Smorgasburg spent 15 years as a Brooklyn institution before planting a flag on the Upper West Side this August, and the Central Park location is the only one running three days straight rather than a single weekend day. That makes it the most flexible way to eat through a 70-plus vendor season without queueing all afternoon in Williamsburg. If you are near the park, this is the easiest great meal available.
What to expect
An open-air run of vendor stalls just inside Central Park West, with the mix skewing toward the handheld, photogenic and globally sourced dishes Smorgasburg is known for. Entry is free and you buy dish by dish, so a group can graze across several stalls. Expect long lines at whichever vendor is having a moment on social media that week.
Good to know
- Take the B or C to 72nd Street, or the 1 to 72nd Street and walk east.
- Come hungry but split dishes; portions are designed for grazing across several stalls.
- Many vendors are card-only, though some take cash.
- Midday Friday is the calmest window of the three days; Saturday afternoon is the busiest.
- Seating is limited, so plan on eating standing up or carrying food into the park.
- This location runs three days a week, unlike the one-day Brooklyn markets.
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Common questions
Does it cost anything to get in?
No. Entry to Smorgasburg is free at every location. You pay only for what you eat and drink.
How is this different from the Brooklyn markets?
Central Park is Smorgasburg's newest New York location, opened in August 2026, and it operates Friday through Sunday. Williamsburg runs Saturdays and Prospect Park runs Sundays.
Where exactly is it?
36 Central Park West, on the Upper West Side, a short walk from the 72nd Street subway stops on the B, C and 1 lines.
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