Time Out Market Expands in NYC With a Brand-New Union Square Location

Calling all foodies: A new dining destination is coming to Manhattan later this year.

Time Out Market has announced the launch of another food hall in the heart of Union Square. This massive eatery will take over a new 10,000-square-foot space in Zero Irving, a sprawling mixed-use and office building just east of the park. Positioned as a smaller-format version of its Dumbo flagship, the hall will showcase a diverse array of iconic New York City cuisine for both visitors and locals.

“We want this not just to be a place to eat — it will be a place to come together, especially for the local community, and experience some of the city’s best and up-and-coming culinary and cultural talents,” Virginia Rector-Birbal, vice president for US Time Out Market, tells Food & Wine. “There will be communal seating so it’s easy to connect with others while exploring food from various kitchens alongside local culture.”

Designed as a 300-seat venue, the food hall will offer a curated taste of New York’s culinary landscape. (And if it’s anything like Time Out’s other editor-approved locations worldwide, it’s bound to be a must-visit.)

Union Square is already a prime destination for food lovers, boasting a regular farmers market, landmark restaurants, shopping, and seasonal events. (For instance, the area’s annual Union Square Holiday Market welcomes 185 vendors and nearly 2 million visitors every December.) The hall’s future home, Zero Irving, currently houses Urbanspace, a 13-vendor food hall on the building’s ground floor. However, Time Out has confirmed that Urbanspace will close at the end of the month to make way for updates ahead of the market’s fall opening.

Looking for a crowd-pleasing spot on your next trip? You might’ve just found it. 

Here’s what to expect

One of the best parts of any food hall is the variety — it’s an easy solution to dinner plan debates or searching for a downtown spot that accepts walk-ins. Time Out’s next space will hold 300 seats (including a 70-seat outdoor terrace) and be served by seven on-site kitchens. A bar and stage, meanwhile, will keep the party going. The company can’t yet reveal exactly which restaurants will join the space, but it can affirm that the application process is highly selective.  

“What we can share is how we will curate the market: Our experienced team, who knows the city really well, will create a list of the types of cuisines that make the city the vibrant culinary destination it is,” Rector-Birbal says. “Part of this process is to try and test and then, throughout our curation process, we talk to a number of chefs and restaurateurs — the ones we consider the best, the most exciting of the city right now, and we will give rising talents a platform too.”

The space is designed to accommodate a wide range of preferences and budgets, so there’s ideally something for everyone in your group. 

Time Out Market’s approach

The first Time Out market opened its doors in 2014, bringing the company’s trademark experiential and expert-backed approach to the Lisbon community. Since then, it’s grown to 10 locations across the world (including Chicago, Boston, Barcelona, Dubai, Cape Town,, Montréal, Porto, and New York). Seven other locations, including outposts in Vancouver and Budapest, are poised to open before 2027, the company says. 

“Each of our Markets features a curated mix of the best local talents — this is what will be at the heart of the Union Square site too, but with a stronger focus on up-and-coming culinary talents and as culture will play a role too, we will provide a platform for emerging local artists and performers,” Rector-Birbal explains. 

Time Out’s inaugural location in the United States, situated in downtown Brooklyn, opened in 2019. A 24,000-foot converted warehouse overlooking the East River, the New York flagship offers rooftop views and more than enough good eats to go around. (Case in point: The building holds a whopping 21 kitchens and three bars.)