Los Angeles Farmers Market - Our Local Hangout

My wife and I live in West Hollywood, California, and love the local neighborhood. One of our favorite things to do is to visit the Farmers Market, about five minutes from our apartment. While tourists like to visit the fancy new area called The Grove, locals like me love the old part, the original Farmers Market section, serving locals since 1934.

Our favorite family activity is to go for a weekday lunch, when the crowds are mainly locals like us. The market is filled with all kinds of food vendors and restaurants, along with communal tables and seating. We love it because we can go as a family, eat together, yet all have completely different meals. We also get the benefit of sharing from each others plates, so we all get to try different dishes.

We had lunch there this week, I had my corned beef sandwich from the deli, my son had Brazilian churriscaria steak from Pampas Grill. My wife had her favorite, spicy Louisiana gumbo, and my son's friend had some wonderful BBQ ribs and brisket. One of us always scopes out a table and sits down, while the rest of us get the food. The people watching is great too. Insider tip: there is another whole floor of tables upstairs, look for the stairs if the tables are crowded on the main level.

A great locals-only event is coming up on July 12, their Taste of Farmers Market event. For $35 (food only) you get all-you-can-eat from nearly 50 of their unique restaurants.

Location

The Farmers Market is at the northeast corner of Third Street and Fairfax Avenue.

Parking

There are four main outdoor parking lots surrounding the Farmers Market, and a multi-story indoor parking building next to The Grove shopping area. Parking rates with a receipt from a merchant are free for the first two hours, with a daily maximum of $15 after the third hour.

Hours of Operation

Although restaurants and theaters have longer hours, most shops are open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 9 pm, Saturday 9 am to 8 pm and Sunday 10 am to 7 pm.

Businesses Within the Market

The Farmers Market is divided into two main sections. The original indoor building contains fresh fruit, meat and vegetable stalls, prepared food vendors, sit-down eating areas, prepared food vendors and souvenir shops. There are many ethnic and special foods offered, including Mexican, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Italian, Brazilian, New Orleans, vegetarian, Kosher-style deli and others. In addition to all kinds of ethnic and American foods available at booths within the Farmers Market, The Grove offers many restaurants, including The Cheesecake Factory and Maggiano's Little Italy.

Free Special Events for Local Families

The Farmers Market's schedule of exciting events for make it a great place for local families to visit on those special days. Throughout summer, on Thursdays and Fridays from 7 to 9 pm, there's music on the West Patio. The entertainment includes jazz, blues, swing, rock, country, reggae, samba and more.

Sources:

The Farmers Market official website - farmersmarketla.com
The Grove official website - thegrovela.com