Food halls are Europe’s hottest culinary trend—here are the ones you should visit

A culinary revolution is simmering in Europe. Despite the challenges of a global pandemic, the past eight years have seen the number of food halls across the continent double, completely reshaping the dining scene. Traditionally associated with the hawker centres of Southeast Asia, the trend of multiple vendors and a variety of cuisines under one roof has now reached more than 135 locations with more sites being sought every week.

For the vendor, food halls provide a platform to showcase their talent without the risks associated with opening a restaurant; for the consumer, a plethora of options at a more affordable price point. Authenticity, locality and sustainability are key factors for many potential visitors, and by offering a limited but high-quality menu with thoughtfully sourced ingredients, the triumvirate is achievable.

What’s more, food halls have a multi-generational appeal. Communal dining offers flexibility for family outings, school friends get-togethers and budding romances. The mix of vendors allows diners to enjoy everything from fine dining dishes to street food, all shared around the same table. Never has eating out been so exciting, diverse and available.

But, while excellent food remains the key attraction — with high standards being set by pioneering food halls such as Eataly in Turin — the venue itself is a close second. The neo-gothic Central Market Hall in Budapest lures thousands of visitors a year, while recesses under viaducts and railway arches like Maltby Street Market in London are equally beguiling. A historical venue located in a popular neighbourhood? It’s a winning combination.

And then there’s everything else on offer. “Our markets are more than just spaces; they’re hubs for entrepreneurs, local brands and businesses,” explains Sandy Hayek, CEO of Time Out Market, which currently has seven venues worldwide and another eight in the pipeline, from Manama in Bahrain to Osaka in Japan. And, despite the name, food halls can be more than dining destinations — why not learn how to salsa dance after your lunch, or go to the gig downstairs to extend that great first date? Whether you’re hoping for a midweek coffee and cake, or gearing up for a big night out, a food hall might just offer it all.

Mercato Centrale Roma, Rome, Italy

Whether you’re catching a train or not, the selection of food and drink options at Mercato Centrale Roma — housed within the Roma Termini train station — make it a place to visit in its own right. Boisterous and dog-friendly, the venue channels the energy of its home city, with a focus on Roman delicacies. Arcangelo Dandini’s Supplizio specialises solely on supplì, the lesser-known cousin of Sicily’s famous arancini. Trappizino meanwhile, now famous across Rome, is a triangular pizza pocket stuffed with locally sourced Italian delights. The recipe for these cheesy slices of heaven was passed down by chef Stefano Callegari’s Roman grandmother. Culture, health and inclusivity also feature high on the agenda. Interactive fashion shows celebrating people rather than models, art exhibits and health- and wellbeing-focused cookery courses are just some of the events hosted in this enormous venue. Located close to the museum of ancient Roman art at Palazzo Massimo, it’s also a scenic walk down to the open-air Roman Forum or the famous Trevi Fountain. Alternatively, grab a snack here before hopping on a train — Florence is less than a 90-minute ride away, and Naples just 70.

Elektrownia Powiśle Food Hall, Warsaw, Poland

Having got the trendy industrial-aesthetic memo loud and clear, Elektrownia Powiśle Food Hall was built on the banks of the Vistula in 2020 during a refurb of a 1900s power station. The area was listed in the top 10 coolest districts in the world by The Guardian that year. Although it opened at the outset of a global pandemic — and consequently had to pause — the venue has become a firm favourite for Varsovians and travellers alike. Within the neon-lit interior, 17 food outlets offer everything from sushi to pizza, Philly sandwiches and waffles. The Fry prides itself on being Poland’s first and best Belgian chip shop, while Dim Sum Para Para’s teriyaki chicken bao buns have become legend. With three bars and weekend music events, the food hall brings top DJs from across Poland to perform. There are also weekly quiz nights, while the adjacent shopping centre is known for its independent boutiques. With its stellar location, there’s also the option to work off your meal with a walking tour to learn about Warsaw’s wartime history.

Im Viadukt Market Hall, Zurich, Switzerland

Tucked beneath the Industrial Quarter’s railway arches, Im Viadukt is representative of the city: chic yet cosy, chilled during the week, yet busy on Saturdays. For a light bite, Gyoza Yokocho has authentic Japanese gyoza and healthy bowls, while more substantial options include sandwiches at St Jakob Beck & Kafi. Choose between the filled focaccia or smoked salmon pretzels, washed down with a coffee and a doughnut. Broadening its appeal, Im Viadukt has a variety of independent shops like Sibler, a stylish Bern-based apparel brand. Additionally, the arches house several gyms, with out-of-hours fitness class pop-ups. Need to entertain your children? The Josefwiese Spielplatz is just outside, complete with a cafe, fountain for paddling in summer and delightful outdoor children’s library corner. While in the area, it’s also worth nipping to the Kunsthalle Zurich, a contemporary art space in a converted brewery, as well as Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst, a free-to-enter gallery aiming to make art more accessible.

Cambridge Street Collective, Sheffield, England

Last year, Time Out named Sheffield as the second-best city break destination in Europe and the UK’s foodie capital. Packed with indie shops, art galleries and taprooms, Cambridge Street Collective (CSC) opened last year as a great addition to the landmark Heart of the City development project. Europe’s largest purpose-built food hall, CSC is set in a 20,000sq ft industrial venue designed to celebrate the diversity of global cuisine, while the huge selection of stalls are complimented by four buzzy bars. Send Noods showcases Hong Kong staples made from scratch, while House of Habesha is a cult Eritrean and Ethiopian spot. Far more than just a food hall, however, CSC has a real community atmosphere. It has partnered with the Blend Culinary Foundation, offering free meals for children during school holidays, after-school cooking classes and even language courses. Elsewhere, events range from cookbook clubs to cooking and cocktails experiences, as well as augmented reality darts games.

Markthalle Neun, Berlin, Germany

In Kreuzberg, across the River Spree from the East Side Gallery, ‘Market Hall Nine’ was rescued from a private sale by the local community a decade ago. It’s perhaps unsurprising, then, that community spirit is intrinsic to the hall’s culture. On Monday evenings, ‘playdates’ for all ages are organised to tackle stress and regular games nights see locals and travellers partake in monopoly, table tennis and more. The wine and beer shops offer rent-a-glass options for visitors to loosen up, while late-night markets sell everything from cured meat to clothing. Food-wise, there really is something for everyone: Wilde Wurst offers a luxury take on classic street-side currywurst, Manti Berlin serves mini Turkish dumplings with yoghurt and sumac, and Chao She cooks Beijing-style beef crepes bursting with flavour and drizzled with chilli lemon dip. Eaten your fill? Wander over to the sprawling Park an der Spree, or, if you happen to be visiting on a Sunday, the antiques Flohmarket outside Ostbahnhof station has some excellent bargains.

Hietalahden Kauppahalli, Helsinki, Finland

Dating back to Finland’s time under the Russian tsars — though not built as a cavalry barracks as commonly believed — Hietalahden Kauppahalli has seen several transformations. Starting as a traditional market hall in 1903, it made an attempt in 2001 to sell solely organic produce before undergoing a full rebrand in 2003 as an antiques centre. In 2012, it emerged as the food hall it is today. But this is not a place to rest on its laurels — there’s always something new going on. In this showcase of Finnish culture, there’s no shortage of smoked fish, reindeer meat and rye bread. Yet Hietalahden Kauppahalli has a variety of international flavours, too. Filipino stall Kamalig serves a perfectly balanced pork adobo and a nutty kare kare curry. Pilo is a popular weekend brunch spot, doubling as a pizzeria and serving exceptional Italian ice cream, while Petiscaria’s grilled octopus is not to be missed. The hall also hosts frequent jazz nights, where food is paired with music well into the evening. It’s impossible to visit Helsinki without a serving of Moomin culture, and a 15-minute stroll will get you to the Moomin shop, or, for something a little more highbrow, the Helsinki Art Museum is also just down the road.