Try some international fare at Frankfurt’s Kleinmarkthalle

Frankfurt’s ‘little market hall’ offers international flavors, fresh produce and local favorites, making it a must-visit food market for tourists and locals alike.

Frankfurt’s Kleinmarkthalle offers global flavors, fresh produce and local favorites, making it a must-visit food market for tourists and locals alike. The Kleinmarkthalle in Frankfurt, Germany, features nearly 160 vendors selling regional and international food products. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes) A visit to Frankfurt’s Kleinmarkthalle reminded me of one of my favorite pastimes when visiting home in southeastern Pennsylvania, close to Amish country: shopping at indoor farmers markets. At the markets back home, it’s easy to get lost wandering among the stands of fresh vegetables, homemade baked goods, candies, meats, cheeses and countless handicraft items. The Kleinmarkthalle offers the same bustle and variety as the Pennsylvania Dutch version, albeit with a distinctly international flair.

In English, the name translates to “little market hall.” But with nearly 160 vendors and about 1,500 square meters on mostly two floors, the place is anything but tiny. The original market hall welcomed its first customers in 1879. The building was destroyed in the March 1944 heavy bombing raids on the city during World War II. The current hall opened in 1954 about 200 meters southwest of the original site. On a recent Friday afternoon, the market was bustling with locals stocking up on pantry staples. Meandering tourists and an after-work crowd getting an early start on the weekend began filling up one of