The Market Hall in Gdańsk’s Main Town has regained its former glory. The new owner of this historic building has restored the steel structure, exposed the brick interiors, and restored the historic details. The historic building has retained its character but changed its function—merchants have been replaced by restaurateurs. The Market Hall, now known as Enjoy, is set to become a space for gatherings, dining, and entertainment.
Gdańsk’s historic Market Hall on Dominikański Square in the Main Town has reopened following a renovation that lasted over 1.5 years. However, the building has changed its purpose—the space once dedicated to commerce has largely been replaced by dining establishments. Until December 2024, around one hundred merchants offered their goods here: food, meat, vegetables, fruit, as well as clothing, footwear, and manufactured goods. Now, the former market has been taken over mainly by bar and restaurant owners, with only ten retail outlets remaining.
restaurants, street food, and shops
In 2024, the building was purchased by the international Apsys Group from the Dominican Merchants Association, which had been founded by Gdańsk merchants. The new owner focused on the food service industry, modeling the space after Warsaw’s Hala Koszyki and Hala Gwardii. This Gdańsk landmark will operate under the name Hala Targowa Enjoy.
The opening of Hala Targowa in Gdańsk drew crowds
Press materials / Apsys
The opening of Hala Targowa Enjoy on August 12 drew crowds. The former layout of market stalls has given way to a new configuration. The first floor has been taken over by restaurateurs. The ground floor features a “street food” zone with 17 food outlets. Meanwhile, the basement houses shops selling fresh and local products, paying homage to the venue’s history.
The work was carried out under the supervision of the Pomeranian Provincial Conservator of Historic Monuments, whose primary goal was to restore a sense of the space’s original character, including the beautiful ornate steel structure and the exposure of the brick walls inside, which had been obscured by market stalls.
The revitalized interior of the Market Hall in Gdańsk
press photos / Apsys
have highlighted the historic building
“I believe the concept presented by the developer is a success: it will showcase the historic building, introduce dining options, and partially preserve the retail space,” commented Dariusz Chmielewski, Pomeranian Provincial Conservator of Historic Monuments, in an interview with AiB.
Indeed, despite the renovation—and this is very important—the market hall has not lost its character. The steel structure has been restored, the original retail kiosks have been recreated, and in the basement, the original brick pillars on level -1 have been given a new look. In addition, the interior features accents referencing Gdańsk’s traditional crafts: among other things, hand-made tiles inspired by Gdańsk’s traditional “fliz” tiles, and tables made from materials salvaged from the renovated hall and recycled materials, with the addition of… amber. The first floor also features the “SPLOT” installation by Natalia Marciniak, a student at the Gdańsk Academy of Fine Arts, selected in a competition organized jointly with the academy.
The Enjoy Market Hall features three levels and 34 dining venues
press materials/ Apsys
Unfortunately,the fruit and vegetable stalls that had been operating on Dominikański Squarefor years —and which were used daily by residents of Śródmieście—have disappeared. The developer wants this area to become an “open space for meetings, events, and relaxation.” The former fruit and vegetable market, located on the north side of the building, is set to return, but in a scaled-down form. After the St. Dominic’s Fair concludes, it will be held only on Saturdays.
It remains to be seen how the Market Hall, in its new role as a hub for dining and entertainment, will ultimately fit into the heart of the city. In Gdańsk’s tourist center, the interests of seasonal visitors, the restaurant and nightlife industries, and permanent residents are increasingly at odds. The Enjoy Market Hall will therefore be another test of whether there is still room in the city center not only for tourists and restaurants, but also for the daily lives of residents.
This is what the Market Hall looked like before the renovation
Natalia Gajdanowicz
History of the Place
The Market Hall is a place with a rich history. Built between 1894 and 1896 according to a design by architect Kurt Fehlhaber, the structure was intended to bring order to street trading. And so it happened: upon its opening, the marketplaces in the Main Town and Old Town—with the exception of the one at Fish Market Square—were closed. At that time, the market hall housed over 180 stalls in the form of wooden kiosks and tables where merchants displayed fresh meat, cold cuts, bread, and dairy products. In 1996, the building was granted perpetual usufruct to the company Kupcy Dominikańscy, founded by Gdańsk merchants, and from 1999 until early 2025, the historic building remained their property.
Enjoy Market Hall in Gdańsk
Ewa Karendys
The interior redesign project for the Enjoy Market Hall was prepared by Boris Kudlička with Partners, a firm known for its interior designs of cultural venues—such as opera houses and theaters—as well as public spaces in Poland and abroad. Boris Kudlička, the studio’s founder, has completed projects for the Grand Theater—National Opera in Warsaw and has also collaborated on international stage design productions.
The Market Hall building in Gdańsk
Ewa Karendys
