Where in Aberdeen can you eat at an avocado cafe alongside authentic Thai food, ramen and sushi? Aberdeen Market is admittedly not the most glamorous of dining locations in the city but it is home to a handful of hidden gems namely The Sushi Box, Madame Mew's and AVO. Nuart has given Aberdeen Indoor Market a new lease of life on the outside and the food offerings are doing the same inside with an increasing selection of Aberdeen Market Restaurants.
Unless you are in the know, I suspect that Aberdeen Indoor Market is not somewhere that many would tend to venture into in search of food. Once a thriving shopping hub in the city centre it has become increasingly tired over recent years, even moreso with the closure of British Home Stores. Sushi Box and Madame Mew's Thai cafe have been longstanding favourites of mine serving up authentic cuisine with a warm welcome and offering great value. The new kid on the block is AVO. Aberdeen's very own avocado cafe.
In the past couple of years the indoor market building and the surrounding area has enjoyed a vibrant uplift due to the Nuart street art festival. A stunning mural on its circular exterior depicts a girl holding a lighthouse. The piece by German duo Herakut was painted for the 2017 festival and has helped to regenerate the whole area. I've long since thought that the Aberdeen market would make a fantastic Hawker Centre and it would be great if it could be turned over to solely this and become an independent foodie destination. However, according to local press it seems that other plans are afoot. Reinvention of ‘brutalist’ Aberdeen market will be ‘above anything the city has seen’. Lets hope the baby isn't thrown out with the bathwater.
Do go and give these three eateries a try, their location may not be the most salubrious but in my experience you'll get a warm welcome, great food and fantastic value. They are all places that I'm happy to eat at on my own so no worries for single diners. The market really isn't as 'dodgy' as any preconceptions you may have. Whilst you're there do have a wander around and see what else is on offer, there's a great butcher and lots of other interesting looking units with a huge variety of goods and services.
Located on the ground floor, in the corner right next to the door opposite Carmelite Street. Look out for the red and white Japanese lucky cats.
Open - Tuesday to Saturday 11:30 to 16:30 (17:00 for takeaway)
Closed - Sunday & Monday
Sit in with table service or take away.
Cash Only
Serving sushi, ramen, miso soup and rice bowls in kawaii surroundings. You must try the Ramune Japanese lemonade with the marble in the neck.
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This Thai Cafe is located in the upper floor of the market. You'll spot it by it's bright tablecloths and pineapple mugs with table numbers. Always busy with a real mix of clientele from suited businessmen to families. Great reviews on Tripadvisor where it has previously reached the No.1 position for Aberdeen.
Open - Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 17:00
Closed - Sunday
Sit in with table service or take away.
Cash or Card (£10+)
Serving authentic Thai food - starters, salads, soups, main courses, rice, noodles and desserts.
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Located on the ground floor in the back corner. Look out for the recycled pallet woodwork. Plenty of great local producers feature on the menu. The Alexander Smokery (smoked salmon), Sumerhouse Drinks (artisan lemonades), Devenick Dairy (cheese) and Piggery Smokery (epic bacon).
Open - Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 17:00
Closed - Sundays
Sit in (order at counter) or take away
Cash only
All things Avocado - Toast, waffles, smoothies, salad jars, drinks and daily specials with decidedly Instagramable presentation and surroundings.
Where is Aberdeen Indoor Market?
8-10 Market Street, Aberdeen AB11, 5NX.
The market can be accessed from a number of different entrances on Union Street, Market Street and Hadden Street.
Union and Market Street take you in at upper floor level whilst the three entrances on Hadden street, immediately below the Herakut mural, take you in on the ground floor.
Toilets and Baby Changing are available on the upper floor of the Market.
What else is in the vicinity of Aberdeen Indoor Market and The Green?
- Aberdeen Inspired Nights Street food markets returning for 2019 - April 19th to 21st, May 24th to 26th, June 21st to 23rd, July 26th to 28th, August 23rd to 25th and September 20th to 22nd. Opening times are Fridays 4pm - 10pm, Saturday 12pm - 10pm and Sunday 12pm - 6pm
- Painted Doors Aberdeen
- Eats & Drinks - Cafe 52, Bistro Verde, Contour Cafe, The Draft House, Carmelite, CASC
- Nuart
Please do let me know if you have any other recommendation of eateries within Aberdeen Indoor Market as there may well yet be other hidden gems for me to discover. I've already been given a tip off about great handmade pizza and lángos from GC's Takeaway.
Photo Credits - Thanks to Christy at Dinner Stories, Marcus at CountryWoodSmoke and Kerry at Documenting my Dinner for additional photos.
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