Mercado del Puerto, Market hall in Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo, Uruguay

Mercado del Puerto is a market hall with a cast-iron structure built in the 1800s, housing different restaurants and grill stands under one large roof. The space has the form of a long, open courtyard with tall columns and large windows that let light pour in from above.

This building was founded in 1868, with its iron components manufactured in Liverpool and shipped across the Atlantic to Montevideo. The on-site assembly shows how trade cities of the 1800s built their modern structures using European industrial materials.

The market takes its name from the nearby port, reflecting the city's strong connection to the water. Today, people gather at the grills to share meals, making this a place where the habit of eating together remains central to daily life.

The market sits right next to the port, easily reached on foot by walking through the old city. The best times to visit are midday and evening, when the grill stands are active and the place fills with people.

The four-faced clock inside the hall was imported from Liverpool and installed in 1897, replacing a circular iron fountain that once stood at the centre of the interior. It is not on the facade: the lettering "Mercado del Puerto" above the left section is the only inscription visible outside.