Eastern Market

Eastern Market is the oldest continuously operating public market in Washington DC, and on a Saturday morning, it transforms into one of the best family experiences in the city. Located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, this 1873 brick market building hosts indoor vendors year-round and a spectacular outdoor market every Saturday that draws families from across the region.

The Saturday outdoor market is the main event. Over 100 vendors set up stalls around the market building, selling everything from fresh-baked bread and local honey to handmade jewelry, pottery, photography, and crafts. For kids, the visual richness of a bustling outdoor market — colorful produce, artisan goods displayed on tables, musicians performing on corners — provides sensory stimulation that screens cannot match.

Many food vendors offer free samples, turning the market into an improvised tasting tour that kids treat as a game.

Face painters and balloon artists frequently set up near the south end of the vendor row on Saturdays, providing kid-specific entertainment while parents browse. The energy on a nice Saturday morning is festive without being chaotic — families with strollers, older couples, and Capitol Hill regulars all mix in a relaxed atmosphere.

Inside the market building, permanent vendors sell meat, produce, dairy, baked goods, and prepared food year-round. Market Lunch, the small counter-service restaurant inside, has achieved legendary status for its blueberry buckwheat pancakes. These are not dainty brunch pancakes — they are plate-sized, crispy-edged, bursting with blueberries, and served with real maple syrup.

The crab cake sandwiches are equally famous. The line builds after 9:30 AM on Saturdays, so arrive early or be prepared to wait 15-30 minutes.

Sundays shift the outdoor market from artisans to a flea market. Vintage dealers, antique sellers, and collectors set up with everything from old records and books to vintage clothing and mid-century furniture. Teenagers who enjoy thrift shopping and unique finds often prefer Sunday to Saturday.

Eastern Market sits on the Blue and Orange Metro lines at the Eastern Market station, making it accessible without a car. The Capitol Hill neighborhood surrounding the market is one of DC's most beautiful residential areas, with tree-lined streets and historic row houses that are worth a post-market stroll. Barracks Row on 8th Street SE, a block south of the market, has a strip of family-friendly restaurants and shops.