The Best Markets To Visit In Northern Ireland

Over 75% of the Northern Irish countryside is used for some form of agriculture, so it should come as no surprise that there are plenty of great local markets to attend. It’s not all about produce, though, as there are plenty of antiques and crafts on offer too. Here’s our pick of the best markets in Northern Ireland, where you’re sure to find whatever it is you want.

St George's Market

Market

Belfast’s historic St George’s Market is probably the city’s most popular indoor market. As a Victorian covered venue, it has been housing vendors and customers since 1890. Nowadays, the market is open three days a week, with different stalls filling the space on different days. It hosts the Variety Market on Fridays, which focuses on crafts, and a Food and Craft Market on Saturdays. Sundays see the aptly named Sunday Market, made up of a mixture of the other days’ stalls. Drop in for food, drink and, occasionally, live music.

DOCK Market

Market, Street Food

A much newer market than St George’s, The DOCK Market opened its doors in 2014. Operated by The DOCK Café, it’s another Belfast-based indoor market focusing on crafts and artisanal products. The café runs on a pay-what-you-want honesty policy, and this opportunity extends to the market as well, with traders paying what they can afford in exchange for a place to set their stalls. The fact that it’s attached to the café (and the comfy sofas) make The DOCK Market a perfect way to spend a lazy day.

Causeway Speciality Market

Market

The Causeway Speciality Market in Coleraine is Northern Ireland’s largest regular outdoor market, and there’s a good reason why it draws such a large crowd – the produce. Located around Coleraine’s Town Hall, it takes place on the second Saturday of every month, rain or shine. The market prides itself on the fact that everything sold there must be either an organic or speciality product. As such, every stallholder has had a major hand in the creation of their produce, so you can be fairly assured of the care that went into your purchase.

Mourne Market

Market

Belfast Flea

The last market on this list is also probably the smallest one, but it’s actually two markets! During the summer, the Belfast Flea sits in the courtyard of the Sunflower, one of Belfast’s best bars. For the winter, it moves to The Black Box, one of Belfast’s coolest music venues. Whether it’s indoors in The Black Box’s seating area or outdoors under the sun, it’s always on the first day of the month, and always full of records, art, bric-a-brac, food, and drink.

Oct–May: The Black Box, 18-22 Hill St, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK, +44 28 9024 4400

Jun–Sep: Sunflower Public House, 65 Union St, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK, +44 28 9023 2474

About the author

Niall McGrade

A freelance writer and student, Niall grew up in rural Co Tyrone and has since relocated to Belfast to study. Undertaking a BA in English and Creative Writing, he hangs around the library and the Seamus Heaney Centre For Poetry even when he doesn't strictly need to. His work has been published in newspapers, online, in anthologies, and he has won some small writing awards you're unlikely to have heard of. His likes include, music, film, pi?a coladas, and getting caught in the rain.