A Local’s Guide to the Best Street Food Markets in Hamburg

A local institution since the early 18th century, the Fischmarkt takes place every Sunday morning on the bank of River Elbe. The market is packed full of stands and food trucks selling everything from fresh fish and bags of sausages to giant fruit baskets. Vendors’ voices ring out around the room as they try to hawk their produce to passers-by. At dawn, live music fills the historic auction hall at the heart of the market and partygoers traditionally gather together here for one more dance before heading home. Open: Sunday from 5am to 9.30am (15 March to 14 November) or from 7am to 9.30am (15 November to 14 March).

Inspired by neighbourhood markets in New York and Melbourne, the Marktzeit has swiftly conquered the hearts of Hamburg locals. Indeed, there is no better way to start a weekend than enjoying a locally roasted coffee or a gourmet breakfast. Once in a while, the market organisers will adopt a special theme for the week: wine and cheese, beer and sausage, vegan superfoods, and more. Open: Saturday from 9.30am to 3pm (September to April).

Tucked under the steel arches of the city’s oldest metro line, the Isemarkt is almost a kilometer (0.6 miles) long and boasts the title of Europe’s largest open-air market. In addition to fresh fruit, vegetables, spices, and other typical market products, the Isemarkt also offers some great street food, from hearty Hamburg fish specialities such as Fischbrötchen, a type of fish roll, to mouthwatering Italian cakes. Open: Tuesday and Friday from 8.30am to 2pm.

If getting up early isn’t really your thing, how about a night market instead? Every Wednesday, in the middle of Hamburg’s famous party street, the St. Pauli Nachtmarkt invites locals and visitors to eat, drink and relax under the stars. Hamburg residents love to stop by after work, have a delicious meal and drink a beer (or two) while listening to live music. Before heading home, they pick up delicacies such local fruit and vegetables, gourmet cheeses and fresh meat for lunch the next day. Open: Wednesday from 4pm to 11pm (April to September) or 4pm to 10pm (October to March).

Situated in Spielbudenplatz just off the Reeperbahn in the red light district of Hamburg, the monthly Street Food Session is something of a legend in town. The food on offer changes from one week to the next, and visitors have the choice of either local or international cuisine from a rolling line up of 15 or so food trucks serving high-quality, often experimental food. Once the difficult choice has been made, visitors can sit at the market’s 100 metre communal table and get to know their fellow diners. Open: Thursday from 5pm to 11pm (April to October) or from 6pm to 9pm (November to March).

Newcomer on the city’s weekly market scene, Food Lovers Market is steadily growing in popularity. Located in Hamburg’s modern HafenCity district, this markets offers the best in local produce alongside a fleet of trucks that prepare international comfort food. Expect everything from Cajun cuisine and Korean bibimbap to Polish bigos stew and American burgers.

Alongside one of the city’s canals, the Goldbekmarkt – open three times a week – invites shoppers to stroll beside the water and soak up the atmosphere of one of Hamburg’s most picturesque scenes. At a first glance, the Goldbekmarkt might look like your typical farmers’ market, but the numerous stands offer visitors a vast selection of delicious street food. Be it German sausages with a side of fresh sauerkraut or luscious French pastries, the Goldbekmerkt will not disappoint.