Haymarket
4
About
During daylight hours on Fridays and Saturdays, the Haymarket on Hanover Street, near Boston's North End, is rich with culture and bargains. Visitors who stroll through the crowded alley can spend very little and come home with a full load of fresh fruit, vegetables and seafood sold by local vendors.
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The area
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Neighbourhood: Downtown
The largest area of the city, Downtown is rich with historical and iconic sites in Boston. Stroll through one of Boston’s most famous green spaces, the Boston Public Gardens, check out and make way for duckling statues, picnic under a beautiful tree overlooking the pond, and walk over the iconic footbridge where, during summer time, you will catch a swan boat toting children and eager tourists through the pond. Have your camera ready to capture its peaceful beauty in the middle of a bustling city. Continue on through the Gardens and take in some open green space at the Boston Common, where you can spend time throwing a frisbee, sitting on a park bench, or, in the winter time, skating on the frog pond. Head north from the end of the Common to see the golden dome of the State House, and travel through government center to Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall, both a historic and popular destination worth a quick visit for a first time to Boston. Head to Long Wharf to visit the Aquarium, or catch a boat to Charlestown or even Cape Cod.
How to get there
- Haymarket • 1 min walk
- Government Center • 4 min walk
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4.0
142 reviews
Excellent
61
Very good
65
Average
10
Poor
1
Terrible
5
Happytravels0101
Metro Boston104 contributions
Sept 2019
It's a wonderful open air market to visit near Boston City Hall, Quincy Market, and the Warf. Prices are about half what you'd pay in a grocery store or supermarket. Parking nearby and you walk out right to the market. Shop around because the same items can be bought at a different vendor for cheaper price. Even though it's open air, you would be walking under tent covers. Wear comfortable shoes for walking. It's open on Fridays and Saturdays. If you go on Saturday afternoons, you can get even better bargains but your choices will be less.
Written 9 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sabos22
Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia51 contributions
Jan 2020
Well, this marketplace is very live and noisy. So many different kind of vegetables are in. You can bargainl, or kind salers could make a spacial offer to you :) But, you have to be careful with the quality of the products. Some of that are about to expite.
However, I enjoyed it.
However, I enjoyed it.
Written 23 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
redeco
Warren, MA9,280 contributions
Haymarket is a Boston tradition with its rows of tightly packed fruit and vegetable vendors hawking and shouting about how fresh their produce is. It's organized chaos with customers who shout right back and push their way through the crowd. And the produce is usually very ripe and at bargain prices. Use it in a couple of days or it goes bad.
With a little practice you'll discover that you can get some great buys even though the vendors tend to throw in over-ripe produce in with the good. Just go with it and you'll be happier. Tell them they've got the best avocados in the market and watch them make sure you get the best they have. A little bit of compliment and friendly banter can get you a long way. You've got to love these people.
Know also that the far end of the market by Union Oyster House is an open air fish market. Here you can buy whole or filleted fish, clams on the half shell, and all manner of things that swim. The central area of the market has multiple shops in the buildings. Look for the man who sells only cheese. Pass by the over-ripe cheeses out front at $3 per slice and go inside. Pick out a few cheeses; he'll let you sample. His prices are wonderful. Also check out the mid-east vendors with their chick peas, Mediterranean groceries, figs, and halal meats. Don't freak out over the goat's heads and lamb quarters complete with feet.
There is an international feeling to this market. If you would prefer well-lit wide-aisled supermarkets, this might not be the place for you. However, if you like the adventure of the bazaars in Antioch, take a walk on the wild side and have a good time at it.
With a little practice you'll discover that you can get some great buys even though the vendors tend to throw in over-ripe produce in with the good. Just go with it and you'll be happier. Tell them they've got the best avocados in the market and watch them make sure you get the best they have. A little bit of compliment and friendly banter can get you a long way. You've got to love these people.
Know also that the far end of the market by Union Oyster House is an open air fish market. Here you can buy whole or filleted fish, clams on the half shell, and all manner of things that swim. The central area of the market has multiple shops in the buildings. Look for the man who sells only cheese. Pass by the over-ripe cheeses out front at $3 per slice and go inside. Pick out a few cheeses; he'll let you sample. His prices are wonderful. Also check out the mid-east vendors with their chick peas, Mediterranean groceries, figs, and halal meats. Don't freak out over the goat's heads and lamb quarters complete with feet.
There is an international feeling to this market. If you would prefer well-lit wide-aisled supermarkets, this might not be the place for you. However, if you like the adventure of the bazaars in Antioch, take a walk on the wild side and have a good time at it.
Written 8 August 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fohee
Livingston, NJ15 contributions
Aug 2010
Warning: KEEP YOURSELF AND YOUR MONEY AWAY FROM HAYMARKET especially if you have small children or self respect. While on a visit to Boston with our children, we stopped at Haymarket for some fruit. I was upset with the salesman and told him politely but was greeted by a barrage of loud cursing by him all while holding my child in my arms. All the co-workers just let it happen with no one to stop him. If this is the way Boston treats tourists, then we're not going back.
Written 30 May 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ecrom
Massachusetts90 contributions
I love fresh produce and farmers markets but I choose to avoid Haymarket. I have been numberous times over the years and it is always incredibly cramped and so crowded that you can barely move, you just have to let yourself get shoved along by the crowds. The vendors are all incredibly rude too, shouting at anyone who dares to linger for more than 2 seconds to examine their potential purchase. However, if you trust the vendor to choose your produce for you they will most likely send you home with the moldiest, most bruised produce they can get away with. My last straw was when I observed a vendor swearing loudly at an elderly woman who asked if she could buy just six limes instead of the twelve suggested by the sign. You may think you can get a good bargain on produce here but it is not worth the frustration.
Written 25 July 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alex
1 contribution
May 2019 • Family
The moment my mother (senior) picked up a bag of green beans to show me what she thought worth buying, the young man selling vegetables rudely asked her to put it down, saying word by word “no looking!” I told him that we need to take a look to decide. He asserted, again rudely, “I said NO looking!” How can you sensibly buy something without even looking at it? Closing your eyes? We immediately decided not to buy anything from that machant anymore. Not even in the future!
This bad experience happened at the relatively big vegetable tent (the one with two rows of tables) facing John F Fitzgerald Surface Rd, near its corner to North St.
This bad experience happened at the relatively big vegetable tent (the one with two rows of tables) facing John F Fitzgerald Surface Rd, near its corner to North St.
Written 4 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Scarlet C
New York City, NY34 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
Come and bundled up so you could walk around stall by stall. Wear hats, gloves, and walkable shoes. Ohh, bring your reusable shopping bags too. There are tents and tents of fruits, veggies, and more. Meat and fish too. One particular and honorary mention is the Harry’s cheese and cold cut. You can’t miss it as it is the only one in the market. The shop/stall has been around for 40 some years. A variety of cheeses, cold cuts and olives. Both staff are most attentive, funny, and hospitable. They advise you to try, and ways to enjoy the antipasto. The shopping experience was fun, and we haggled like long lost friends. Love it!
Written 22 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diana Z
Phoenix, AZ70 contributions
Oct 2019
This was my third trip to Boston this year and I always include a visit to the Haymarket. Only open on Fridays and Saturdays and has awesome prices on fresh produce! Everything is bargain priced and will ripen quickly so don't buy more than you will eat in a few days. Location is close to Quincy Market for additional shopping & restaurants.
Written 6 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lolly’s Look
New York City, NY15,009 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
We loved the loud interactive farmers market, The Haymarket. We walked through and were hawked and accosted by vendors selling their wares. The fresh fruits, and vegetables were so well priced.
Written 4 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jazzeriah
New York City, NY65 contributions
Haymarket is a seemingly endless line of stalls selling incredibly cheap produce at a frenetic pace at best. It is the only place where I have witnessed a vendor yell at a customer. The customer was handling some ginger root, which the vendor did not like, because apparently there were two kinds of ginger root, and the vendor yelled, "That's it. You're done. Get out of here!" This was bizarre.
The origin of the vegetables is questionable, and who on earth knows if it is organic or not. Haymarket is pretty dirty, and some of the vendors were smoking cigarettes. If vendors are selling vegetables, or any food for that matter, they should not be smoking! If you need produce at rock bottom prices, go here and face the chaos. However, Haymarket should not be a tourist attraction - there are better things to see in Boston.
The origin of the vegetables is questionable, and who on earth knows if it is organic or not. Haymarket is pretty dirty, and some of the vendors were smoking cigarettes. If vendors are selling vegetables, or any food for that matter, they should not be smoking! If you need produce at rock bottom prices, go here and face the chaos. However, Haymarket should not be a tourist attraction - there are better things to see in Boston.
Written 30 January 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is the fish market open this weekend? (Feb 26/27)
Written 25 February 2021
When is the fish market open/ in season?
Written 24 June 2018
Open Thanksgiving weekend?
Free parking?
Written 13 November 2016
Check carefully on Boston websites. I wouldn't know about special parking availability Thanksgiving weekend. Street parking might or might not be free on Sundays. There is free parking in the Boston Market, however it is limited, fills up early, and when full, there is a2 block long line of cars waiting to enter.
Written 15 November 2016
Alguin me puede decir como puedo obtener un puesto para vender please?
Written 24 June 2015
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