City guide
Saint John City Market and Fredericton's Boyce Market: New Brunswick's two best markets
Mosey · November 11, 2026 · 4 min read
New Brunswick is a province of rivers, tides and farms, and two of its best food stops are markets: the Saint John City Market, a heritage building in the port city, and the Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market, a big Saturday gathering in the provincial capital. They are about an hour apart by car, and you can visit both in a weekend.
What is the Saint John City Market?
The City Market in Saint John is a National Historic Site, and its building opened in 1876. The market describes itself as Canada's oldest continuously operating farmers' market, and sources date its charter to 1785. The interior has a high wooden roof framed like the hull of a ship, and stalls on both sides of a long central aisle.
Inside you will find fish, seafood, dulse (dried seaweed), meat, cheese, bread, produce, baked goods and prepared food, plus gifts and crafts. It is a good place for lunch. Hours are set by the market, and one listing gives Saturday as 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., so check its page before you plan around it.
What should you eat in Saint John?
- Seafood. Chowder, fish cakes, haddock, scallops and lobster.
- Dulse. A local snack of dried red seaweed, salty and chewy. Try a small bag before you buy a large one.
- Maple products. Syrup, candy and sugar pies.
- Pub food and breweries. The city has a growing craft beer scene, and pubs near the harbour serve hearty food.
Saint John sits on the Bay of Fundy, home to some of the highest tides in the world. The Reversing Falls, where the tide changes the flow of the Saint John River, are a short drive from the market and worth a stop.
What is the Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market?
The Boyce market runs on Saturdays from about 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 665 George Street, according to the city's listing, and has over 200 stalls selling meat, produce, baked goods, maple products and crafts. It is one of the largest farmers' markets in the province. Arrive early, because the best baking goes first and the aisles are full by 10.
What should you eat in Fredericton?
Breakfast at the market is a pleasure: pastries, breakfast sandwiches, fiddleheads in spring, and coffee. For lunch, choose from stalls selling dumplings, sausage, pies and noodle dishes. Downtown Fredericton has cafés, pubs and restaurants within walking distance, along with a riverside trail.
How do you plan a weekend?
Spend Friday night in Saint John, with a pub dinner. On Saturday, visit the City Market mid-morning, then drive to Fredericton for lunch and an afternoon walk on the riverfront. If you prefer to do Fredericton first, be at the Boyce market early on Saturday and drive to Saint John for an evening on the waterfront. The drive is about an hour on the highway.
When is the best time to go?
Late spring brings fiddleheads and early produce, summer has berries and vegetables, and autumn is harvest season. Winter markets are quieter, with warm indoor seating and baking. The Bay of Fundy is cold and windy in winter, so dress warmly.
Is it good for children?
Yes. Both markets are family friendly, with seating and plenty to taste. Saint John's Reversing Falls and Fredericton's trails are good for a break.
How do you pay and tip?
New Brunswick adds HST to restaurant meals. Check the rate on your bill. At a sit-down place, tip 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax bill. At market stalls, tipping is optional, and some small vendors prefer cash.
What can you buy to take home?
Both markets sell food that travels well: dulse, maple syrup, jams, smoked fish, baked goods, honey and cheese. Ask the stall to wrap fresh seafood for travel, and carry a small cooler bag with an ice pack if your trip home is long. If you fly, check the airline rules on liquids and fresh seafood. Buy a few small items rather than one large one, and keep your receipts if you are crossing a border.
Mosey makes it easy to rate what you ate and note where, so your favourite chowder stall is easy to find again.
More guides to read next:
- Winnipeg food guide: The Forks Market, the Exchange District and St. Boniface
- Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market: hours, history and what to eat
- The Forks Market in Winnipeg: the food hall and what to know
More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.
Questions
Common questions
How old is the Saint John City Market?
The market building opened in 1876, and the market describes itself as Canada's oldest continuously operating farmers' market, with a charter dating to 1785.
When is the Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market open?
It runs on Saturdays, listed as about 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 665 George Street. Check the city's page for the current schedule.
What is dulse?
It is dried red seaweed, a salty, chewy snack that is popular in the Maritimes.
How far is Saint John from Fredericton?
About an hour by car on the highway.
What are the Reversing Falls?
They are rapids on the Saint John River where the tide of the Bay of Fundy changes the direction of flow, a short drive from the City Market.
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