Santa Monica’s beloved Downtown Farmers Market has drawn a loyal customer base since 1981, but it recently received a well-deserved nod on a national scale.
Travel + Leisure just named the legendary local event among the best farmers markets in the United States, as recommended by local chefs and food experts.
The market boasts a bi-weekly selection of peak-season fruits, vegetables, flowers, meats, eggs, and specialty California goods along two blocks of Arizona Avenue, attracting locals, chefs, and home cooks alike.
This fall, shoppers will no doubt flock to the market for the season’s freshest apples, pears, grapes, pomegranates, persimmons, pumpkins, squash, and more.
Where L.A.’s chefs shop
The Wednesday edition is the flagship, with the city website describing it as one of the nation’s largest and most diverse certified farmers markets. The Wednesday market began in 1981, with the Saturday edition added to the schedule about 10 years later.
With more than 60 California farms represented, the market is particularly known as a destination for chefs and restaurants from across Los Angeles, who arrive early to build menus around whatever is at its seasonal peak.
Shoppers can find California’s best home-grown produce, including dates, almonds, olives, and berries, not to mention organic meat, poultry, and eggs. It’s an easy way to see how farm-to-table culture is actively shaping much of Southern California’s restaurant scene.
Santa Monica Downtown Farmers Market at a glance
📍 Location: 155-199 Arizona Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90401
📅 When to go: Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., year-round
🚗 Parking: Parking is available in nearby structures and on surrounding streets, including structures along Second and Fourth streets
🎟️ Admission: Free to enter
🌐 More information: City of Santa Monica
