Belgian Brasserie Markt Closes After Two Decades in Business

Chelsea brasserie Markt — a craft beer hall that opened in NYC before that trend took off — has closed after 20 years of serving seafood and Belgian ales, first in the Meatpacking District and then further uptown.

Opening in Meatpacking in 1998, Markt’s presence in the neighborhood predates that of Pastis, Keith McNally’s iconic and soon-to-reopen French bistro that is often credited with establishing Meatpacking as a dining destination. Markt was ahead of the times with its distinct brasserie aesthetic — dark wood, tall windows, an old-fashioned clock, and vintage photos and beer posters — that has since exploded across the city.

In a 1999 entry of her Off The Menu column for the Times, Florence Fabricant highlighted the restaurant’s wide selection of Belgian beers. Though big beer halls are everywhere now, Markt was early in having an expansive beer menu. The bar and restaurant also served a standard Belgian brasserie seafood-centric menu, slinging oysters with its beers, as well as mussels frites, bouillabaisse, and tuna tartare.

The original Markt was located at 401 West 14th St. in Meatpacking, but it moved further east to 676 6th Ave., near 21st Street in 2007. The last day of service was April 15. Eater has reached out to the restaurant for comment.