Soulard Farmers Market is the city's best-loved food market and a pleasant window into the south-side neighborhood that gave it its name. It stands at 730 Carroll Street in Soulard, a district of brick row houses and corner taverns just south of downtown, and it is run by the City of St. Louis. The market is a collection of long open-sided halls where vendors sell fresh produce, meats, baked goods, spices, plants and prepared food, and the atmosphere is all the better for being local rather than polished: families have been shopping here for generations, and some stalls are small businesses that started on these tables. The rhythm of the week matters. The market opens Wednesday to Saturday, with Wednesday and Thursday very quiet, Friday busier and Saturday the real market day, when vendor participation is at its highest and the aisles are full. Sundays are mostly closed apart from a few produce shops, so call ahead if you are planning a Sunday visit, and Monday and Tuesday it is closed. For visitors it makes a good morning stop: buy fruit and cheese for a picnic, graze through the prepared foods, and then walk the streets of Soulard to see the historic houses and the old breweries nearby. It also fits naturally with the Lemp neighborhood walking tour and the south-side beer history that runs through this part of the city.
How to visit
The market is at 730 Carroll Street, about a five-minute drive south of the Arch, and it is free to enter. The posted hours are Wednesday to Saturday, 8:00 to 17:00, though the Saturday hours are shown slightly differently in different places on the city's site, so confirm before you go.
The market is closed on Monday and Tuesday, and Sunday is limited to a few produce vendors, so Saturday morning is the easy choice. Parking is on the surrounding streets and nearby lots, and it is tight on Saturday, so arrive early or take a rideshare. Dogs are not allowed on the market grounds during market hours.
What to expect
Expect a working market rather than a food hall. Some stalls take cash only, produce and meat are sold by the pound, and there is little seating, so plan to eat standing or carry your food elsewhere. Saturday brings the largest choice and the longest queues; on Wednesday and Thursday only a tenth or so of the vendor spaces are in use, so the experience is much quieter and much thinner.
Look for seasonal fruit and vegetables, baked goods, spices and cured meats, and ask vendors for tips, since many are happy to talk. Bring bags, because most purchases are not pre-packaged.
Making the most of it
Arrive within the first hour of opening on Saturday for the best choice and the calmest aisles, then follow up with a walk through Soulard's streets to see the historic row houses and corner pubs. The market is an excellent companion to the Lemp brewery story, the Anheuser-Busch brewery and a south-side food crawl, and it is a good way to meet local people.
In colder months check hours and expect fewer stalls than on a summer Saturday. Because this is a municipal market, there are no tickets or reservations; just turn up, bring cash and an appetite.
What to expect
The experience
A free, self-guided city market of open-sided halls with produce, meat, baked goods and prepared food.
Best time
Saturday morning, soon after opening, when vendor participation is at its highest.
How long
One to two hours, longer with a walk around Soulard.
Tips
Bring cash and bags, arrive early on Saturday, remember it is closed Monday and Tuesday, and call ahead before any Sunday visit.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Food lovers, picnic shoppers and anyone who wants a local morning.
- Families
- Easy and free, though the aisles are crowded on Saturday and there is little seating.
- Couples
- A relaxed morning of browsing, followed by a wander through Soulard.
- Pair with
- The Lemp neighborhood walking tour, the Anheuser-Busch brewery tour or a road trip to Cahokia Mounds.
- Time needed
- Allow one to two hours.
Good questions
What days is Soulard Market open?+
It is open Wednesday to Saturday, with Saturday the busiest day. It is closed Monday and Tuesday, and Sunday is limited to a few produce vendors.
Is there an entrance fee?+
No. Entry is free, and you pay only for what you buy.
Where is it?+
The market is at 730 Carroll Street in the Soulard neighborhood, just south of downtown St. Louis.
When is the best time to go?+
Saturday morning has the most vendors and the liveliest atmosphere. Wednesday and Thursday are very quiet with only a fraction of the stalls open.
Can I bring my dog?+
No. Dogs are not allowed on the market grounds during market hours under the City code.
