Graphic by Megan Eloise/The Gazelle
Kale, organic chai and handmade crafts at weekly market
If you’re looking for organic chai, fresh kale or a handmade pop-up birthday card to send back home, then the weekly Ripe Food and Craft Market at the ...
Oct 3, 2015
If you’re looking for organic chai, fresh kale or a handmade pop-up birthday card to send back home, then the weekly Ripe Food and Craft Market at the St. Regis on Saadiyat Island is for you.
The market boasts vendors selling a variety of organic produce, tea, crafts, handmade jewelry and artisan gifts. For students looking to branch out beyond the Convenience Store inventory on campus, Ripe Market offers unique, rare snacks like goji berries and handmade desserts.
Open to locals and tourists alike, the market originated in Dubai and now has weekly events in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
All of these events host vendors attempting to build a community around natural food and health in the UAE, where items like kale or almond butter can be hard to come by.
Visitors can stop by every Saturday to explore the various superfoods and handicrafts set up just outside Spinney’s. After browsing through the market, restaurants at the St. Regis — such as the nearby Shakespeare & Co. — offer nice spots for coffee and brunch.
Market shoppers can stock their kitchens for the week by purchasing fruit and vegetables individually, or for the month by buying in variety boxes, which are priced between 80 and 130 AED.
The Ripe Market website also lists recipes for healthy meals to be made with its organic ingredients, including directions for a sweet potato salad and a beetroot burger.
Vendors at Ripe Market have been selling their wares in and around Abu Dhabi for up to ten years, and at many of their larger events, Ripe Market offers craft sessions and activities for children.
As the weather becomes more pleasant, the market will move outdoors and likely host even more vendors than current accommodations allow for.
For NYU Abu Dhabi students, the taxi ride to the St. Regis hotel costs around 9 AED, and prices at individual stalls will vary. Alternatively, students can take advantage of the NYUAD free shuttle to and from the St. Regis at 10:30 a.m.
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