St. Lawrence Market

St. Lawrence Market is heaven for hungry travelers, with many visitors stopping by during food tours of Toronto. It’s also a common stop on beer tours and walking tours around Old Town Toronto, as well as on haunted tours, thanks to reports of ghost sightings in and around the market area.

In addition to the 50 or so food vendors on the lower level, the market also features the Market Gallery on the second floor. Set within the former council chamber, the gallery displays temporary exhibits covering local history and culture. The nearby North Market hosts a farmers market on Saturdays, beginning at 5am, and an antiques market on Sundays.

• St. Lawrence Market is a must-visit for foodies.

• Bring cash as some vendors don’t accept debit or credit cards.

• The market is wheelchair accessible.

The nearest subway stop to the St. Lawrence Market is Union Station, which is about a 10-minute walk away. Alternatively, you can take the King streetcar. Get off at Jarvis and walk one block to the south.

St. Lawrence Market is open Tuesday to Saturday. On Saturdays, particularly during the summer, the market is usually thronged, especially at lunchtime and during the afternoon. Arrive early in the day to beat the crowds. During the lead-up to Christmas, the market offers an assortment of festive specialties.

While there is no shortage of good food at St. Lawrence Market, there are some only-in-Canada specialties that locals and visitors rave about. The Carousel Bakery, for example, sells the popular peameal bacon sandwich, which consists simply of a kaiser roll, topped with peameal bacon and mustard. St. Urbain Bagels, meanwhile, are credited with introducing Montreal-style bagels to Toronto. The bagels here are dipped in honey water before being cooked over a wood fire.