This roundup of the best flea markets in New York City was written by Alejandro Beltran, co-founder of New York Simply (an official partner of Apple Maps) and a NYC local.
When most folks think of shopping in New York City they think of strutting down Fifth Avenue and popping into designer stores. However, the city boasts an abundance of vintage, collectible treasures waiting for a new lease on life, and it’s the top-notch flea markets that are often overflowing with unique gems.
Throughout my time living in New York City, I’ve come to cherish these flea markets and have developed a keen eye for finding the best ones and what sets them apart. In this guide we’ll cover the best flea markets in New York City, so without further ado — let’s get to it
Visiting New York City? If you haven’t decided where to stay (yet) check out our helpful guide on Where to Stay in New York City (The best neighborhoods for first timers +3 to avoid). Don’t have time? Here’s our favorite hotel in NYC, hands down.
Best Flea Markets in NYC
Table of Contents: Top Vintage Markets in NYC
Table of Contents: New York City Flea Markets Guide
St. Anthony’s Market
Website: St. Anthony’s Market
Neighborhood: SoHo
Address: W Houston St, between Macdougal and Sullivan St, New York, 10012
Right on the border between SoHo and the West Village, St. Anthony’s Market is named after St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. But the market isn’t in the church, it stretches for a few blocks along Houston Street and is open Thursday through Sundays from 10AM to 8PM.
Like the market’s trendy neighborhood it calls home, the tables are full of hot commodities like vintage sunglasses, cowboy boots and an abounding selection of crystals and gems. There’s also racks of classic, second-hand clothing that attract a young crowd in search of gems.
Brooklyn Flea
Website: Brooklyn Flea
Neighborhood: DUMBO
Address: 80 Pearl St, Brooklyn
Brooklyn Flea, a famous flea market in NYC, is open Saturday and Sundays, April through December. Established in 2008, the market has become popular destination thanks to over 150 vendors. Visitors can expect a treasure trove of vintage clothing, handmade crafts, and delicious artisanal treats. Even the market’s location is memorable, it’s under the DUMBO Archway, which is a long-stretching arch underneath the Manhattan Bridge.
Chelsea Flea
Website: Chelsea Flea
Neighborhood: Flatiron District
Address: 29 W 25th St, New York, NY 10010
An offshoot of the Brooklyn Flea, you’ll discover the Chelsea Flea in an empty lot in the Flatiron District, it’s not in the Chelsea neighborhood. The market stands out as the only all antique flea market in New York City. Every single one of the 50+ vendors only sell antiques and vintage items!
There are countless TikToks showing locals scoring designer items at bargain-basement prices, but in my experience the Chelsea Flea is not as “trendy” as one might expect. It’s old-fashioned thrifting at the Chelsea Flea Market, open every weekend from 8AM to 4PM, year-round, rain or shine.
Hester Street Fair
Website: Hester Street Fair
Neighborhood: Seaport
Address: 89 South St, New York, NY 10038
The Hester Street Fair is nomadic, meaning they’re not tied to any particular location. With that said, the market is frequently at the Seaport (Saturdays from April to November, from 11AM to 7PM). The vendors are mostly local, small business owners still establishing themselves in New York.
Custom clothing, small batch baked goods and unique accessories are part of what make the Hester Street Fair one of the best flea markets in NYC. To stay in the loop and keep up with their changing locations, I suggest following the Hester Street Fair on Instagram or keeping tabs on their website.
Artists & Fleas
Website: Artists & Fleas
Neighborhood: Chelsea & Williamsburg
Address: 88 10th Ave, New York & 70 N 7th St, Brooklyn
Artists & Fleas has two outposts, one in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn. They’re both some of the best indoor flea markets in NYC, which helps them stay open year-round. The Manhattan location is in the Chelsea Market, has 30+ vendors and is open daily from 11AM to 7PM.
The Brooklyn outpost is in a former dry goods warehouse in Williamsburg, and is only open on the weekends from 11AM to 6PM. Artists & Fleas is able to fit 50+ vendors into its Williamsburg location, and there are new vendors arriving each week.
The popular NYC flea markets are abounding in artsy, one of a kind creations from one stall to the next. Most goods are created, rather than thrifted, so think custom handmade jewelry, repurposed clothing made by an up and coming fashion designer and photographs sold by the person who took them.
Church of the Immaculate Conception Flea Market
Website: Church of the Immaculate Conception Flea Market
Neighborhood: East Village
Address: 414 E 14th St, New York, NY 10009
Found in the courtyard of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, this NYC flea market is a great place to find vintage electronics, tools, and on occasion, small furniture. It also has a few vendors selling clothing, but these aren’t the cutesy, curated, vintage kind, rather there are racks with second-hand clothing that (on occasion) could have unique finds. I’d relate the market more to a garage sale.
The market is open every weekend from 7:30AM to 6PM on 14th Street between 1st Avenue and Avenue A. Unfortunately illegal vendors selling counterfeit goods also set up shop along 14th Street, but they’re not who I’m talking about. Head towards the church and make a bee-line for the courtyard.
Bushwick Flea Market
Website: Bushwick Flea Market
Neighborhood: Bushwick
Address: 54 Wyckoff Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237
One of the best flea markets in New York City for plant-lovers, the Bushwick Flea has more than a few stalls that resemble jungles. Although the plant selection isn’t curated, the prices can be hard to beat. And the market sells more than just plants, there’s old-school records, jewelry and vintage dinnerware. If interested in visiting, the market is open every weekend of the year from 11AM to 7PM. The only exceptions are during January and February (because hypothermia is a real thing).
Ludlow Flea
Website: Ludlow Flea
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Address: 159 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002
The trendy crowd loves Ludlow Flea, one of the best flea markets in New York City for trend-setters and fashionistas that like to create their own style. The selection is made up almost entirely of clothes, including vintage collectors items (like band-tees & jerseys) and creations by local designers. Ludlow Flea is open on Wednesday through Sunday from 11AM to 7PM.
Grand Bazaar
Website: Grand Bazaar
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Address: 100 W 77th St, New York, NY 10024
The Grand Bazaar is the largest weekly market in NYC and 100% of it’s profits go towards four public schools in the Upper West Side. The market is open every Sunday year round, from 10AM to 5PM in William J. O’Shea Elementary’s playground, with entrances on Columbus Avenue between 76th and 77th Streets. The 100+ vendors are all local and handpicked by the bazaar and because it’s so big, sell just about anything you can think of. The market even extends to the inside of the school!
Local’s tip: the bazaar attracts unofficial vendors that set up on Columbus and are worth checking out. Not to mention, every Sunday there’s also the 79th Street Green Market right across the street.
New Meadowlands Market (NJ)
Website: New Meadowlands Market
Neighborhood: East Rutherford, New Jersey
Address: Lot J Metlife Stadium, 102 NJ-120, East Rutherford, NJ 07073
Just across the Hudson River in East Rutherford, New Jersey is the New Meadlowlands Market. Held in the parking lot of MetLife Stadium, it’s home to hundreds of vendors selling both new and used items. There’s also live entertainment, games, and food vendors in an effort to make visiting the market a family friendly affair.
Those traveling from NYC can either drive or use New Jersey’s public transportation (that runs services from Manhattan). The market is open every Saturday year round from 8AM to 4PM.
Tips for Successful Scavenging at NYC Flea Markets
Visit often: It goes without saying, but flea markets don’t receive regular, scheduled shipments of products. That’s why even if you strike out on one visit you shouldn’t immediately write it off. Come back often and rummage, you might not strike gold every time, but when you do you’ll be ecstatic.
Chat with the vendors: It’s easy to leave your headphones in while perusing flea markets in NYC, but word to the wise – if you’re in search of a specific item (say a distressed leather jacket, or a dainty vintage watch) you should chat with the vendors. They might be able to get their hands on something for you or lead you to someone who can. Worst case you just make a friend for your next visit.
Bring some cash: With tap-to-pay being the best invention since sliced bread it’s easy to forget about those green pieces of paper that used to run the world. My suggestion is to try to carry some cash on you while perusing flea markets in NYC. While not every vendor will haggle, some will, and those bills can come in handy. Not to mention, some vendors won’t even take card.
Best NYC Flea Markets (Post Summary)
Here are the top flea markets in New York City, in a quick list form.
- St. Anthony’s Market (SoHo)
- Brooklyn Flea (DUMBO)
- Chelsea Flea (Flatiron)
- Hester Street Fair (Seaport)
- Artists & Fleas (Chelsea)
- Church of the Immaculate Conception Flea Market
- Bushwick Flea Market (Bushwick)
- Ludlow Flea (LES)
- Grand Bazaar (UWS)
- New Meadowlands Market (NJ)
Flea Markets in New York City (Helpful Map)
Frequently Asked Questions
New York has numerous flea markets offering a diverse range of vintage, collectible, and unique items.
The biggest flea market in New York City is the Grand Bazaar, in the Upper West Side which has over 300 rotating vendors.
There are year-round flea markets in New York City, providing a continuous opportunity for residents and visitors to explore unique finds and vintage treasures.
New York City features indoor flea markets, allowing enthusiasts to explore unique finds and vintage treasures regardless of the weather.
More Helpful Related Links
Best Shopping in NYC: Where to Shop (Until You Drop) in New York City (10 Best Areas)
The Best Vintage Stores: 10 UNIQUE Thrift Stores in NYC to Find Hidden Gems
Where to Shop in SoHo: 30 Spree-Worthy Stores in SoHo (Happy Local’s Guide)
The Best Souvenirs: 10 Foolproof New York City Souvenir Ideas (Local’s Guide)
Can’t Miss Gift Shops: Top 15 Gift Shops in New York City (Where to Snag The BEST Souvenirs)
I hope my roundup of the best flea markets in NYC can help you find a few gems. Don’t forget to comment where to find your favorite flea markets in NYC, your neighbors could find it useful!
Happy shopping, until next time. Cheers.
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