The Old Market

Local Flavor · Omaha

The Old Market

Local Flavor · Omaha
Omaha, NE 68102

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The Old Market by null
The Old Market by null
The Old Market by null
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The Old Market by null
The Old Market by null
The Old Market by null
The Old Market by null
The Old Market by null
The Old Market by null
The Old Market by null
The Old Market by null
The Old Market by null
The Old Market by null
The Old Market by null
The Old Market by null
The Old Market by null
The Old Market by null
The Old Market by null
The Old Market by null
The Old Market by null
The Old Market by null
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The Old Market by null
The Old Market by null
The Old Market by null
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Highlights

The Old Market in downtown Omaha is a vibrant hub filled with chic boutiques, trendy eateries, and art galleries that beckon for exploration.  

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Omaha, NE 68102 Get directions

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Omaha, NE 68102 Get directions

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crowd family friendly

Last updated

Mar 4, 2025

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Meg B.

Yelp
As a life long resident of Omaha, my earliest memories of The Old Market begin with big family get togethers at Spaghetti Works. I'm happy that now an adult I spend a lot more time and all over the Old Market a there are so many wonderful local businesses on Howard street. Many of the eateries include historic photos of the blocks considered OM. Le Buillon even tell a story of how one man saved the OM from becoming a park garage. It's a staple in Omaha. If you are only in town for a day, it's worth it to park and walk up and down the brick paved roads. Theres now in 2024 ample parking around the area with 2+ garages. Too bad we lost free weekend parking, but Sundays are still free. There is so much to eat, drink, and shop on these blocks. My faves include Made in Omaha, Godega Market, Eat the Worm (lol), and of course Spaghetti Works, for nostalgia. It's our special area in Omaha and I will love to watch it continue to flourish.

Helen H.

Yelp
Brick paved streets and buildings. The was a police officer on a horse clip clopping. We walked around after lunch and checked out a few stores. I was able to find some souvenirs at the "Old Market Sundries." Make sure you check out the Passageway- loved the green plants. U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Nicole E.

Yelp
Smaller market walk area. Only spans up and down a few blocks. A good assortment of places to eat. The passageway is worth a picture. The brick lined roads is vintage and cool. Some blocks have no walkways on Howard, oddly.

Laura G.

Yelp
Enjoyed the area and the farmers market. Girls got balloon animals and popsicles. We also stopped to listen to the street performers.

Sara C.

Yelp
The Old Market is a fun place to walk around and "sight see" (see the major Omaha buildings/architecture/historical sites), shop, eat, and also have some fun in the parks. As for shopping/dining, there are a lot of artsy stores and eclectic shops, as well as fancy restaurants in the Old Market - all of which can get rather pricey. There are also a few thrift shops, though, that have very unique finds at lower prices. For activities, there is fun you can have on the slides, in the parks, and now the cool Heartland of America Park at the RiverFront with a skating ribbon, amphitheater, and the Discovery Playground for kids. You can also take a carriage ride around the Old Market for around $70 to $80 depending on the number of passengers. There's also a ton of local art in galleries to check out. Hit the Passageway for a lot of them! During winter they also light up the whole of the Old Market and downtown with thousands of Christmas lights and decorations. All in all, the Old Market is worth a stop to see the old world shops and brick roads, stores, restaurants, and local activities. Just be aware that you will pay for the cool factor of all of these establishments being in the hip area of the Old Market.

Leilani G.

Yelp
Old Market is a must see when in Omaha! I have the privilege of visiting the city every once in a while for work, and Old Market is always one of my favorite places to hang out in. There are so many restaurants, cafes, and shops to explore, and walking through the Passageway is in my opinion, the best part!

Dave B.

Yelp
This district is charming. Full of brick roads and good businesses, it's worth paying for parking to visit, shop, and dine. Or go on Sunday and see if you can score free street parking. There's enough to do to justify a visit. There's plenty of restaurants, shops, and sights to see. Go! Visit!

M. S.

Yelp
This place is big. They have a lot of fresh seafoods, veggies and every goodies you could imagine. The prices are pretty decent.

Esther C.

Yelp
Stinking gorgeous. There's a long passageway made of brick and drenched with greenery. With the light shining through, it feels magical. You can walk around and look at the little shops and buy some trinkets.

Julie C.

Yelp
The Old Market has a bunch of restaurants and cool shops. Located in downtown Omaha, and close to Creighton University. It definitely has a pretty extensive variety of food options. The stores sell mostly clothes, but other options such as knickknacks, souvenirs, and there was even a Christmas shop. I'm prices overall are on the expensive side. The Old Market is very walkable and within distance of nearby hotels.

Ashley B.

Yelp
I love this market!! Probably one of my favorite farmer's markets ever. There was tons of live music, food booths, and also so many unique shopping booths. It is very big and you can spend a couple hours here.

Terri L.

Yelp
Beware the parking nazi! One person must stay with the vehicle while another goes to pay. Our visit to Old Market ended abruptly in frustration before we could patronize a restaurant or shops due to a rude parking attendant putting a citation on our vehicle within the two minutes we were paying the meter. The attendant was unapologetic and stated it could be appealed on line, which I did. It turns out it was a "warning only" citation, but the unnecessary incident ruined our evening.

Ross D.

Yelp
Awesome atmosphere. Lots to see, cool shops to checkout. Tons of places to eat and drink. I do wish there was more retail. Overall, very charming.

Phil Y.

Yelp
Family vacation 2021...bringing the California variant of COVID-19 to your city. The Old Market was an interesting place for us to visit. It was one of the first places that we got out of our car to walk explore during our road trip. It is an eclectic neighborhood with artists galleries, restaurants, and shops. Most of the galleries were closed when we arrived. There were some shops and restaurants open. I'm not sure what affect the pandemic had on the Old Market, but, there were some shops that were vacant or closed. There were lots of visitors on the night we visited. It was interesting enough for us to spend about an hour at the Old Market. The streets were cobblestone, so make sure you wear proper shoes. It was a nice place. It may be even nicer once the pandemic ends.

Tammi G.

Yelp
Omaha needs to step up the customer service if they desire tourists. And by the looks of the area and the new attractions they do. It could be an amazing destination, but we won't go back. Never once did we feel welcome, and more often than not, it felt like we were an inconvenience. What was supposed to be a fun weekend getaway from Kansas City was awful. And, omaha is not in any way a place to get good food! It's expensive, flavorless, and all the same. You will not get what you think you're getting. My best, but not only, for example, is a whole cucumber sandwich, with 4 .15 inch slices of dry, hard cucumber, and not enough spread to even taste it. It was $10. No flavor, and the bread was stale. That was our first meal there, and they didn't improve at all. The places we enjoyed seeing were the Bob Bridge, the train station, aksarben, dundee, and the park downtown. But again the customer service was awful. We'd been to the zoo in the past and chose not to visit since the kids were still out of school. Again, if you want people to return or refer omaha as a destination, step up the customer service everywhere! We love visiting smaller or mid-size cities in the Midwest, think wichita, des moines, Manhattan, KS. Never had such a bad experience!

Robyn P.

Yelp
Delightfully picturesque area of Omaha to explore. Numerous shops and restaurants offer a great time for all ages. We had a great experience ( about 2 hours time)

Lou M.

Yelp
If you come to Omaha you have to go to the Old Market. The historical district of downtown Omaha with shops a plenty and restaurants galore. Always a fun time with street artists, carriage rides, antique shops, a few odd ball folks and a fun vibe. Simply.... just go and experience it. The better weather or local events going on in the downtown area makes this place even more busy and fun. Holiday season also brings out a Memorable and joyful time here.

Brittany S.

Yelp
Years ago I saw a picture of the Passage Way in the Old Market neighborhood and thought, "one day, I'd like to check out Omaha." Well, the time finally came during a cross country toad trip. The picturesque Passage Way features old bricks building exteriors and lush green plants. It was a perfect quick pit stop that allowed us a way to experience the Old Market neighborhood in a social distance friendly way. The neighborhood is filled with charming shops like chocolate shops and western ware, eateries and beautiful historic architecture. We opted to stick to the sidewalks and weave our way from street to street to admire the neighborhood. If you're ever in Omaha, don't miss out on this charmer.

Emily R.

Yelp
I loved Old Market in Omaha. It was soooo cute. We stayed right inside the area which made everything within walking distance. I absolutely loved that. The ambiance at night is so pretty. The string lights added to the mood and there were tons of unique shops, good eats, and bars to explore. There really were some unique shops. There was one that sold a bunch of vintage things like VHS tapes and costumes. They even had collectibles and other fun souvenirs. The weather was nice all the days we were there and it was nice to sit outside the restaurants/bars soaking it all in. Old Market isn't very big making it impossible to get lost, but what it does have you will enjoy. I thought it was a ton of fun.

Syed K.

Yelp
Very neat place in Omaha, very cool vibe, cobblestones street, like right out f an old movie. Very nice collection of restaurants, art stores, clothing stores. There is plenty even around the area which is very historic that you can spend the whole day there. Definitely a must place to checkout if in Omaha.

Steve K.

Yelp
The Old Market is very fun to tour for at least an afternoon--thankfully not too touristy (only a few touristy places), with lots of authentic local establishments and some outstanding food options. You can probably see it all in an afternoon but I'd say there's enough food for days.

Patrick W.

Yelp
The iconic Old Market started out as a produce market in the early 1900's which continued until the 1950's. Many of the buildings which date back to the 1880's were nearly condemned. Instead, the owner renovated many of the buildings for new uses which continues today. Within the Old Market you will find some of the best restaurants in town, art galleries, pubs, brewery/distillery, coffee shop, retail stores, a record shop, ice and candy stores among others. It remains one of the better nightlife spots in all of Omaha. I find myself visiting the Old Market multiple times each for a dinner, drinks, or a stroll alomng the old cobble stone streets. It is probably one of the more touristy areas in town but it still retains its authenticity. One of my favorite places is the passageway on Howard Steet. This former alley was closed in and now serves as a passage way between two buildings. You'll find patio seating for V. Mertz as well as Trini's restaurants. Be sure to check out the bronze statues representing the signs of the zodiac and the planets begind the Garden of the Zodiac Gallery.

Alexander O.

Yelp
Everything you could want! Retro, old, new, full of party's and cool places! Everything from record stores, comics stores, chocolate stores, bars, clubs, sports arenas, hotels, casinos just across the river, antique stores, auto repair, etc. like actually everything! It's an awesome place that anyone must visit before you die! Great with and even without friends! It's like an actual movie

Drew G.

Yelp
I truly don't get these reviews. Only the Jamie B one is accurate. Unless you've never, ever been to a city of any size does the Old Market count as a destination. A couple bars, microbreweries, restaurants, and shops covering a couple blocks is a destination? I grew up rural, before moving on, and this is only a destination if you are unfortunately in Omaha for something else. It simply isn't even a double A city. A destination needs to take-up more than couple hours.

Chris S.

Yelp
Nice area, old refurbished buildings, restaurants and shops, but the area only covers about two square blocks. We expected to spend several hours in the Omaha's spotlight and most publicized feature, but after 45 minutes to an hour, we had seen pretty much everything. So do not get your hopes too high although it is a quaint area of town. We had dinner at Jackson Street Tavern and were not particularly impressed (see my review), but "Chloe" at Joe's Collectibles (in the alley behind Jackson Street Tavern - enter from 12th Street and follow the signs - also reviewed) was the highlight of our visit. The mounted police were also very friendly, posing for photos with them and their beautiful horses. It is worth a visit, but do not set your expectations too high or you may be disappointed. CombatCritic Gives Omaha's Old Market 5 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Patricia D.

Yelp
[60/100] After driving through Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas...I was glad to make it to Old Market. I underestimate how much farmland there is in the United States. Parking: It's inexpensive. There is both street parking and plaza parking. It was $1 for an hour. Aesthetic: The road is cobblestone. The buildings are aged with two levels. There is plenty of eateries and shops. It was raining on my visit and it made it feel like Seattle or Oregon. I wasn't sure what I would find in Omaha but there plenty they offer. Bookmark and visit this place.

Sue T.

Yelp
Took the granddaughters on a pre-Christmas evening out to the downtown area to see the lights. They were most in awe of the Passageway and the way it was lit up for the holidays. They enjoyed walking into the different retail businesses in the area, and seeing all the lights on the trees. There are several good spots for taking pictures, specially decorated for the holiday season!

Tony A.

Yelp
The Old Market was part of the itinerary my wife put together for our 2 day visit to Omaha. It was a short drive from our hotel and had we not had the baby tagging along with us on this trip, I would have preferred to walk to it! We toured this area on a Sunday evening and came back the next Monday morning to finish up some unfinished business before we flew out of Omaha. First, don't hassle driving around looking for the elusive street parking spot, in most cases, the street parking is full...unless you are lucky to arrive when someone is pulling out. I'd advice parking at the conveniently located parking garages close by for $1 an hour. The old market is definitely one of the places you should visit when in Omaha. It is not a big area, probably,2-3 blocks in area. The streets are cobblestone; the buildings are re-purposed warehouses dating back to the 1860's and are now home to unique shops and restaurants. I did not see any chain stores that you will recognize from other parts of the country. We visited antique shops, curb side cafe's, restaurants, and walked by plenty of bars lining up the streets. There are great selection of bars, eateries, and shops in this small area and you sure are to find something that you like. Street performers, horse drawn carriage rides, and nice quaint stores are all around you while in this area. If you are interested in exploring outside the Old Market, you can either rent a bike or walk to the nearby parks...or head on the path to the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge for a great view of the city and river. Overall, great atmosphere, great selection of eateries and shops...although confined to a small area and a little expensive (eateries and shopping) due to the touristic nature of the place. If you are in Omaha, you have to come check this place out! Enuff said!

Jean L.

Yelp
All the tour books online and in print mentioned Old Market as a must! Of course this was my first stop in Omaha. Just driving on the brick road was awesome, especially the "clut clut clut" sound when the tires bounce on the bricks! I love that this area is still hustling and bustling, full of different eateries, shops, interactive parks, landmarks, and so much more! I also encountered lots of nice locals who provided suggestions and directions. I bet this place in the summer time is probably filled with festivals, live music, and etc. Too bad I didn't get to see that side of Old Market since I visited in December. One day I hope to make back during summer months.

Lianna N.

Yelp
This review just covers the old market as a whole not any specific business. The old market is a must see when you are visiting Omaha. It is full of history, great dining, boutique shopping, and quaint stuff like antique stores metal art and fancy art galleries. It is full of old buildings, or old buildings that have been refinished. Many people live in the old market too in lofts that have been refurbished or newly built. It's an excellent place to walk around and explore and with so many options of businesses to visit there is pretty much something for everyone in the family. Whether you are antiquing, you want to check out a unique candy store, sit down for brunch, have a coffee, check out the late-night scene with the bars and lounges, or have a classy dinner this place has at all. It's also home to the farmers market, one of my favorite things in Omaha.

Jim H.

Yelp
The Old Market area in downtown Omaha is a revitalized area of shops, restaurants, and drinking establishments. There is a little something here for everyone from quirky to expensive, casual to sophisticated, clothing, arts and crafts, home decor, etc. You could spend hours exploring the Old Market area or you can do a quick pass and hit the highlights.

James B.

Yelp
Fun place. A lot fun stores and places to have cocktail and eat.

Erin P.

Yelp
What a fun place to live! There are fabulous restaurants at every corner, some cool street artists, horse carriages, and awesome nightlife. There is no end to the places you can eat here! The best eats for me have been twisted fork. They have a great happy hour and amazing wings! Double char are the best! On top of all this the place is so full of history and cool old buildings. It's really a fun place to experience. When winter is over the farmers market is on Jones street with some really good finds. Even though it's fairly small, you can get good quality meats and fun knickknacks. Living here for over a year has been a true delight. The only downside would be it's not very family oriented for living. You can try! But my building is pretty party party on the weekends with thin walls. No babies are sleeping here!

Jayden K.

Yelp
Very nice area with really great restaurants and cool places to shop. Fun place for photos as well!

Joseph L.

Yelp
I've lived here two months the entry doorway is broken the window smashed in has been under repair with wood almost a month there is only to working elevators the others have been in constant repair putting up with the smell of heavy drug use and methamphetamine as you walk the hall smell it in the elevators mail boxes I know mine have been broken into three times had to get a p.o. box went three days after just moved in with no heat maintenance crew is on certified Heating Repair

Kyle K.

Yelp
Ah, ye Old Market. Once upon a time (circa 1980s), you were out of style, rundown and unappealing. That was many, many years ago. Nowadays, tourists can be found here perusing shops, restaurants and drinking establishments. But just as many locals enjoy walking the brick paved streets as well. Whether it's one of the newer additions (Jams, Brickway) or a classic mainstay (Dubliner, Mister Toad's, Tannenbaum, La Buvette), you, Old Market, are as hip as hip can be. Sure, there's the up and comers like Blackstone and Aksarben as well as Benson, but you, Old Market, could be renamed the "Vintage District". Similar to that of a fine wine, you keep getting better with age. If you, Old Market, were one that runs a foot race, you would be found in the marathons rather than the wind sprints. Not even a large building fire could stop the momentum of The Old Market. You rebuild and make it better than before. Kinda like Colonel Steve Austin from the $6 Million Man: Better, Stronger, Faster (well maybe not faster)! The Old Market does not skip a beat. It's. That. Good.

Dana L.

Yelp
Loved this part of town! So many restaurants and shops! Set aside some time to visit here. We only planned on going for 3 hours and we would've liked to stay longer but our meter ran out and wouldn't let us extend the time

Michael F.

Yelp
I love the cobblestones streets, the historic buildings and the unique shops. There are no commercial stores here which makes this area special. Lots boutique stores and local art shops. My favorites are the city limits and Curbside Clothing. I love strolling in this area whenever I'm in Omaha. The district is charming and home to a lot of great independent businesses. Check it out! This historic area is brilliant!

Julie P.

Yelp
Loved this place! We had dinner at Upstream, Old World Spaghetti, and Twisted Fork. All excellent. Loved the little shops to explore. Parking was very inexpensive and free on Sundays. Ted and Wally's ice cream was yum!!

Alden C.

Yelp
Old Market is the arts and entertainment district of Omaha, NE. I personally found quite a few exotic merchandise and restaurants that the residents of the city could partake. Yes, it is expensive. Yes, it is cultural- for Omaha at least. I have heard people say that the area is overrated but face it, there is nothing else that is this artsy, cultural or entertaining anywhere else in this town. I had a blast going through various stores with my niece. It was fun to hear her Midwestern accent when she saw tiny little anatomically correct dolls without any clothes on(I don't know why) in one of the stores. 'Oh! That is so groooooss!' Old Market is unique for Omaha and I haven't seen many stores that sell this kind of merchandise here in Fort Collins, CO (no surprise there) or in Denver,CO.

Jake B.

Yelp
You have to see old market if you come Omaha. So many great restaurants, bars, museums and parks. Really gives you the full experience of what this city has to offer.

Spencer M.

Yelp
Awesome place lots of shops and restaurants. Beautiful and could walk around for hours. Trick is finding a parking spot.

Charcy L.

Yelp
Nice place to walk around. Many restaurants and shops spread out in this area. Quite place which have many parking spaces. The bricks roads have vintage feeling . If you travel in Omaha, it's worthy to stop by.

Jessi C.

Yelp
As a tourist who was in Omaha for the weekend, I was told that I absolutely had to check out the Old Market. I would definitely highly recommend it to any other traveling foodies visiting Omaha! The Old Market has street parking, and it is all very walkable. The cobble stone streets and old brick buildings are charming, and the feel of the place is just very friendly and nice. There are street performers, musicians, and horse drawn carriages if you're feeling fancy. The shopping is good...It's a lot of art galleries and local small shops, which is a nice change from the usual tourist trap shopping you find in centers like this around the country. I'm also a vinyl record collector, and there's a few record stores in Old Market. I prefer new vinyl over used, so I would recommend Drastic Plastic for vinyl and cool t-shirts. Also the art was extremely well-priced, but that might just be because I'm used to over-priced items from the East coast or California. But the highlight for Old Market for me was the food and drink! So many cool restaurants and bars to try...I wish I had more time to try them all. The Old Market is definitely a must-see if you're visiting Omaha.

Mike D.

Yelp
If you know me, you know I do not enjoy living here. However, the Old Market is super fantastic, one of the best places ever. I haven't seen anywhere like it in the places I've been. Brick buildings and warehouses, luxury apartments, lofts, breweries, distilleries, restaurants, doctors, lawyers, cigar lounges, grocery stores, gyms, bookstores, tattoos it has it all. The Old Market covers a fairly large area compared to the other entertainment districts I've been to (Benson, Dundee, Westport, Court Ave, Rose Quarter, etc...). It's kind of amazing to imagine that 100 years ago all of these huge brick buildings were warehouses and factories and the very center for the economy of Omaha and what kept the city running and famous. The Old Market has dozens of whatever kind of shops and restaurants you could imagine. American food, Chinese, Mexican, steaks, food trucks, Vietnamese, Italian.....Bars for every type of person. If you're a college tool go to O'Connors or Barry O's, if you're sophisticated take a walk into M's or Brick and Mortar, everyday people you can have fun at Billy Frogg's, Stiles, or Eat the Worm. TONS of specialty shops. I mean tons, like I just counted 20 in my head. Bookstores, cigar shops, tattoo parlors, men's clothing, women's clothing, art, decor, gifts, spiritual items. It's crazy. You could really walk around here for an entire day if you actually went into and looked at every shop and store here. I get stuck in one particular antique store for hours. And the best part? You are 5 minutes from downtown, Little Italy, the Riverfront, Midtown Crossing, North Downtown, and the Blackstone District. So if you are from out of town you have probably a hundred or so places within 5-10 minutes to check out. One last word of advice......DO NOT DRIVE DOWN JONES STREET. I'm pretty sure it broke all of my car.

Tony D.

Yelp
Great place to visit. There are bars. Restaurants. Art shops. Ice parlor. Candy shops. Almost anything you want can be found here. And the best part, almost all the shops are small businesses. No big box businesses here.

Will S.

Yelp
Man, growing up in Omaha, the Old Market was always the destination everyone talked about. And it's still a favorite among locals and a must see destination for out-of-towners. Quaint and quirky shops sit along brick streets while horse-drawn-carriages take couples on romantic rides. Plus there's always a great restaurant or two around every corner in addition to nightlife hot spots. Oh, and then there's the street musicians, food carts (you see these now more often than in the past), great coffee shops and the close proximity to world class art spaces like Kaneko and Bemis. It's a great place for families during the day and younger party goers at night. Sure, there are a few places I'll never, ever go to again due to bad experiences, but there's enough variety that I've been able to pick and choose my favorite Old Market hangouts over the years. In all, I have and always will love the Old Market and have enjoyed watching it slowly evolve over the years. As more trendy tourist-friendly spots pop up in the Old Market, Omaha's counter-culture scene now opts for other neighborhoods to hang out in, making the area decidedly less weird. But oh well, as long as there's a record shop and Zio's Pizza nearby, I'll always have a reason to bum about the Old Market. Makes me want to spend an afternoon sitting on the planters and people watch.

Tanya D.

Yelp
So fun! While in Omaha go to Old Market and hit the slides. Fun for all ages. I am pretty sure I was airborn for a moment! Best of all it's free.

Gregg M.

Yelp
When I lived in Omaha, the Old Market was my favorite place in town. The Old Market is somewhat of an misnomer since it's definitely not a working market, however, it comes close on Saturday mornings in the Spring, Summer, and Fall when the Omaha Farmers' Market is going on. Of course, beers at the Upstream or having a nice meal at M's Pub were other fond memories that I have of the Old Market. While there have certainly been plenty of a changes in/around the Old Market and the downtown as a whole, the Old Market has endured with surprisingly little change to its core charm. Brick lined streets, buskers (not "Huskers") performing for passersby, horse-drawn carriages, and unique restaurants, bars, and boutiques make the Old Market one of Omaha's top tourist draws. Omaha and the Old Market can't compare with similar urban concepts that may be found in much bigger cities like New York, Chicago, DC or Seattle, but if you find yourself in the "Big O", you really shouldn't pass up checking out the Old Market.