The Italian Market

There's no place like Ninth Street. It's the nation's oldest continuosly-running open air food market. In operation for over a hundred years, it still retains its original charm and flavor. Even the prices haven't seemed to change much.

You can still walk down 9th Street and find huckster's stands piled with fresh fruit and vegetables and fish markets and poultry markets and the city's best cheese stores, butcher shops, bakeries, fresh pasta shops and sandwich shops crammed into a 6 block stretch, just as it was at the turn of the last century. Better yet, you can return home with a week's groceries for less than what it would cost you for two-days worth in the homogeny of the supermarket.

In recent years, as the neighborhood has grown in diversity, Asian, Mexican and Middle Eastern restaurants and groceries have been added to the mix.

$25 at the Italian Market

$25 at the ShopRite

The Italian Market is one of Philadelphia's top tourist attractions. Located in South Philadelphia's Bella Vista section, it is walking distance from Center City and conveniently reached by public transportation.