<div id="c3be0912bb716eee4ca644c1dfc4ecde4"></div>If you’re looking for local produce, delicious food, and amazing artisan goods, check out the Ybor City Saturday Market. This outdoor market, offering farm fresh fruits and vegetables, gourmet foods, local crafts, and tons of fun shopping, can be found every weekend in the heart of the historic Ybor City. Stop by for weekly essentials or special treats while supporting small business owners year-round on Saturday mornings.
Located along Tampa’s historic 8th district of 8th Avenue, The Ybor City Saturday Market is a weekly market with great vibes, amazing foods, and products from local vendors. Open every Saturday, rain or shine, and you can experience the market alongside the city’s famous chickens freely roaming throughout the venue! My partner and I had so much fun trying new foods and getting to know the vendors, their goods, and how they became part of the market.
Before you head out the door to this awesome outdoor market, here’s what you need to know so you can have the best time.
Know Before You Go
The Ybor Saturday City Market is held every Saturday of the year, but the hours do vary based on season. The summer hours (May-September) are 9am-1pm and the winter hours (October-April) are 9am-3pm thanks to the cooler temperatures.
Admission to the market is free and pets are welcome! It’s the perfect weekend date idea.
The market is located at Centennial Park at 190119th Street, Tampa, FL, 33605. During our visit, parking was very easy to find! There is free parking along the street and a number of paid hourly garages and lots in Ybor City.
Vendor availability is subject to change, so be sure to check their websites and social media prior to going if you’re hoping to buy from a certain booth!
Ybor City Saturday Market Must-Dos
- Grab your fridge essentials for the week
- Snack on local gourmet treats
- Pick up a gift for you or a friend
*Please note, some vendors may be seasonal or may adjust their hours or market visits depending on the hours. If you have a favorite vendor, be sure to reach out to them to see if they’ll be there. You can also find updates on Ybor City’s Saturday Market Facebook page.
Grab your fridge essentials for the week
One of our favorite booths to go to for fresh produce at the Ybor City Saturday Market is Tungett Produce & Citrus- a fruit and vegetable store that selects produce from the best local farmers in Plant City and Ruskin. Tungett offers a wide variety of items, including tomatoes, berries, corn, peaches, eggs, and even jalapenos. We always get a watermelon when they are in season because they are some of the sweetest and tastiest in Tampa.
During our latest trip to the market, we learned about microgreens and the benefits and value they can add to your diet. At the Tiny Leaf Organic booth, we were able to try various microgreens, including sunflower, radish, broccoli, and speckled pea. We are planning to add them to our salads throughout the week when we meal prep! Other grocery items that can be purchased at the market are honey, jerky and spices.
Snack on local gourmet treats
Calling all foodies! Hands down, our favorite part of the Ybor City Saturday Market are the prepared and baked goods! The first thing we do is grab a bite to eat for breakfast. Flamingo Donuts offers a variety of aesthetic and delicious donuts. Our favorite is the vanilla birthday cake donut, but the bourbon maple bacon flavor is a close second. Pilo’s Café is our go-to place for a fresh, hot arepa. The chicken and cheese arepa is so flavorful! Wash it all down with some ice-cold tea from Regalitea. From flavors like Strawberry Sunrise to Sacred Rose plus creative spins on personal favorites, there are so many to choose from.
I have an enormous sweet tooth! Good thing the market has tons of options to satisfy this, including many sugar free and gluten free items. Here are some of our picks are:
- The Rolling Pin– Try the brownie bites!
- Queen of the Sweets– Try the gluten free pecan bar!
- Matt’s Fat Cookies– Try the banana pudding cookie!
- The Happy Baker– Try the chocolate amaretto grown-up banana bread, infused with alcohol!
- Alice’s Macaroons and More– Try the strawberry lemonade and s’mores macarons!
Whether you brought your four-legged best friend with you or left them hanging out home, treat them to some homemade dog treats from Pawsnacks and Sweets!
Pick Up a Gift for You or a Friend
No matter if it’s for you or someone else, there is no shortage of fun, creative and luxurious gifts at the Ybor Saturday City Market! Body Silk by Robin offers an all-natural skincare line and body products that are handcrafted and the perfect pick for those who have sensitive skin and want to stray away from chemical commercial products. Some of our favorites are the tea tree soap, organic shampoo, and shea butter body balm. Aroma and Color offers soaps, lotions and scrubs that are beautiful and smell amazing. I have the coconut hand lotion bar in my bag at all times!
For a friend who loves to live a sustainable lifestyle, treat them to a present from ReUsin By Susan. The crafty shop creates jewelry using recycled materials, including maps, credit/gift cards, soda can tabs, vintage buttons, and more. For a friend who enjoys quirky and fun clothing, stop by Raw Art Creations for some hand tie-dyed and painted t-shirts. I had to get myself one with an Ybor City chicken on it!
For a friend who loves to read, the Cigar City Press sells books, and currently has a series by Thad Diaz about fictional mysteries that take place right here in Tampa. I’m currently reading the first book in the series, “Tampa Heat.”
Fill your home with luxurious pottery created by Veljoy Crafts. These gorgeous pieces are made by Trish, a ceramic artist and teacher who focuses her work on pieces that allow you to enjoy their feel and colors while using them in every day life. If you’re looking to also fill your home with plants, check out Into the Pot. I do not have a green thumb, so the vendor spent time walking me through the care for various plants to help me find the perfect addition to my space, and I have successfully kept the plant alive so far thanks to their help!
Things to Do Nearby
This list is just the start of so many different shops, products, and food vendors at the Ybor City Saturday Market! After taking a stroll in the market and doing your fair share of shopping, the different Ybor City activities, bars and restaurants will be open for you.
Visit the Ybor City Museum, where you can also take a cigar tour that starts inside the museum and includes peeks inside a 19th-Century cigar maker’s house, a labor temple, the opulent Don Vicente Inn and more. Grab coffee from Pete’s Bagel’s and General Store.
Have brunch at Gaspar’s Grotto or Madame Fortune, or enjoy drinks on the rooftop bar at Casa Santo Stefano.
For more details about the Ybor City Saturday Market check out their website.
Feature image credit: @ybormarketarturo