SoWa Open Market

The SoWa Market in Boston is a great spot for anyone seeking a diverse shopping and dining experience. Open every Sunday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, from May through October, this market offers convenient parking options throughout the area for around $10.00. What makes SoWa truly special is its mix of vendors. You’ll find unique art, decor, and paintings alongside many baked goods and specialty items like unique hot sauces. The market’s vibrant atmosphere is complemented by an impressive selection of food trucks. These food trucks are a highlight, serving up a variety of delicious and creative fusion dishes. SoWa Market is a perfect blend of shopping, culture, and culinary delights, making it a fantastic Sunday outing.

Great place to look for unique gifts or something for yourself. I took my two teen daughters here and they enjoy looking around. Believe it’s only open on Sunday, so check hours for heading over. Some really great selections of clothes, jewelry, paintings, some smallish furniture and much more. Fun enjoyable for about 30-60 minutes or so, not much more needed.

My daughter and I love this market so much better than the snowboard, especially being indoors away from the cold

This place is always fun but the crowds are crazy!! It’s worth going, but if you struggle with a lot of people do not go. Tons of great local sellers with awesome decorations and food trucks near by. This can be a really fun weekend trip with friends. Prepare for some crazy parking nearby if you are going to park on sight. All in all though the parking isn’t toooooooo expensive.

went to the SoWa open market for the first time and loved it! so much variety, lots of delicious food options and all reasonably priced. i’ll definitely be back

Authentic, local market with sells some produce, nuts, too many soap bars, handmade stuff. Some food trucks around for grub and beer as well. Worth checking out especially when the weather is good. Some toilets are found in the adjacent building with many independent affordable art studios. If you live in Boston, do check out the art pieces here.

Great place to spend a family day. Almost all of the artist are right there and you can talk to them. Perfect to find hand made gifts! The food truck place is also very complete, and this year they added lots of sitting places and play area with life music and a beer garden.

We went to the Vintage Market a very cool flea market open year round in the basement of the Sowa building. You can see in the pics below that there's a varied and unusual selection of items across many genres. I would definitely recommend taking a stroll through the 20 or so vendors down there. They are there even when the big market is on hiatus, and dogs and children are welcome. Treats for the former.

Sowa Open Market is the best place to be on a Sunday! Parking is limited on the street or $10 in the lot down the block (cash only). If you're visiting (like me), this is the BEST place to hear a thick Boston accent: PAAAAAAA-KIN for the MAAAAAAAAA-KET, 10 DAAAAAAAA-LAAAAAAS RIGHT HERE (glorious!) There's food trucks and food vendors GALORE! Yes they have coffee drinks! Yes they have alcohol drinks! Everyone takes card but obviously cash is king. Bathrooms are open! And clean! Thank God! The artisans! The vintage! Yes yes yes! Please DON'T bring your double wide stroller. Please DON'T bring your boyfriend who's going to follow you into every single booth like your shadow and be bored scrolling on his phone. Please DON'T say things like "I don't need anything right now"- these are artisans. Buy from them! Please DO bring your pups! Please talk to everyone and hear their story! Please take photos. Please come again! I know I will for sure!

I expected a different experience, supporting local artisans as an artist and an avid supporter of small businesses. The SoWa Winter Festival's curation could use improvement. Parking and entry each cost $10. We arrived at 6:30 pm, faced a short line, and found well-organized stalls with a couple of bars for those into alcoholic beverages. There was an abundance of similar items like dog treats, poster prints, candles, small clothing brand items, and fashion jewelry from emerging designers all catered to a younger demographic. If these align with your aesthetic, it's suitable, but if you're over 40, this might not match your holiday market preferences. This space caters more to Gen Z.

Cute outdoor farmer's market in South Boston. Several food trucks and tents filled with candles, jewelry, fruit/vegetables, honey, art, clothes, etc. Little knick knacks from local businesses, make great gifts for yourself or others! Closest bathrooms are inside the art building, which do have public access; but ALWAYS a long line on floors 2, 3, and 4. And although the market is dog friendly, there is NO shade for you or the pups, and all the tents are on hot asphalt.

Lots of interesting things for sale the food, smelled great, lots of choices of food trucks, check out the antique market as well!

Glad it's still around. Definitely not what it once was but what is? Alot of the same vendors I saw there a decade ago and some new ones each week as well

Local shops representing with delicious foods, awesome handmade jewelry, clothing designs, knick knacks and a little bit of everything for everyone made for a great Sunday showing my family the farmers market in SoWa! There is something for every budget too with variety for those with dietary restrictions as well with non dairy, gluten free, vegan products here and there! The parking was $10 not bad a few feet to the right of the main location. Be sure to walk through the breezeway to see more shops down the back (we almost missed this entirely) thankfully we explored and found over 10+ vendors out there.

Food: LOVE SOWA, it's SO fun. SO many good food options, fun food trucks - I got this Turkey, Bacon & Avocado sandwich from the Herb Lyceum - DELICIOUS. Drinks too (I'm not a big drinker but). Art: SO MANY CUTE art stalls. My friend and I went there specifically for the jewelry, I LOVE earrings and she loves rings. Lots of choices. Some are stalls are def significantly more expensive than others, but it's fun to even go window shopping. Great way to #supportlocalbusinesses. Location: I LOVE THE SOUTH END. Having gone to Northeastern, I was quite familiar with this area. LOTS of good restaurants around incase you don't want to grab food there (i.e. The Elephant Walk, Burro Bar). Overall, SOWA is REALLY FUN I 11/10 recommend but there are no bathrooms nearby - I think I went into a restaurant or cafe to use a bathroom there lol.

The open market at SoWa is a wonderful way to spend a Sunday morning/afternoon. There's a great indoor flea market with lots of random knick knacks on display, in case you're in the mood for eclectic stuff. In the outdoor courtyard, there are lots of tents that feature local and regional businesses. Even if you aren't going to buy, it's still a great way to find ideas for future purchases/gifts, get contact info for interesting companies, and support local business in the process. I most recently bought some awesome dress socks from the Pierre Henry booth, as well as a chemistry-themed coaster from another local vendor. Neither were on my shopping list Sunday morning, but I'm excited at making a couple of good buys! In the other part of the market there are a bunch of food vendors. Some serve meals - I got tamales this time, and have had sandwiches from another booth in the past. It's a nice way to incorporate lunch into your SoWa experience. Even if you're not eating, though, the other food vendors are selling take-home products; everything from pickled beets to honey, and further still to hot sauces. The whole market is approachable, interesting, and a great way to spend a few hours before realizing you're about to go back to your miserable existence Monday morning!

Not baby friendly. The line was was out the door across the parking lot and onto the sidewalk while freezing cold out.

It's a great date spot, both with significant others and friends! There is a farmer's market corner, as well as small businesses selling their goods. Right next to the market is the artist alley, where you can view and purchase local artist's pieces. Compared to a grocery store or any other commercial shops the price is higher here. But the produce is always fresh, the small treats I get are delicious, and it is great supporting local businesses.

Had such a nice time at Sowa Market last weekend!! We started by walking around the food market, which had such a nice variety of stands. Last Sunday they had a few food trucks (Mexican, Vietnamese, Cookies and Ice cream, Sandwiches), a few farm stands with tons of fresh produce, and tons of local speciality stores (jams, honey, cupcakes, doughnuts, drinks, frozen dinners) ... we loved the variety of food options! They also had tons of outdoor tables with umbrellas which was nice with the rain. They also had corn hole and other outdoor games! And great spot to spend your Sunday (for all ages) and they're dog friendly! I definitely recommend also stopping by the vintage market and local artist studios that are right next door.

Such a great stop for a weekend in Boston! I've been for both the open market and also for their Winter Market this past weekend. There is always a great selection of food & drinks, and the vendors are great. I've gotten a ton of gifts for either birthdays or Christmas from the various vendors here so I highly recommend stopping in! The winter market line was crazy long but moved very quickly.

Sowa is an amazing outdoor market that spans a few blocks in the south end! They have an art section, a vintage market, a farmers market, food trucks and a beer garden! Its an amazing place to spend a sunny sunday afternoon. All of the vendors are top notch and there is something there for everyone.

It was really cute! We went for a fun Sunday afternoon and we were not disappointed with the colorful stalls! It was so nice to see all the handmade jewelry and baked goods.

Sundays at the SOWA market are fun! There are food trucks (which are ok, haven't found one I love) as well as local food places to satisfy your hunger. But more importantly there are unique art items for sale and the studios are open for touring. It's nice to come, relax, see some art, and get a few dogs. I'd recommend a visit if you haven't gone already!

What a fun time to spend my morning. Great vendors, plus the studios are absolutely amazing to walk through.

This place is awesome - though you can't go every week (things don't change much) it's lots of fun to check out on a lazy Sunday, especially for the hipster spotting.... Food, beer, farmers market, crafts, antiques and art all in once place!

Fun! Lots of food trucks and good food. I went on a busy day but the area is still very cute and set up nicely. Some of the trucks have some very good food. I will definitely be coming back at a less busy time. There is tons of parking in the garage too for $10.

I went to the SoWa market for the first time this past weekend and had a pretty great time. I didn't know what exactly to expect, but the market itself had a pretty decent variety of booths and shops to check out. There were also some artist showcasing their art pieces in the building above the antique shop. There was a mixture of paintings and photography displays available to see and purchase. A lot of samples are given out near the more food and drink centered portion of the market. If you're an impulse buyer be careful as there are a lot of things that I came pretty close to purchasing on spot.

Came for Lamb Jam (stuffed my face and my belly to explosion), stayed for the fun! Food Trucks and walking stuff to do. Didn't realize how up and up this neighborhood was! SO HAPPY Lamb Jam 2018 was here, because the spacious setting made it so much easier to navigate, eat and play! Weekends are fun and family days. Parking can be tricky but you can find paid parking and trek out to discover another Boston growing communities. Can't wait to come back to SoWa and walk, food truck and hang out with the locals!

Good outdoor market worth a visit if the weather is good. I like that there is plenty to do in the area as there is the arts market, farmer's market, food trucks, and beer garden to keep you occupied. In addition you can spend time browsing all the local stores and art galleries that are in the area. Most of the art and food vendors you probably have seen in other city events but while there is no novelty there, I enjoyed having so many things to look at in one place instead of jumping between summer festivals throughout Boston.

This is a fun market to kill some time and do some window shopping. In one part, there are lots of different food items for sale, to include fresh produce, honey, chocolate and baked items, meat, cider, mead, sauces, seafood, and others I'm surely forgetting. In the other part, it's like Etsy in person where they have jewelry, art, wooden items, etc. Still in another part are a ton of food trucks and a beer/wine hall. They have all different types of food and I left wishing I had multiple stomachs!! =D What brought us here is the knife sharpening at Bobby Mac's mobile sharpening, which is located in the food section. You can bring your knives and they sharpen them while you walk around. We brought three knives and they finished in 20 min (see my pic for prices). They offer parking for the market and it's $10. I'm told, though, that you receive a $5 voucher with that parking purchase. There is also a lot of street parking and other lots around. The street will be free (bc it's Sunday), but you'll probably have to do a bit of a walk. Yes, market is only open on Sundays. Also, well-minded pups are allowed. We saw several, so make sure yours is friendly! (:

How do I not have a review here? When SoWa opens it marks the beginning of warm weather (to me) and this year it worked (last year was....interesting...). So many vendors that you can come week after week and see something new but also see if that thing you saw the last week is still there (and if not, try again next week!) So many food options as well. Can't go wrong coming here for something to do on a Sunday!

WOW! Sowa was so much fun! Spent my first weekend in Boston walking around the open market. Started my morning with a 10am yoga class sponsored by CorePower in the beer barn. Such an amazing location for yoga (tip: bring a towel to put under your mat as the ground is a little dirty since it's outside). Then meandered around the market, stopping at almost all the tents to chat with the vendors. There are three parts to this market: 1. food trucks and beer barn: this is where the yoga was as well as beer and lots of food trucks! had a great sitting area inside away from the sun with corn hole and live music and other games. The tables went quickly so you have to scope out a spot as soon as someone leaves! The food trucks had a great variety of different food cuisines including seafood, Vietnamese, BBQ, tacos and more along with plenty of drink varieties. 2. food area: this section is different than the food trucks since it's mostly take home food. There was a great farmers market section along with vendors selling and sampling different foods and drinks (think kombucha, cookies, wine slushies, and more)! 3. artsy: this last section was more of handicraft and clothing area. There were jewelry vendors, crafts, and clothes along with other various items for a house. It was great to walk in and out of the tents and see all that Sowa Market had to offer. I will most definitely be back later in the summer for more wandering!

I had so much fun at Sowa. It has three different sections, one for crafts, food and food trunks. Near the near food trunks there's an open barn type room that has a bunch of benches, a bar and they had someone doing live music. Most if not all of the venders take cards and cash. For parking there was a $10 lot right across the street. I was so overwhelmed with the place that I will definitely be back! All around it's a great place to spend a day or afternoon at.

Going to markets on the weekend is always so fun!! I love seeing all the booths that are there, and the amazing local Boston products that I wouldn't have known about had I not visited. I feel like Sowa market keeps getting larger and larger every time I go! This time my mom and I got there early and picked up a vegan macaroon and carrot cake for breakfast! Then we got lost in the market trying to find our class where we made our own charms on little purses made from recycled Laos materials. The getting lost was fun because I got to run into some shops asking for directions which I then went back to for shopping. The class was amazing! I love the unique experiences you get in Sowa! Then we picked up corn in cup and shopped for jewelry and scarves. There really is so much to do and I'd recommend going to this or any other event that Sowa hosts!

For what it's worth, Sowa is something that all college students should experience when they have downtime during summer school. There's art, food, produce, and other assorted local specialties (Bantam Cider Wunderkind is of particular relevance to me heh) that people trot out for buyers (or browsers more like it) to feast their eyes. To be honest, I usually come here just to take in the atmosphere, check out what food trucks are there (nothing that particularly moves me yet), admire the wares that are being trotted out, and then bounce. IG: Mood4foodeatery

Always something interesting to find here if you're looking for vintage furniture, clothing and other objects. I come here for the artisan foods and food trucks. Local honey, farm fresh produce and meats along with a huge variety of snack vendors- you won't leave empty handed or with an empty stomach guaranteed.

Our first experience at SoWa last weekend was great. (though I should have checked parking options before we were sitting in traffic trying to find parking options. they do have a map on their website, as i've since discovered.) Parking noob-ness aside, the market has great variety of food trucks, other foodie/artisan food vendors and art and craft vendors. I loved the overall atmosphere - it was casual, welcoming and the live music was a great touch. We got there with about an hour left of the event and I wish we'd allowed ourselves more time to explore. We will be back!

This is my kind of event. I went on the weekend and was able to visit both the vendors in the basement vintage market and the galleries on the above 3 floors. The vintage market will either suit your style or not. I found some old maps I liked a lot. The building's galleries contained mostly various painted forms of art with some sculpture. It was neat to see the artists' work spaces as the galleries and studios were mostly shared space. Outside the building there was a parking lot full of tents with the open market fare. I really liked this stuff. There were great food and nonfood gift items. There was cool customizable canvas art and furniture. In yet another nearby parking lot there were food trucks and a beer garden. What a fun way to spend a sunny weekend morning.

Some good stuff. A lot of crap. Food trucks are good. Different vendors every week outside. Nothing you haven't seen elsewhere.

This market has various vendors: arts, pottery, food, and even pets! A lot of the vendors relating to food and drink are kind enough to offer samples so if you see something that catches your eye, ask to try! I'm obsessed with dogs and this place is really good for dog spotting!! So many puppies and large dogs!! So cute!! The surrounding south end neighborhood is very picturesque so if you go through the market quickly there are other forms nearby.

Great option to do something different outside in Boston but the vendors are repetitive and sometimes feel really random. The food trucks also leave a little to be desired as there are much better ones that never seem to make the rotation but the beer options are strong. The market is split into 3 parking lots, 2 along Harrison Ave and 1 off of Albany but with access from Harrison. There's an arts maker, a farmers maker and a food truck rodeo. It can get super packed especially in the rodeo so plan accordingly.

Fun day to spend with some friends, wish we got there earlier as most of the food and beverages were gone but still a fun day. Lots of vendors and food options and a great way to spend a Sunday in the city.

This isn't my visit to the SOWA Open Market, I try to get here at least once a season. But it's my first since the founders broke with the landlord/rival market and folded--and full disclosure I didn't visit either during the rival either during the throw down. Generally this is an interesting and diverse open market. The first area is reserved for food trucks and now there is a beer garden--but it's unclear if folks not drinking can go in the beer garden to sit and eat from the trucks. The second part is more of the farmer's market with food stands as well as people selling everything from homemade pesto, baked goods, whole roasted coffee, pasta and sauce as well as fruit and vegetables. The third area is a mix of the artists and artisan vendors, everything from repurposed/recycled and vintage clothes, various types of art work and jewelry, baby clothes, tee shirts, coasters, magnets, dish/tea towels, pet accessories, etc. In between are the building with galleries and shops, we went to the Bead and Fiber store which is unique and also to Ash & Rose which is up-cycled & repurposed vintage clothing. Restrooms are inside the various buildings/floors and there can be a wait, but the owners of Ash & Rose and nearby gallery came out to restock soap and TP which I thought was very customer service friendly of them. There has been some turn over in the stores/galleries but many of the larger ones including the International Poster Gallery and Broomfield Gallery remain. Most of the items out in the open market/from vendors are handmade and are on the pricey side but it's a fun place to look for unusual gifts, although you may have to cap and/or stick to your budget, etc. Definitely a fun and interesting market to visit and explore!

This is a review maybe three to four months overdue. This place is great! There are so many fun things to do in Boston, but this is definitely worth a sunday afternoon. !he indoor areas are a wonderful way to spend a couple hours on a rainy or too-hot or too-cold day and the outdoor areas for a sunny nice day. There are several different sections with rotating vendors. Basement vintage area is cool but as others mentioned, a little overpriced. There are some vintage bags, leather jackets, random objects, trunks, ties, etc. I didn't have much interest in that area as it is the most crowded and was a little stuffy at the time. If you're patient, you can find some cool things, but it lacks organization. The food area is also OK. There's a variety of things sold in food trucks like honey, smoked salmon, and granola. But there are also things to eat like cookies and cake pops (yummy mummy bakery!). There were some dog-themed food trucks too but I'm more of a cat person. There was no wine garden when we went. But my favorite part was the artists on the floors above the vintage area and in some outdoor tents. They are so great! I got exposed to so many artists I had never heard of. (I have no disclosures.) The artists DO rotate, but as an example, I liked Brian murphy (does steel wire art) and Hannah Blount (handmade jewelry with unique stones and well-designed metals, Red+Wolf (eco friendly gift cards that highlight endangered species), French merchants (soaps and kitchen towels), and Shara Porter (neat wallets. We were trying to find a wallet with a squid on it but couldn't). You never know what you'll find here, and since it changes with seasons and dates, it's worth coming back too! Be prepared to spend a pretty penny as it's not cheap, but it's a fun place to find things you didn't even know you wanted and is also a great place to find thoughtful gifts for others. The biggest negative? Be prepared to spend a while circling around the surrounding streets to look for metered parking (free on sunday but as a result also high demand). Or pay for garage parking.

Been stopping by the market literally EVERY weekend for the past couple of weeks. Had my heart from the moment I visited the first time a year or two ago. Big fan of the booths when you first walk into the area. From mirrors to jewelry, there is no doubt you will leave with something in your hand. There is also a vintage market, which is full of amazing finds! It's crazy the amount of unique things you can uncover in the vintage market. Definitely a place you should stop by. If you cross through the little entryway near the mcpherson cafe, you will enter the farmer's market where you can enjoy really great food, sit and relax, and listen to some wonderful live music. This is the perfect place to go to with family, friends, or even just by yourself.

Sowa Open Market. There is something for everyone here. If you like antiques and unique artwork, there is a whole building with that kinda stuff. If you like shopping for interesting things, and lots of locally made things, there are plenty of vendors. Some of the items seemed shark tank worthy, like a scart that had a pocket in it! If you just want to eat and drink like me, there are plenty of vendors. As it was a very hot day, I had a scoop of chocolate ice cream in a matcha cone. I also tried salmon pate, and brought some salmon bacon. I would say the price of the food items here were quite high. There was also flying pig bakery, and the breads were buy one get one free, right before they closed at 4pm. There was also a vegan food festival taking place that day. I am not vegan but decided to check it out anyways. Instead of trying vegan food, I witnessed 2 dogs fighting, which was pretty sad. The open markets are dog friendly, but not all dogs are friendly. One dog bit another dog's ear. The owner of the mean dog did nothing. Meanwhile, the owner of the victim dog dived in and pushed the other mean dog away. I could hear the victim dog crying, it was really sad. Luckily, the victim dog seemed to be ok. I quite enjoyed walking into an open van, that had be converted into a makeshift shop. They had lots of preppy things that are perfect for a weekend at the Cape. RL skirts, preppy bottle openers, etc. Overall, a great place to hang out, if its not raining!

I visited the Sowa Open Market on opening day, Sunday, May 1, 2016. It's definitely not as good as the market that used to be in this location (the South End Open Market, which is now located further down Harrison Ave to a temporary lot by Ink Block). There are not as many vendors as there used to be, the food truck area had very few seats, and the new beer garden didn't actually have much beer. It's really too bad that the professional squabble between the property owner and the previous market that had been there for the past 12 years has ruined a good thing. #EveryoneLoses https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/10/05/ugly-divorce-for-south-end-markets-and-landlords/AR6yKHeoXQnFmyzWYzJOVI/story.html

Last time I was in Boston, my friends and I enjoyed a Sunday stroll through the Sowa Open Market - various vendors with clothing, jewelry, pottery, art, soaps, lotions, flowers, and food trucks. We walked through the stands on the Greenway the day before, and recognized a lot of the same vendors, although they were located much closer together at Sowa. Enjoyed walking through a few art galleries along the way, too. Lines for the food truck were much too long, and not much shade, so opted for a café nearby.

Very cool stuff and lots of booths to check out. The prices are high, but that's to be expected when practically everything is specially handmade. There are food trucks nearby, and plenty of booths to check out, so prepare to spend a few hours there.

Went to Boston last month and this was one of our stops since I wanted to walk my dogs as well. The market itself was not that interesting. There were not that many stands but close by there are shops and stuff but nothing that really interested me. Next to it, there was a food truck area. I didn't try any of the food but it seems like people liked it. I probably won't come back again.

I love SoWa Sundays. I've been twice this year. It's great to come and support local products and try all the different food trucks. My favorite vendor is Union Square Donuts! Will definitely be returning and definitely recommend visiting!

Great place for local products. The selection wasn't as overwhelming as the pictures suggest but there was a good amount of variety in food and market items. I may venture back a little later in the season when the weather isn't so harsh, but that's just personal preference. You should definitely consider stopping by!

Love SoWa!! Such a diverse set of products at the arts and crafts market and anything you can imagine in terms of food! Perfect for locals and tourists on spring and summer days, highly reccommend!

Love this market!! Reminds me of a mix between artists and fleas in NYC and a regular farmers market. I've been to both the regular and holiday market with my friends and we've picked up super cute bags and yummy snacks every time. The food trucks are also to die for. I would recommend this as either a quick shopping visit or an all day event. Love SoWa!!

Fun place to visit on the weekend, lots of open air shops and a large indoor antiques area. There was a farmers market and food truck section also. I spent several hours looking around and tried the grilled cheese and cajun cuisine food trucks, both were very good. I would recommend Sowa Market for a fun weekend day.

Such a cool space and event each week. This market is a mark of the direction Boston is going in. Creative art, crafts and vintage items will be on display at affordable prices. Things for the kids as well as the adults.

An unfound gem! We have a farmers market in Ashland that is the best in the burbs but you can't compete with the city. A whole lot more people, a lot more interesting food tents and food trucks and great crafters. Loved it but if you're in Metrowest try out Ashland Farmers Market. We met four of the same vendors