Is the Original Farmers Market kid-friendly?

Very. The open-air format lets kids move around freely. Every cuisine is represented so even picky eaters find something. High chairs are available at communal seating areas. Strollers navigate easily through the aisles. The atmosphere is relaxed and casual -- no need to worry about noise.

How much does lunch cost at the Original Farmers Market?

Most stalls serve plates for $10-16 per person. Kids can share adult portions or get smaller items for $6-10. A family of 4 typically spends $40-65 for a full lunch including drinks. Doughnuts from Bob's are $2-4 each.

Is parking free at the Original Farmers Market?

The first 2 hours are free with validation from any vendor. After that, rates apply. The parking structure entrance is on 3rd Street and connects to The Grove. On busy weekends, arrive before noon for easier parking.

What is the difference between the Original Farmers Market and a regular farmers market?

The Original Farmers Market is a permanent food hall with fixed vendor stalls, open daily. It is not a weekly pop-up produce market. Over 100 permanent vendors sell prepared food, groceries, produce, and specialty items year-round. It has been in continuous operation since 1934.

The Original Farmers Market

Name: The Original Farmers Market
Address: 6333 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA, 90036, US
Telephone: (323) 933-9211
Rating: 4.6

Rating

4.6(18,900)

Price

Free

Duration

1-2 hours

Best Ages

Best for all ages

About

The Original Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax has been a Los Angeles institution since 1934 and remains one of the best family dining experiences in the city. Unlike the sanitized food courts found in malls, this open-air market retains its authentic character with independent vendors, many family-owned for generations, serving food from around the world under white canvas canopies.

The format is perfect for families: each person orders from whichever stall appeals to them, and everyone meets at communal outdoor tables. This solves the perennial family dining problem of different preferences. A child can have chicken tenders from one stall while a parent enjoys Cajun gumbo from The Gumbo Pot and another parent gets Brazilian churrasco from Pampas Grill.

Picky eaters are impossible to stump here -- with over 100 vendors spanning every cuisine, someone serves something your child will eat.

The institution within the institution is Bob's Coffee & Doughnuts, which has occupied the same tiny counter since 1970. Watching the baker pull fresh doughnuts from the fryer, dip them in glaze, and slide them across the counter is a sensory experience. The buttermilk bar is the signature item -- a dense, perfectly glazed rectangle that locals consider the best doughnut in LA.

Du-par's Restaurant, operating since 1938, serves breakfast all day with pancakes, pies, and hearty plates that feel like a step back in time.

The market sits adjacent to The Grove, a modern outdoor shopping center with a trolley, dancing fountain (shows every 30 minutes), and chain retail. Families often combine a meal at the Farmers Market with a walk through The Grove -- kids love the trolley ride and the choreographed fountain show set to music. The parking structure serves both and offers 2 hours free with validation from any vendor.

For families, the Farmers Market works as a meal destination combined with nearby attractions. LACMA and the La Brea Tar Pits are a 5-minute drive. The Petersen Automotive Museum is across the street. A family could easily spend a morning at LACMA, have lunch at the Farmers Market, and catch the fountain show at The Grove, creating a full Miracle Mile family day.

Age Suitability

Infants (0-1)Toddlers (1-3)Little Kids (4-6)Big Kids (7-9)Tweens (10-12)Teens (13-17)

Parent Logistics

Stroller-Friendly

Yes

Nursing / Changing

Limited

Kid Meals

Available

Setting

Outdoor

Rainy Day

Not ideal

Plan Your Visit

Best Time to Visit

Weekday lunches (11 AM - 1 PM) are busy but manageable. Saturday mornings have the best energy. Avoid Friday and Saturday evenings when the adjacent Grove draws large crowds. Summer mornings are pleasant before afternoon heat sets in.

Wait Times

No waits at most stalls -- order at counter and pick up. Bob's Coffee & Doughnuts and Magee's Kitchen may have 5-10 min lines at peak lunch. Seating can be tight at noon on Saturdays -- grab a table first.

Nearby Food

This IS the food destination -- over 100 vendors and restaurants. Highlights: Du-par's (breakfast), Loteria Grill (Mexican), Monsieur Marcel (French), The Gumbo Pot (Cajun), Pampas Grill (Brazilian), Bob's Coffee & Doughnuts. The Grove (adjacent) adds Cheesecake Factory and other chains if needed.

Why Kids Love It

The freedom to choose their own food from dozens of different stalls gives kids a sense of independence and adventure. A child can have a crepe from one stall, a parent can have gumbo from another, and everyone sits together at communal outdoor tables. Picky eaters always find something because the range spans from simple grilled cheese to exotic international dishes.

Bob's Coffee & Doughnuts has been serving fresh doughnuts since 1970 from a tiny counter -- watching the baker pull warm doughnuts from the fryer and ice them is mesmerizing. The buttermilk bar is legendary and kids devour them. Bennett's Ice Cream serves generous scoops of old-fashioned flavors that drip down cones on warm days.

The market's open-air layout with its white canopies, clock tower, and vintage signage creates an atmosphere that feels like a small-town square rather than a mall food court. Street musicians often play near the center court, and the relaxed pace lets families linger without feeling rushed.

Pro Tips from Parents

Grab a table first on busy Saturdays, then send one parent to order food -- tables fill up at lunch and there is no hostess
Bob's Coffee & Doughnuts (buttermilk bar) and Du-par's (pancakes) are the two must-try institutions
First 2 hours parking free with validation -- the lot entrance is on 3rd Street and the structure connects to The Grove
Let each family member pick a different stall and share everything -- this is how locals eat here
Walk through to The Grove afterward for the dancing fountain show (every 30 min) which kids love watching

What to Bring

appetite
wet wipes for messy eating
cash (some stalls are cash-only)
light jacket for shaded seating areas

Cost Info

Free Admission

Estimated Cost (Family of 4)

$40-$65 (each person can eat for $10-16 from different stalls; kids can share portions; a round of Bob's doughnuts adds $8; first 2 hours parking free with validation)

Tips to Save

First 2 hours of parking are free with validation from any vendor.
Portions at most stalls are generous -- one plate can feed a parent and toddler.
Share dishes between stalls to try more variety for less money.
Du-par's breakfast specials are filling and under $10.
Skip The Grove's chain restaurants and eat here instead for better food at lower prices.