Is it reprehensible to eat in marketplaces, and does that include eating in designated areas therein?

The ruling on eating in markets and public places is determined by the customs of the country. If it is considered a breach of muru'ah (chivalry/ decorum), then it should be avoided and is disliked, and one's testimony may be rejected because of it. Otherwise, it is not disliked. An example of eating that is not usually criticized in society is eating in restaurants prepared for that purpose. The hadith: "Eating in the market is baseness" is a fabricated hadith.