A Lisbon landmark, Mercado da Ribeira is immediately recognizable by the large clock on its main entrance’s facade, and by the building’s grand oriental dome. Located in the city’s Cais do Sodré district, and just across the road from the Cais do Sodré railway station, the market is easily accessible from other parts of the city and outer suburbs. Along with rail and bus lines, the area is also served by boats coming from the other bank of the river. The nearby promenade also leads pedestrians from surrounding neighborhoods like Baixa Chiado directly to the market.

Everyday, this historic Lisbon institution hosts a vast mix of people. In the mornings, an older crowd frequents the market, arriving early to purchase fresh groceries and flowers. By noon, young professionals stop in for lunch at the newly-renovated Western hall. In the evenings, the market hosts a diverse crowd of shoppers and diners, as strangers and friends co-mingle while seated together at the gourmet food hall’s large communal tables. The iron-clad market hall is generally bustling until late in the evening--especially during the weekends, when the site offers cooking and dance classes to the general public.

Though its origins can be traced all the way back to the 13th century, Mercado da Ribeira (River Market) was inaugurated in 1882, and it was once one of the most famous fish markets in Europe. Today, covering over 10,000 square meters, Mercado da Ribeira is one of Lisbon’s largest food markets, and along with fresh fish, it is known for its produce, flowers, and, more recently, its prepared foods and artisanal goods. In 2010, after the market had been experiencing a decline in popularity and sales, Lisbon City Council searched for bids to revitalize the iconic cultural space. These efforts were part of a broader city plan to rehabilitate markets in Lisbon. Time Out Lisboa was soon granted permits to transform the Western half of the market into an extensive food court area that has become a culinary and cultural mecca. The court is divided up into 30 separate eating spaces, with room for 500 people to sit. The original fresh market continues to operate every morning except Sundays, and, since its opening in the summer of 2014, the renovated food hall has become a celebrated destination for “foodies” everywhere.

Image credits, from left: TimeOut Mercado da Ribeira, Morgadioreal, Anna and Michal via Flickr

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