St George’s Market is Belfast’s last surviving covered Victorian market, at 12 East Bridge Street. A market has traded on this site since 1604, and the present red-brick building dates from 1890 to 1896. Come to browse local food, crafts, art and antiques, with live music adding to the weekend atmosphere. Saturday brings the City Food and Craft Market, with plenty of places to eat. Look for a Belfast bap at Sandra’s Grill, or browse the Friday variety stalls for everything from fish and produce to second-hand goods.
A market site with centuries of trade
A Friday market has been held on this site since 1604. The current market hall was built between 1890 and 1896, with an iron-and-glass structure and a red-brick exterior. It is Belfast’s last surviving covered Victorian market.
The market’s role has changed over time, but it remains a place to shop as well as to explore. Its stalls bring together food producers, artists, craftspeople and traders selling antiques and other goods. The Friday market keeps a varied mix, while Saturday and Sunday place more emphasis on food and crafts.
What to find on each day
Friday is the Variety Market, with stalls ranging across fish, fruit and vegetables, clothing, books, antiques and household goods. One account of the market records 23 fish counters among 248 stalls, giving a sense of the range on offer. It’s a good day to browse beyond food, too.
Saturday is the City Food and Craft Market. Food stalls and local makers fill the hall, with seating in the central area. You can sample Northern Irish produce alongside specialty foods from elsewhere. Look out for Young Buck blue cheese, Suki Tea, Armagh apple juice and dried dillisk, also known as dulse. Sunday’s market includes food, local arts and crafts, and live music.
Eating your way around the hall
The Belfast bap is one of the market’s best-known breakfast choices. At Sandra’s Grill, it comes in a crusty roll with Irish sausage, bacon, a fried egg, cheese, mushrooms and onions. If you’d rather pick as you go, the stalls also sell baked goods, seafood, hot food and sweets.
For a smaller stop, coffee and pastries are available from market traders. Saturday’s stalls have included oysters, locally made cheese and tea, as well as apple juice. The central tables and chairs give you a place to sit with your food, and live music accompanies the market on weekends.
Browsing beyond the food stalls
There is plenty to look through even if you are not planning a meal. Stalls sell local art, handmade clothing, jewellery, pottery, plants, metalwork and vintage goods. Friday’s broader selection can include books and second-hand items, while antique traders offer objects such as old candle stands. Sunday has a particular focus on local arts and crafts.
The market is free to enter, so you can browse without buying anything. If you do make a purchase, you’ll be buying from independent traders and producers. Allow time to look around the whole hall and talk with stallholders; some have traded here for generations.
Perguntas frequentes
When is St George’s Market open?
The market is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday is the Variety Market, Saturday is the City Food and Craft Market, and Sunday has food, arts and crafts.
What is the best day to visit for food?
Saturday is the City Food and Craft Market, with a wide mix of food stalls and makers. The Saturday market runs from 9 am to 3 pm.
Is entry to St George’s Market free?
Yes. You can enter and browse without spending money; purchases from the stalls are optional.
What should I eat at St George’s Market?
Try a Belfast bap at Sandra’s Grill, filled with sausage, bacon, egg, cheese, mushrooms and onions. Other local options include oysters, Young Buck blue cheese and dillisk.
