Reading Terminal Market

Reading Terminal Market has operated continuously since 1893, making it one of the oldest public markets in the United States. Built beneath the Reading Railroad's terminal at 12th and Arch Streets, the market survived the railroad's decline, urban renewal, and economic downturns to emerge as one of Philadelphia's most beloved institutions.

The market occupies the ground floor of what is now the Pennsylvania Convention Center, spread across a single enormous hall of roughly 78,000 square feet. Despite the scale, it feels intimate — a product of the vendor stalls, the bustle of locals doing their weekly shopping, and the smells of cooking food from every direction.

The Amish Connection

Reading Terminal's most distinctive feature is its large contingent of Lancaster County Amish and Mennonite vendors. They have operated here for generations, selling baked goods, preserves, meats, and prepared foods Wednesday through Saturday. The Amish sections draw lines before the market even opens on busy days — arrive early.

Eating Your Way Through

Many visitors come purely to eat. DiNic's roast pork sandwich is the single most famous item and won the title of best sandwich in America from the Travel Channel. But there are dozens of excellent prepared food vendors — from Greek to Japanese to classic American diner food — making the market a legitimate lunch destination for the entire Center City workforce.