The Marché des Capucins is the city's principal covered food market, open from six in the morning until around one in the afternoon every day except Monday. It is primarily a wholesale and professional market that is also open to the public, which gives it a more genuine character than many tourist-focused markets. The produce stalls, cheese vendors, butchers, and charcuterie counters are serious operations.
The oyster section is the market's most famous feature. Arcachon oysters — among the best in France — are sold by the dozen at low prices, eaten at standing counters with a glass of white Bordeaux. Come early and have oysters for breakfast: this is a Bordeaux tradition, not an affectation. The surrounding streets of the Saint-Michel neighbourhood extend the market atmosphere in both directions.