The cool crowd hobnobs at this food hall, where culinary entrepreneurs sell their banana-ginger chocolates, herbed goat's cheeses and smoked meats. Among the stalls featuring prepared foods, everything from Burmese milkshakes to Indian dosas to Korean tacos boggle taste buds. Craft beers and coffee provide added sustenance. Tables dot the sunlit warehouse, and many locals make an afternoon of it here, nibbling and reading.

　　Bivalve fans should seek out the Rappahannock Oyster Bar for straight-from-Chesapeake-Bay slurping. The market also hosts lots of free events such as yoga classes and Friday night drive-in movies; check the website for the schedule. Union Market is about a half-mile walk from the NoMa Metro station, in the midst of several other food supply warehouses.