Saint John City Market
Operating since 1785—it’s Canada’s oldest continuous farmers’ market—the market’s stately iron-and-glass structure lends the place a European flavor and looks about the same as it did when it was built in 1876. (The handsome iron gates at either end have been in place since 1880.) The building follows the slope of the steep hill, so the roof (resembling the hull of an inverted ship) is higher at one end than the other. The market bustles with vendors hawking meat, seafood, cheeses, flowers, baked goods, and bountiful fresh produce. You can even sample dulse, a snack of dried seaweed from the Bay of Fundy. A number of vendors offer meals to go, and there’s seating in an enclosed terrace on the south side. At lunchtime, you’ll line up shoulder to shoulder with uptown workers who come here to grab a bite or shop for their groceries.
If you want to get behind the scenes here, take a tour with Uncorked Tours & Tastings (tel. 506/324-4644), which offers access to all the hidden nooks and crannies of the market, including opportunities to visit the dungeon, climb the tower, and even ring the bell. It also has a fab Saint John Beer Tour, on which you’ll taste your way through 150 years of brewing history while learning about the history and culture of Uptown Saint John. Tours are about C$100 per person. If that feels steep, just head over to the tour company’s designated seating area and bar at the market. They serve a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic libations, all produced in New Brunswick, and the tour guide will bend your ear about the backgrounds of these libations, if you ask.
Operating since 1785—it’s Canada’s oldest continuous farmers’ market—the market’s stately iron-and-glass structure lends the place a European flavor and looks about the same as it did when it was built in 1876. (The handsome iron gates at either end have been in place since 1880.) The building follows the slope of the steep hill, so the roof (resembling the hull of an inverted ship) is higher at one end than the other. The market bustles with vendors hawking meat, seafood, cheeses, flowers, baked goods, and bountiful fresh produce. You can even sample dulse, a snack of dried seaweed from the Bay of Fundy. A number of vendors offer meals to go, and there’s seating in an enclosed terrace on the south side. At lunchtime, you’ll line up shoulder to shoulder with uptown workers who come here to grab a bite or shop for their groceries.
If you want to get behind the scenes here, take a tour with Uncorked Tours & Tastings (tel. 506/324-4644), which offers access to all the hidden nooks and crannies of the market, including opportunities to visit the dungeon, climb the tower, and even ring the bell. It also has a fab Saint John Beer Tour, on which you’ll taste your way through 150 years of brewing history while learning about the history and culture of Uptown Saint John. Tours are about C$100 per person. If that feels steep, just head over to the tour company’s designated seating area and bar at the market. They serve a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic libations, all produced in New Brunswick, and the tour guide will bend your ear about the backgrounds of these libations, if you ask.
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