why this is called a farmers market? A farmers market is supposed to be mostly made up of farmers selling produce and meat, cheese and flowers! Ya know things they actually grew and raised themselves. This market is mostly made up of small businesses selling craft items and food vendors. One or two produce resellers does NOT a farmers market make. It's funny that other southern communities Iike Chapel Hill, Asheville, even outside Charlotte (St. Matthew's) all have thriving viable farmers market which represent a thriving locally grown food market economy. They take EBT benefits too! Why is Columbia still dragging? After 16 years in the PNW where I can count at least 20 small scale organic farms in our midsized town of Bellingham- plus pastured meat options, and a county based food security project to address public health and food access inequities it's heartbreaking to see my hometown of Columbia still so behind the times. The organic small scale agricultural scene in the midlands is dismal. I know there are a few growers here & there but sure wish there was an actual organic farmers market where I could actually shop for food!

first time to visit here and it was fun! Not to crowded maybe bec of Covid restrictions. I only rated 3 stars because we're driving from Grovetown, Ga and mostly the stalls are done for the day, so we didn't get the chance to look around but overall it was nice to visit here..

This farmer's market made me fall in love with Columbia so much more! More dogs in strollers than children, not to mention all the dogs on leashes. There was a huge variety of food vendors and such. Definitely moving to Columbia eventually and hitting this as much as I can.

Soda City is a really unique event that Columbia has every Saturday that lets you see and interact with the locals and to support your small businesses and entrepreneurs. There are vendors that sell local produce, homemade honey, hand-crafted woof decorations, and home-cooked baked goods and foods. I'm from Charleston so it reminded me of a combination of the Marion Square Farmers Market and 2nd Sunday King Street events. Soda City takes place in the heart of downtown on Main Street and it's a couple blocks long. For parking, there are meters and garages that are nearby so it's not an issue. Also, note that meters are FREE on Saturday and Sunday. The crowd and high energy environment there was amazing! There were a lot of locals and this included families with kids, couples, people who brought their dogs, and USC students. There are also street performers there that play instruments or sing. The Food: The majority of the food is at the left end of Soda City by Washington street where they have local food trucks, but they are dispersed throughout Main Street. They had a couple Mexican food vendors, one Asian noodle vendor, an Asian eggroll/dumpling vendor, a couple of pies/cake dessert vendors, French Fry vendor, one with fair themed food like funnel cakes, and two or three Southern Food Style vendors. I decided to try the Asian one and got an order of 3 small eggrolls and 3 dumplings for $5. It was fairly good and served as a tasty appetizer. For our main course, we tried the Carolina Cookin' Food Truck and were blown away!!! We ordered the Shrimp Po Boy and the BBQ Sandwich and both were huge!!! Especially the Shrimp Po boy and it came with amazing remoulade sauce, tomatoes, and lettuce. My friend and I sat at one of the standing tables and two people asked about and complimented about how good the Shrimp Po Boy looked. Also of note, almost all the vendors and food trucks take credit card so don't worry about not having cash. Overall, this is a very fun event to go to that lets you see what Columbia is really made of and as I said before, support your local businesses! Bring your friends and come hungry!

Soda City is one of the things about Columbia that reminds me of home (Providence, Rhode Island). There's no shortage of culture-- from the food to the buskers. You can find cuisine from nearly every culture (though we've noticed there aren't any pierogis or Middle Eastern food, the addition of which would surely escalate this from a 5-star market to a 6), which is a big plus. There's no shortage of vegan options, so come hungry.

Here's the 411... This is the highest priced farmers market/ local vendor spot I have ever seen. I'm from Los Angeles and can promise you that neither the Hollywood or Santa Monica spots have prices even half of these for locally sourced stuff. Given the lower cost of living and wages in S.C., patrons are really paying about 4x as much for the same items. Truly a ripoff for what you get especially since these aren't gourmet items. This place only had 2 vendors selling fresh produce which was a let down. Was really hoping for more of a farmers presence! The people were friendly and the samples were good so if you're coming here just to browse and get out you will enjoy that. Not good for shopping

New to the city and this market made me feel like there is so much to try and do here! Free parking on the weekends. Extended several blocks with tons of people and doggos walking the street. Great food options, drinks, local artist and fresh produce! Prices are reasonable and really made for a fun Saturday morning. Highly recommend!