All walks of local life converge at this bustling market, a fascinating spectacle for the first-time visitor and a bargain food fair for the city's Jewish residents. Crammed with fresh fruit, olives, nuts, vegetables and just about anything else grown or picked from the Israeli soil, it's also a good place to purchase spices, teas, cheese, dried fruits, tahina, bread and pastries. At night, it reinvents itself as a restaurant and bar hub where local foodies, hipsters and tourists hang out.
The market has two major streets – Etz Chayim St (the covered market) and Mahane Yehuda St (the open-air market). Many of the names of the alleyways running between these relate to the products available; eg HaAfarsek means ‘Peach St’, HaTut means 'Berry St' and Ha'Egoz means 'Walnut St'.
The market is at its bustling best on Thursday and Friday during the pre-Shabbat scramble. As it closes on Friday a couple of Haredi men walk through the market blowing trumpets at the stall owners, warning them to close up shop, go home and prepare for Shabbat.
