A visit to one of Melbourne’s Markets is an absolute must for anyone visiting. There are so many to choose from and they are the perfect way to indulge the senses, shop, sample a variety of delicious food as well as a fantastic opportunity to experience the city’s many different cultures. Tourists can experience what life is like as a Melbourne local!
Some of Melbourne’s largest and most famous markets include Queen Victoria Market, Prahran Market, South Melbourne Market and Dandenong Market but there is also an abundance of smaller markets operating at fixed or roving times and locations. These include a vast array of Melbourne Farmers Markets offering local fresh produce and an eclectic mix of pop-up Sunday markets like the Camberwell Market full of vintage treasures, the Chinatown Melbourne Market with its delicious food and the many craft markets like the Rose Street Artists Market, The St Kilda Esplanade Market, The Arts Centre Sunday Market and more!
Best Markets in Melbourne
1. South Melbourne Market
Take a short walk around the corner from bustling Clarendon Street and you’ll find the South Melbourne Market, brimming with fresh produce, grocery stores, bakeries, cafés, restaurants, fresh flowers, special grocery items as well as clothing and homewares stalls.
If you have a look at the market’s What’s On guide prior to visiting you’ll find concerts and other live events and special activities for kids. Don’t leave without visiting the Parisian-style Agathe Patisserie where you’ll be able to indulge in delicious fresh baked goods and a tasty baguette or two. Those who love cheese might want to stop past the Emerald Deli, which has a dedicated cheese section!
You will find the South Melbourne Market at the corner of Coventry and Cecil Streets, South Melbourne, 03 9209 6295.
It is open from 8am to 4pm on Wednesdays, 8am to 5pm on Fridays and 8am to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
2. Queen Victoria Market
For over one hundred and forty years the Queen Victoria Market (or as the locals call it ‘Queen Vic’ or the ‘Vic Market) on the outskirts of Melbourne’s CBD has been home to more than six hundred vendors offering all kinds of wonderful delights.
At Queen Victoria Market you will find fresh food, specialty restaurants, grocers, cafes and ice cream as well as many specialty retailers that sell everything from indoor plants to leather goods along with an abundance of Australian souvenirs.
The Queen Victoria Market also hosts other markets like the Summer Night Market (currently open on Wednesdays until April 6 2022) and the Melbourne Book Market (open on weekends).
You’ll find Queen Victoria Market at the corner of Victoria Street & Peel Street, Melbourne, 03 9320 5822
It’s open from 6am to 3pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and 9am to 4pm on Sundays.
3. Dandenong Market
Head to the Dandenong Market to explore one of Melbourne’s oldest markets and discover the many multicultural wonders on offer in a traditional suburban market. You might even pick up a bargain!
Here you can devour street food from all over the world at The Market Hall before you shop at more than two hundred vendors, some of which include footwear, homewares, fashion, plants, as well as freshly prepared food items, gourmet products and much more. It wouldn’t be a visit to the Dandenong Market without a delicious hot jam doughnut from Dandee’s Donuts!
Dandenong Market also hosts a full calendar of market tours and other events.
You’ll find the Dandenong Market at the corner of Clow Street and Cleeland Street, Dandenong, 03 3850 9701.
It’s open from 4am to 6pm on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays and 7am to 6pm on Sundays.
4. Arts Centre Melbourne Sunday Market
If you wander past the iconic Art Centre Spire in Melbourne on any given Sunday you’ll find the famous Arts Centre Sunday Market, packed with handmade treasures made by local Melbourne artisans and makers.
As you meander past the stalls you’ll find anything from jewellery, soaps, scarves and candles to woodcraft, leather goods, clothing and paintings and every item is lovingly handcrafted, often by the very people who are serving you at their stall. What a great opportunity to meet the maker! Don’t forget to try the poffertjes at the market, we can personally assure you they are delicious.
The Arts Centre Melbourne Sunday Market is a three minute walk from The National Gallery Of Victoria (NGV) where St Kilda Rd meets Alexandra Ave in Southbank.
It is open from 10am to 4pm on Sundays.
5. Prahran Market
Just a stone’s throw from the famous Chapel Street shopping precinct you’ll find Prahran Market serving the locals with an abundance of organic fresh produce as well as sustainable seafood and free-range animal products. You’ll also discover delicatessens, eateries, flowers, plants, coffee, a barber shop, a brow bar, hardware store, shoe repairs and so much more!
Established in 1891, it has been at its Commercial Road location for over 130 years. The atmosphere of these early days remains and is cherished by the variety of speciality traders.
One of the main attractions for families visiting Prahran Market are the regular activities for kids and frequent live music including free face painting and music from the ‘Mexican Music Man’ on weekdays.
The Prahran Market is located at 163 Commercial Road, South Yarra, 03 8290 8220.
It’s open from 7am to 5pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and from 10am to 3pm on Sundays.
6. Camberwell Market
The best bit about the Camberwell Sunday Market is that you never know what you’ll find from week to week. No visit is ever the same but you can count on every visit being a trash and treasure hunter’s dream!
Every Sunday a mix of regulars and new visitors congregate in a big carpark in Camberwell ready to explore this fantastic secondhand, antique and vintage market full of bizarre and wonderful things. Nothing new is allowed unless it is handmade (aside from some fresh flowers, food and plant stalls) so you know there will be an abundance of vintage clothing, antiques, retro knick knacks, vintage wares and homewares as well as some Gen Z’ers cleaning out their closets!
There have even been instances of people unknowingly buying valuable treasures like a painting and rare dolls later sold to collectors.
There are always beautiful fresh flowers and a large offering of street food but the rest of it is a surprise until you arrive.
Make sure you bring cash with you to the Camberwell Market as many of the vendors don’t accept credit cards. Also, you’ll need gold coins to donate to Rotary (the organisation who run the market) when you enter.
You’ll find the Camberwell Sunday Market at Market Place, Camberwell.
It’s open on Sundays from 7am to 12:30pm (except for the ten Sundays leading up to and around Christmas).
7. St Kilda Esplanade Market
For more than fifty years, the iconic St Kilda Esplanade Market has been synonymous with Sundays spent in St Kilda. Like the Arts Centre Sunday Market this market is full of beautiful artisan stalls mostly run by the makers themselves offering ceramics, jewellery, original paintings and photographs, furniture, gifts, handmade souvenirs and so much more!
While visitors peruse the market stalls on the Esplanade they can simultaneously enjoy the scenery and views of St Kilda Beach from above and the sounds of buskers filling the air with their music.
You won’t go hungry either with plenty of food stalls including coffee and doughnuts! Don’t forget your furry friend because they are welcome too, provided they are on a leash.
You’ll find the St Kilda Esplanade Market along The Esplanade in St Kilda (starting near Luna Park).
It’s open on Sundays from 10am to 4pm and from 10am to 5pm during daylight savings time.
8. Fitzroy Market
The Fitzroy Market operates every Saturday at the Fitzroy Mills Market site. Over seventy stalls are packed with everything produce, food, artisan, handcrafted, vintage, second hand and local. Live music also adds to the atmosphere.
And, even better, it’s right near the Rose Street Artists Market so you can have a two-for-one market experience!
You’ll find the Fitzroy Market at 75 Rose Street, Fitzroy.
It is open from 9am to 2pm on Saturdays.
9. Chinatown Melbourne Market
The Chinatown Melbourne Market is a lively night market that is located in Chinatown in Melbourne’s CBD. It is held on Friday and Saturday evenings. There you will be able to taste a diverse range of street food and browse craft and produce stalls. You’ll find dumplings, rice, noodles, satays, cakes and souvenirs.
You can find the Chinatown Melbourne Market in Chinatown, Heffernan Lane, Melbourne.
It’s open on Friday and Saturday evenings from 4pm to 10pm.
10. The Rose Street Artists’ Market
Around the corner from the ever popular, alternative and trendy Brunswick Street you’ll find the iconic Rose Street Artists Market, a Fitzroy market featuring more than one hundred and twenty local artists selling their wares.
Taking influence from the markets of London, Berlin and New York, this is a unique chance to meet the designers behind the art and find out more about their process as well as score some exclusive pieces of jewellery, fashion and art.
The Rose Street Artists’ Market is located at 60 Rose Street, Fitzroy, 0414 803 228.
It’s open from 10am to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
11. Melbourne Farmers Markets
You can’t get much fresher than buying your weekly produce at one of the many Melbourne Farmers Markets. Not only is the merchandise fresh but you can meet the farmers who produce it!
You’ll find Melbourne Farmers Markets mostly in Melbourne’s Northern and North-Eastern suburbs and every one of these markets is committed to the promotion of Victorian producers and food. The producers and farmers who are present at the markets are accredited by the Victorian Farmers Markets Association meaning they have actually raised, grown, caught and baked the food they sell.
Various dates, times and locations every weekend.
12. A Few More Notable Melbourne Markets
Some other fantastic markets in Melbourne that are worth visiting and are regularly held across Melbourne’s suburbs include the Docklands Sunday Community Market, Williamstown Community Market, Yarraville Village Farmers Market and the Yarraville Village Craft Market managed by Melbourne Markets.
Melbourne Markets are market-style community events that take place in the open air, offering everything from baked goods to fresh fruits and vegetables and even craft.
Melbourne Markets, 0412 910 496
Various dates, times and locations.
