This St. Lawrence Market guide is written for chefs, buyers and restaurant operators rather than tourists. The short version: the South Market is the permanent, six-day hall of butchers, fishmongers, cheese counters and pantry shops; the North Market is the new building that opened in April 2025 and hosts the Saturday Farmers’ Market from 5 a.m.; and the best time to shop seriously is early on a weekday or at dawn on Saturday.
The market sits at 92-95 Front Street East in Toronto’s Old Town. Destination Toronto describes the complex as three buildings with more than 120 merchants and farmers, and National Geographic named it the world’s best food market in 2012.
Here is how it works, which long-running vendors to know, and how to shop it efficiently.
Key takeaways
- Farmers have sold here since 1803; the new North Market building opened on April 5, 2025.
- South Market hours: Tuesday to Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Mondays.
- The Saturday Farmers’ Market in the North building runs 5 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Brown Brothers Meats has been in the market since 1895 and Scheffler’s since 1955.
- Green P’s St. Lawrence Garage behind the South Market offers a Saturday rate for market shoppers.
Two centuries of trading on one block
The North Market site has been the home of the Saturday Farmers’ Market since 1803, according to the City of Toronto, and the district has been a city landmark for more than 200 years. Destination Toronto says the Market Block was established that year as all the land north of Front, west of Jarvis, south of King and east of Church.
The South Market building also housed Toronto’s first purpose-built council chambers. City Hall left in 1899, the current market building dates from 1902, and the old chamber on the second floor is now the Market Gallery, run by the City. It is open Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and general admission is free, which makes it a quick detour between counters.
Go to St. Lawrence Market to buy, but also to calibrate: it shows you what good product looks like on a Tuesday morning.
South Market vs North Market
| South Market | North Market | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The permanent market hall | New five-storey building, ground-floor Market Hall |
| Who sells | Butchers, fishmongers, cheese, bakeries, pantry and prepared food | Saturday Farmers’ Market growers and producers |
| Regular hours | Tue–Fri 9–7, Sat 7–5, Sun 10–5, closed Mon | Farmers’ Market Saturday 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Also inside | Market Gallery on the second floor; lower level of food shops | Courtrooms and offices upstairs; underground paid parking |
| Best for a chef | Daily proteins, cheese and pantry staples | Seasonal produce and direct grower contacts |
The new North Market
The North building had a long road. The Farmers’ Market moved to a temporary home at 125 The Esplanade in July 2015 while the site was redeveloped from 2016. CBC reported the $128 million building finally opened after nearly a decade of delays, and the City confirmed the first Saturday market there on April 5, 2025.
It is five storeys, with a ground-floor Market Hall, courtrooms and administrative space upstairs, and four levels of underground parking. The City says the building is open every day for events and programming, but for produce buying the Saturday market is the one that counts.
Long-running vendors worth knowing
The official vendor directory lists each business’s stall. These long-running names are good starting points for a professional buyer.
Brown Brothers Meats, Upper Level 19
The market’s vendor listing calls Brown Brothers the oldest butcher in the market, trading there since 1895. It sells beef, pork, chicken, lamb and milk-fed veal as steaks, chops, roasts, ground meat and sausages, and is known for its peameal bacon.
Carousel Bakery, Upper Level 42
Carousel Bakery has been a market landmark for more than 50 years and is best known for its peameal bacon sandwich, named Toronto’s signature sandwich in 2016. It also sells more than 50 types of bread, rolls, Montreal-style bagels and pastries. The founding Biancolin brothers retired in 2025, and blogTO reported that the Pulla family, owners of Johnvince Foods, took over the business.
Scheffler’s Delicatessen & Cheese, Upper Level 7
In business since 1955, Scheffler’s carries world cheeses, a large prosciutto range, antipasto, pâtés, oils, vinegars and mustards, plus fresh truffles from Italy and France. The market credits it as the first business there to introduce a line of antipasto.
Seafront Fish Market, Upper Level 30
A family business since 1997, Seafront Fish Market sells fresh and frozen seafood including live lobster, oysters, clams, mussels, scallops, squid, sole and haddock, plus prepared items such as stuffed sole.
Also worth a stop
- Carnicero’s Prime Meats & Fine Foods, Upper Level 26, for beef, pork, chicken, veal and lamb.
- Lively Life Fine Foods, Lower Level B9, for spices, grains, rice, flours, oils, vinegars and salts from many cuisines.
Look up other Toronto spots in our Toronto restaurant coverage, and use the market’s directory to check a stall before you go.
Hours and when to go
The market’s hours and parking page lists the current schedule:
- South Market: Tuesday to Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Mondays.
- Farmers’ Market (North): Saturday 5 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Holidays: the market publishes holiday hour changes on the same page, so check before a long weekend.
Destination Toronto notes that weekdays are quieter, while weekends bring the full crowd of farmers and artisans. For a buyer, that suggests two different trips: a weekday morning for proteins and cheese, when counter staff have time to talk, and an early Saturday for produce.
How to shop it like a buyer
- Arrive early. On Saturday, walk the North Market first while growers are setting out, then cross Front Street to the South Market as it opens at 7 a.m.
- Scout before you buy. Walk the upper level once to compare cuts, fish and prices, then go back to the stalls you want.
- Ask the right questions. At the fish counter, ask what is fresh versus previously frozen. At the butcher, ask about custom cuts and advance orders.
- Bring cold storage. Pack insulated bags or a cooler with ice packs for proteins and dairy.
- Collect contacts. Vendor listings include phone numbers; ask about standing orders if you plan to buy regularly.
Parking
The City’s Green P St. Lawrence Garage is south of the South Market at Lower Jarvis Street and The Esplanade, with a special Saturday rate for market shoppers. The North building also has paid underground parking.
FAQ
Is St. Lawrence Market open on Sunday?
Yes. The South Market is open Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Mondays.
What time does the Saturday Farmers’ Market open?
It runs from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the North Market building.
Is the North Market building finished?
Yes. It opened on April 5, 2025, with the Saturday Farmers’ Market on the ground floor.
Which is the oldest vendor?
Brown Brothers Meats, trading in the market since 1895, is described as its oldest butcher.
Plan your first market morning
Pick one weekday and one Saturday this month. On the weekday, visit the butchers, fishmongers and cheese counters and collect three contacts. On Saturday, arrive by 6 a.m., walk the farmers’ tables and note who grows what you need this season. For more ideas, browse our lifestyle guides, find Toronto restaurants in the restaurant directory, and read our tips on sourcing from local farms.
Featured photo: St Lawrence Market, Toronto, West partial view 20170417 1 by DXR, BY-SA 4.0.
