Fifteen summers in, Smorgasburg is still the crown jewel of NYC’s outdoor food scene. What started as a scrappy weekend pop-up in Williamsburg has turned into the city’s largest weekly open-air market — a rotating feast of 100+ vendors serving everything from hand-pulled noodles to Michelin-level dosas.

August 2025 is peak Smorgasburg season. The crowds are buzzing, new vendors are hitting their stride, and the month’s special events are the kind you’ll want to mark on your calendar (and your stomach). Whether you’re a first-timer or a market regular, here’s your bite-by-bite guide to what’s cooking this month.

When and Where to Get Your Fix

Smorgasburg now spans three boroughs, each with its own backdrop, neighborhood flavor, and vendor lineup.

Hours are the same across the board: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. — enough time to graze, linger, and go back for seconds.

Fridays — World Trade Center
📍 Oculus Plaza, Fulton & Church Streets
Set against Lower Manhattan’s glass-and-steel skyline, the Friday market is a more compact, workday-friendly setup. It’s ideal for a long lunch break or a pre-weekend happy hour graze.

Saturdays — Williamsburg
📍 Marsha P. Johnson State Park, 90 Kent Avenue
This is the flagship — the place most people picture when they hear “Smorgasburg.” On summer Saturdays, the park’s waterfront lawn turns into a sprawling picnic ground with epic Manhattan skyline views.

Sundays — Prospect Park
📍 Breeze Hill, near the Lincoln Road entrance
The Prospect Park edition is a local favorite — a little more relaxed, shaded, and family-friendly, with plenty of green space to spread out.

The Class of 2025: Notable New Vendors

Every year, Smorgasburg introduces new talent to keep things fresh, and the 15th anniversary lineup is one of the strongest in recent memory. Here’s who to look for in August.

12 Chairs Shuk
From the beloved Israeli café, now with a street-food spin. Don’t miss their shakshuka, slow-simmered in tomato and pepper sauce, with thick hunks of challah for mopping up.

B&E Fish and Chips
A crisp, golden ode to the UK classic, courtesy of chefs Ben Tomaiuolo and Evan Fuchs. Perfect with a splash of malt vinegar and a cold lager.

Coco Bred
The Jamaican coco bread is reason enough to stop — pillowy, just-sweet rolls hugging fillings like jerk chicken or curried goat. A handheld trip to Kingston.

Culto Italiano
Neapolitan pies from Corrado Cervelli, blistered just right, with the kind of chew that makes you slow down and savor.

Pastrami Underground
Louis Addonizio, a Mill Basin Kosher Deli veteran, serves classic deli pastrami with little curveballs — think mustard aioli or house-fermented pickles.

BOYsalad (Williamsburg only)
Ashley Dufour has turned the humble Caesar into an art form — smoky croutons, shaved egg yolk, and a DJ spinning “Saturday Salad Sets.” It’s part lunch, part party.

LORE
A Michelin Bib Gourmand darling from Park Slope, now slinging refined South Indian dosas with coconut chutney and sambar that’ll ruin you for the jarred stuff forever.

August Highlights You Can’t Miss

Smorgasburg isn’t just a market — it’s a stage for collaborations, pop-ups, and cultural takeovers. August brings two standout events that are worth planning around.

Japan Meets Brooklyn: Matsuri — August 2, Williamsburg

This one’s already wrapped, but if you missed it, here’s what you’ll want to stalk Instagram for. In partnership with Suntory, Smorgasburg transformed into a Japanese summer festival:

  • Tonchinus cooling down the crowd with kakigori shaved ice
  • Naminori rolling perfect hand-held temaki sets
  • Taku Sando serving their ramen-filled sandwiches
  • Live performances, a sumo ring, and candy sculpting that drew big, camera-ready crowds

Even though it’s over, the ripple effect is real — a few vendors are still quietly offering limited-edition Japanese-inspired specials through the month.

Come for Curry — August 27, Prospect Park

If you only make one Smorgasburg trip this month, make it this one. Co-hosted with I AM caribBEING and Chef Picky, the day is a full-on celebration of Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean neighborhood.

Expect a blend of local legends and Smorgasburg regulars reimagining curry:

  • Allan’s Bakery — likely to sell out of their beloved currant rolls before noon
  • Peppa’s Jerk Chicken — smoky, spicy, perfect over rice and peas
  • Ali’s Roti Shop — serving Trinidad-style roti packed with curry potatoes, chickpeas, and tender goat

Plus, over a dozen other vendors will be crafting their own curry-inspired specials. It’s going to smell amazing from a mile away.

Pro Tips for a Smorgasburg August

  • Arrive early for the big-ticket items. The most buzzed-about vendors sell out by mid-afternoon.
  • Bring cash and cards — most vendors take cards, but cash can speed up lines.
  • Come hungry, share everything. The portions are generous and the variety is overwhelming. Tag-team with friends so you can try more without hitting a food wall.
  • Check the vendor map before you go. The lineups rotate weekly, and location-specific vendors mean you might need to plan a specific day to catch someone.
  • Make it a picnic. Grab a patch of grass, bring a blanket, and turn it into a long, lazy afternoon.

Why Smorgasburg Still Matters, 15 Years In

Plenty of food markets have come and gone since Smorgasburg launched in 2011, but few have achieved the same balance of local credibility and Instagram-friendly pull.

It’s where up-and-coming chefs test ideas that could turn into brick-and-mortar spots, where neighborhood staples meet curious newcomers, and where the city’s wildly diverse food culture actually feels like it’s all in one place.

This August, with its fresh vendor lineup and community-focused events, Smorgasburg feels less like a food market and more like a weekly block party — the kind you’ll miss when summer’s over.

Smorgasburg August 2025 Quick Facts:

  • Fridays: World Trade Center — Oculus Plaza, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Saturdays: Williamsburg — Marsha P. Johnson State Park, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Sundays: Prospect Park — Breeze Hill, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Vendors: 100+ weekly, 20+ new in 2025
  • Special Events: Come for Curry — August 27, Prospect Park
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