[content_slider]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[content_slide]
[/content_slide]
[/content_slider]
MELBOURNE | The Queen Victoria Market is a Melbourne icon, and has been in continuous operation since 1878. Before that, it was home to an assortment of other markets, and earlier still, the site was home to Melbourne’s first cemetery. More than just one of Melbourne’s most iconic tourist spots (it’s visited by around 10 million people a year), the Queen Victoria Market is still a place that locals actually visit to shop and eat.
We were recently contact by Queen Victoria Market, who asked us if we wanted to share our own guide to the market with our readers and, as regular market goers ourselves who somehow haven’t actually written about the market yet, we didn’t hesitate to accept. Whether it’s fresh fruit and vegetables, cooked meals, local artisan goods, coffee or more that you’re after, Queen Victoria Market is a fantastic place to find it. Here’s our guide to the best of the market.
Breakfast or Lunch
To start, you can’t go past breakfast at Pickett’s Deli. Scott Pickett is one of Melbourne’s most renowned chefs and his little restaurant at the South East corner of the market is well worth a visit. The food here is excellent any time of the day. Waffles with rum soaked caramelised banana are a great way to start the day, as is the technically on the lunch menu but available early enough for breakfast crispy pork roll with pineapple chutney and coleslaw.
After breakfast, head over to Market Lane Coffee just across the road who offer some of the best coffee in Melbourne. Whether it’s a blend or a single origin, filter or espresso based coffee you’re after, you can’t go wrong at Market Lane.
Of course, if you’re not that hungry at breakfast you could always grab a pastry with your coffee at Market Lane then head to Pickett’s Deli at the end of your market visit for lunch.
Dairy Hall
Once you’re satisfied, it’s time to go shopping for supplies for the week ahead or, if you’re from out of town, things to sample and fill your picnic hamper with. The Dairy Hall is a great place to start, with all kinds of dairy goodness from across Victoria and further abroad. Curds & Whey specialise in butter, and sell all sorts of wonderful plain and flavoured butters while the Corner Lader is a great spot for amazing cheese and antipasto. For more cheese and fantastic salami and smallgoods, Bill’s Farm is a must visit.
Meat & Fish Hall
Once you’re all dairy’d out, head next door to the Meat & Fish hall for… well meat and fish. We love the variety of fresh seafood at Victoria Market Seafoods, and always know that if we buy seafood from here we’re going to be getting quality. If you’re lucky, they’ll even have luxurious uni (sea urchin) available.
For pork and beef, we’re big fans of Victoria Quality Meats. They’ve always got a great assortment of cuts on offer and the quality is always outstanding. If it’s organic meat you’re after, then head over to Hagen’s Organic Meats. Founded in 1999 by Royce Hagen, it was one of Victoria’s first organic butchers and you can always be sure that Royce and his wife Susan are selling some of the finest meat in the state.
Snack Time
Maybe your’e hungry again, maybe you’re not. If you are, then the outdoor Queen street section of the market, between the Meat & Fish Hall and the Fruit & Vegetables and General Merchandise sheds always have a few stalls set up offering an assortment of foods from different cultures – think Chinese, Malaysian, Sri Lankan, Indian, Greek, Spanish and more.
Fruit & Vegetables
Now it’s time to stock up on some fruit & veg. There are a lot of traders in the fruit & veg section of the market and they’re generally all pretty good. We’ve got a few favourites however that we return to again and again. Il Fruttivendolo, which has been run by Gus and Carmel Bressi for over 40 years, sell particular types of fruit and vegetables that you won’t see at the other traders and the quality of the produce is phenomenal. We also love JT’s, which has been run by the same family since 1964, and always have a fantastic assortment of fresh produce available.
General Merchandise
The Queen Victoria Market isn’t all about food, and there are plenty of traders selling general merchandise, trinkets, clothing and more. Straight up, this isn’t really our thing so can’t honestly give you any recommendations but needless to say there are a lot of traders here. Walk around, take a look, and you’re sure to find something that catches your eye. A leather wallet, natural cosmetics, locally crafted jewellery, a plush kangaroo toy, or an Aussie Rule jersey perhaps?
Have you been to the Queen Victoria Market before? What’s your favourite trader in the market? Let us know over on social media or by e-mail – we’d love to hear from you.
Queen Victoria Market
Corner of Elizabeth & Victoria Streets
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia
Telephone: (03) 9320 5822
E-mail: n/a
Website
Open
Tue, Thu: 6:00am to 2:00pm
Fri: 6:30am to 5:00pm
Sat: 6:00am to 3:00pm
Sun: 9:00am to 4:00pm