A new study has uncovered the top cities in Europe for food markets, with Dublin ranking in the top 10.

To find the top street food markets and food halls in Europe, Radical Storage analyzed more than 300,000 Google reviews and almost 1,100 establishments to determine which markets have the nicest food and offer the best value for money. 

"Food markets and dining halls have been a staple of European culture for centuries. While vendors have been selling delicacies on the streets since the days of Ancient Greece, the ornate covered markets and grand food halls we know today are a 19th-century phenomenon," wrote the researchers.

"These culinary institutions, from London’s Borough Market to Amsterdam’s Albert Cuyp Market, have become sources of municipal pride, as well as a cultural melting pot where international cuisines from the cities' immigrant communities take centre stage. They are also a vital part of Europe’s food and drinks industry, which turned over €1.1 trillion in 2023."

To work out which European city has the best food markets, Radical Storage analyzed all cities that have at least five food markets. They then created a simple index which takes into account the average Google Reviews rating of all markets within the city and the number of markets in total.

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Food markets were defined as public markets where vendors sell food from stalls and where food can be consumed either off-site or in a shared area by vendors. Permanent restaurants were not included in this study. 

Ireland's capital city placed sixth on the list with an index score of 5.14.

Dublin food markets include Moore Street Market, the city's oldest open air market; pop-up Irish Village Markets; and weekend markets such as Howth Market and Temple Bar Food Market.

London topped the list with a score of 8.36. With 33 markets and an average rating of 4.5 stars, the British capital takes the crown as Europe's best food market city.

Meanwhile Spanish cities Madrid (7.25) and Barcelona (6.65) placed second and third respectively, followed by Paris (5.58) in fourth place and Karków, Poland (5.28) in fifth.

The best cities in Europe for food markets

  1. London, UK
  2. Madrid, Spain
  3. Barcelona, Spain
  4. Paris, France
  5. Kraków, Poland
  6. Dublin, Ireland
  7. Lisbon, Portugal
  8. Warsaw, Poland
  9. Zaragoza, Spain
  10. Valencia, Spain

For the full study, visit here.

Related: Dublin