Five Places You Can't Miss at The Original Farmers Market

For generations of Angelenos and visitors, "Meet Me at Third and Fairfax" could only mean one thing: see you at The Original Farmers Market. Opened in 1934, the landmark open-air marketplace has welcomed everyone from President Eisenhower to The Beatles, Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe. A star in its own right, the Market has appeared numerous times on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Entourage, and cooking shows with Alton Brown and Gordon Ramsay.

While there are familiar brands like Starbucks and Cost Plus, the Market's true appeal is in the dozens of food stalls and specialty shops. Many of these small businesses have been family owned and operated at the Market for decades.

Day or night, there's something for everyone: Bob's Coffee & Doughnuts or Du-par's to start the day; unique shops like Kip's Toyland, Light My Fire and The Dog Bakery; multicultural eateries like Pampas Grill, Singapore's Banana Leaf and the original location of Jimmy Shaw's ¡Lotería! Grill.

With a family history at the Market dating back to 1946, Scott Bennett and his staff at Bennett's Ice Cream make their own ice cream the old fashioned way: from fresh ingredients mixed on the spot. Don't miss the award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon sorbet.

Established in 1941, Marconda's Meats is the oldest standing meat market in Los Angeles. On most days, customers will find two or three generations of the family working behind the counter.

In September 2016, Fritzi Coop took over the former home of Fritzi Dog. Renowned Chef Neal Fraser (Redbird) serves a menu of delicious poultry plates, including house-made potato waffles, a variety of salads crafted with Fraser’s famous warm pulled chicken, antibiotic-free "Naked Fried Chicken," a bevy of chicken sandwiches, and savory sides like Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and sous-vide carrots.

Opened in 2013, Zia Valentina is owned by sisters Naomi and Dorit Simone Kashi. The innovative granita bar is inspired by their great aunt, Valentina (zia is "aunt" in Italian). Naomi says, "She came from Sicily and lived on this beautiful farmland. Everything she made came straight from her farm, what she cultivated." Dorit Simone adds, "Basically everything on our menu is a healthy twist on traditional Mediterranean fare."

Their menu features fresh and all-natural ingredients, gluten-free and vegan, with no sugars added. Highlights include popovers, breakfasts, healthy snacks and more, plus to-go items like biscotti, muffins, cookies, apple butter and pesto.

The eye catching nozzles on the back wall dispense various granitas, made fresh daily and sweetened with stevia instead of sugar. "Granita is a cross between a frozen yogurt and a smoothie, kind of a gourmet healthy version of a slushie," says Naomi. "We put it in a special machine that we import from Italy. When people try a sample they're like, 'Wow, what is this?' And they love it!" Flavors include chocolate, coffee, mango, mixed berry and more.

The signature Waffleshot is the ultimate cure for your caffeine fix: an espresso shot is served in a waffle cone that's hand-dipped in dark chocolate. Waffleshot options include milk chocolate, s'mores, nutella, peanut butter and more. You can't get more eco-friendly than an edible "cup"!