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A variety of food available at Assembly Food Hall, Nashville, Tennessee
ADOBE STOCK
Food Halls
A Baker’s Dozen to Try
13 Top-Rated Food Halls From Around the U.S.
By Spencer Carney
While a food court is usually a collection of places to grab a quick, cheap bite in a shopping mall, a food hall is a destination in itself, where visitors’ primary purpose is to enjoy food and drink in a social setting. Many of the more than 400 food halls in the U.S. have urban settings that connect them to their cities’ vibrant culinary and arts scenes, and the food options generally follow suit: Vendors are more likely to be local and artisanal favorites than franchises or chains. And because food halls are about the group experience, don’t be surprised to see live musical performances, trivia contests, speed dating and more.
Palmetto Seafood Company’s crab boil, Gather GVL
Matthew Neal
Greenville, South Carolina
Gather GVL
126 Augusta Street
This open-air food hall (pets welcome!) in the West End of downtown has large tables, a roof canopy and lots of space for socializing. Colorful shipping containers house more than 10 vendors and bars. Featured Dining Spots: HenDough (chicken and doughnuts), Yolo Pizza Kitchen, Saki Saki Sushi & HibachiEntertainment: Enjoy live music, bingo, pop ups, community events and kid-friendly activities.Extend Your Fun: Gather GVL is within walking distance of many downtown landmarks including Fluor Field baseball stadium and the new South Carolina Children’s Theater.
Display of menu options from Felix Empanadas, Optimist Hall
Andrew Thomas
Charlotte, North Carolina
Optimist Hall
1115 N. Brevard Street
Opened in 2019, Optimist Hall welcomes hungry patrons to more than 25 food stalls, dine-in restaurants, a full-service bar and brewery. Featured Dining Spots: Enat Ethiopian, Schreiber’s on Rye, Felix’s Empanadas, Honeysuckle Gelato. Extend Your Fun: Explore the retail specialty shops before or after dining.Interesting Fact: Optimist Hall is a 147,000 square foot redevelopment of a building from 1892 that was originally home to Charlotte’s largest textile mill.
Dock Local’s shrimp boil, Assembly Food Hall
ASSEMBLY FOOD HALL
Nashville, Tennessee
Assembly Food Hall
5055 Broadway
Thirty eateries and bars at this food hall on the “Honky Tonk Highway” in the musical heart of Nashville offer chef-curated menus, craft cocktails, rooftop views and live music.Featured Dining Spots: Steam Boys (for bao, noodles and dumplings), Prince’s Hot Chicken, Honeyfire Barbeque Co. and Dock Local (shrimp boil).Extend Your Fun: The rooftop bar (Nashville’s largest) is a great place for sports watch parties, dancing and live music.Good to Know: Assembly Hall does not accept cash; vendors take debit and credit cards, or you can use cash to buy a Hall Pass.
Enjoying Tex Mex meals from Superica, The Krog District
The Krog District
Atlanta, Georgia
Krog Street Market
99 Krog Street N.E.
This food hall is located in a mixed-use collection of landmark properties and gathering spaces adjacent to a planned 22-mile pedestrian greenway.Featured Dining Spots: Fred’s Meat & Bread (gourmand burgers and sandwiches), Superica (Tex-Mex), Ticonderoga Club (steaks and cocktails)Extend Your Fun: Head outside to the Beltline Eastside Trail for beautiful views, street art, people watching and fresh air.Good to Know: Krog Street Market has plenty of bike parking and can be accessed by foot from the Eastside Trail.
Bowl of Udon in noodles served in a hot, savory broth
adobe stock
Miami, Florida
MIA Market
140 N.E. 39th Street
This food hall located a few miles north of Downtown Miami has been a culinary jewel of Miami Design District since 2018. It features Miami’s first chef-to-table concepts with 10 different vendors and a cocktail bar.Featured Dining Spots: Jaffa by Chef Yaniv Cohen (Israeli-influenced cuisine), Yann Couvreur Café (Parisian pastries), Yacchan Japanese Street Food (Ramen and Udon noodle bowls)Extend Your Fun: MIA Market is home to work socials, wine tastings, cooking classes, pop-up events and more.Good to Know: MIA Market is a convenient stop for anyone exploring the art galleries and high-end shops of the Design District.
Jetski, a brisket and pastrami cheesesteak on a cheddar bagel, available at Call Your Mother, Denver Central Market
DENVER CENTRAL MARKET
Denver, Colorado
Denver Central Market
2669 Larimer Street
This 14,000-square-foot refurbished RiNo (River North) Arts District warehouse is perfect for dining and socializing while in the Mile High City.Featured Dining Spots: Call Your Mother (Jewish deli), GreenSeed (salads and smoothies), Izzio Artisan Bakery (breakfast and brunch offerings)An Alternate Option: No time to visit the full market on Larimer Street? There’s a mini location at Terminal A of Denver International Airport.Good to Know: Get take-home meats at Butchers at Rino and whole fresh seafood at Tammen’s Fish Market.
Build-Your-Own (BYO) bowl of noodle soup, Pho Spot MKE, 3rd Street Market Hall
3RD STREET MARKET HALL / PHO SPOT MKE
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
3rd Street Market Hall
275 W. Wisconsin Avenue
The former Grand Avenue Mall building was revitalized and reopened in 2022 as 3rd Street Market with an eclectic mix of local and international delights.Featured Dining Spots: Rod-n-Makk (local cheese specialties), Pho Spot MKE (Vietnamese), Creta Mediterranean Grill (gyros and mezze)Extend Your Fun: Try one of two state-of-the-art Topgolf Swing Suite golf simulators, play any of the free games on the 50'x50' turf area and shuffleboard courts or head to the lounge for retro and current video games.Good to Know: Tailor your occasion by celebrating in one of the hall’s private or semi-private event spaces, or rent the entire hall for a one-of-a-kind gathering.
A variety of menu items from Inner Rail Food Hall
INNER RAIL FOOD HALL
Omaha, Nebraska
Inner Rail Food Hall
Zone 6, Aksarben Village
Experience a vibrant selection of food and fun with nine rotating vendors serving some of the best cuisine Omaha has to offer.Featured Dining Spots: All American Burger (smash patties and more), Zaytuna (Mediterranean), Kathmandu Momo Station (Nepalese street food)Extend Your Fun: The outdoor plaza at Zone 6 also features a dog park and sand volleyball.Good to Know: In addition to indoor seating options, Inner Rail Food Hall has outdoor dining spaces with games, fire pits and lounge furniture.
Inside Brewhalla
brewhalla
Fargo, North Dakota
Brewhalla
1702 1st Avenue N.
Experience family-run, locally owned vendors in a historic locomotive repair building.Featured Dining Spots: Unicorn Park Fine Foodery (casual dining), Duchesa Gelato, Blackbird Woodfire PizzaExtend Your Fun: Visit specialty shops like Unglued (handmade gifts), The Plant Supply (a modern plant shop) and Bark’n Biscuits (pet treats).Good to Know: Brewhalla has an onsite boutique hotel with everything from studios to multi-room suites.
Wrecktangle Pizza's “Our Favorite Pickle Pizza” is exclusively available at The Market at Malcom Yards.
WRECKTANGLE PIZZA
Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Market at Malcolm Yards
501 30th Avenue S.E.
This food hall has nine unique culinary concepts and a full-service bar with seasonal craft cocktails, beer and wine.Featured Dining Spots: Wrecktangle Pizza, World Street Kitchen (yum yum rice bowls, hummus bowls and more), Delsur Traditional ArgentinianExtend Your Fun: The self-pour tap wall features a rotating selection of 32 beers, wines and seltzers.Good to Know: Head to the host stand to get your Yard Card. It’s a unique payment system that streamlines purchases throughout the market.
Quiche Lorraine
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids Downtown Market
435 Ionia Avenue S.W.
This culinary collective has multiple dine-in, carry-out, specialty grocery and retail options.Featured Dining Spots: Tacos El Cuñado, Gaby’s Gourmandise (quiche, pastries and crepes), Go Vegan (guilt-free burgers)Extend Your Fun: The market hosts public events of all shapes and sizes, including cooking classes, vintage markets, an annual Ice Bar and more.Good to Know: A shared use, rentable commercial kitchen provides a supportive environment to start-ups seeking support and technical assistance.
Truffle BLT sandwich with a side of House Fries topped with spicy sesame aioli from The Fat Shallot
Fat Shallot/sterling food hall
Chicago, Illinois
Sterling Food Hall
125 S. Clark Street
A diverse lineup of vendors with more than a dozen food stalls lets visitors savor the city’s diverse cuisines.Featured Dining Spots: The Fat Shallot (gourmet sandwiches), Hot Chi (chicken and cones), Aloha Poke Co. (Hawaiian-inspired bowls)Extend Your Fun: Check out the independent book and record shop, where you can explore new reads or find that perfect vinyl.Good to Know: After Chicago’s Revival Food Hall closed in 2024, new operators rebranded the Loop’s historic landmark building as Sterling Food Hall.
Burgers and fries
Des Moines, Iowa
Local Bites
700 Locust St.
This food hall located in the greater Des Moines Partnership Building in the Downtown Des Moines Skywalk District has nine vendors to choose from.Featured Dining Spots: Nanna’s Kitchen (sourdough pizza and pasta), Burger Shop, Baba’s Gyros n MoreExtend Your Fun: Stay in the city at the Downtown Des Moines Marriott Hotel, right next to Local Bites.Good to Know: Local Bites has a Sunday Marketplace that runs November–April.
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Experience the fun of visiting food halls and exploring new cities. Let a knowledgeable AAA Travel Agent handle all the planning so you can enjoy every delicious moment. Start your food journey at AAA.com/TravelExpert.
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