This is a use of pandoc markdown extension mechanism, there are [several for markdown table](http://pandoc.org/MANUAL.html#tables) * use the `md_extensions` argument in output format function to add (ex: `md_extensions: +grid_tables` in yaml) ## Related SO questions * https://stackoverflow.com/questions/32492145/how-can-i-specify-pandocs-markdown-extensions-using-a-yaml-block/