The New York Times: A Prague Food Market Spans the Globe

Originally published by the New York Times on Sunday, August 19th, 2018, Written by Suchi Rudra.

Tucked into an unlikely intersection of central Prague — set partially under a highway, between a bus terminal and train station — exists a new frontier of Prague’s steadily diversifying culinary scene. Manifesto Market, which opened in early June, has brought back life to a long derelict space in the city center, even though it’s just a few minutes walk from tourist landmarks like Cafe Imperial and the Powder Tower.

Some of Prague’s more eclectic food vendors inhabit this cashless, open-air village of 27 attractively arranged converted shipping containers, offering a fine-tuned collection of global cuisines. Everything is served with a side of culture, including daily concerts, free (and English-friendly) film screenings, and arts workshops. Technically a pop-up, Manifesto will eventually relocate or extend its two-year lease on this site, which awaits a future development designed by Zaha Hadid Architects.

The first idea was to change this, to get people to come to a place they normally wouldn’t. The second thing was to do it with food and culture.
Martin Barry

“I love this site because nothing else was here. It was awful, a no-go zone,” said Manifesto’s organizer, Martin Barry, a New Yorker turned expat and founder of reSITE, a nonprofit aimed at improving the urban environment. “The first idea was to change this, to get people to come to a place they normally wouldn’t. The second thing was to do it with food and culture.”

It was a provocative and bold combination, much like Manifesto’s mission: to push for the innovative use of Prague’s cityscape while stimulating the senses.
Suchi Rudra, The New York Times

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