A visitor's guide to Queen Victoria Market

There’s never a shortage of things to do at Queen Victoria Market. Home to hundreds of small businesses, it's the largest open air market in the Southern Hemisphere. Our all-day market guide has all the essentials to tick off your list.

Breakfast at Market Espresso

Start your day right with a coffee and pancetta brekkie roll from Market Espresso. Find this bustling café at the corner of String Bean Alley and Queen Street.

Stock up on fresh food and deli essentials

Then head straight for the fresh produce. Do a circuit of the Meat and Fish Hall, the Dairy Produce Hall, and the historic fruit and veg sheds for the full market experience. Many of the family-run stalls have been serving Melburnians for generations. Stop for a chat and a sample.

The Dairy Produce Hall is an emporium of all things smoked, cured, pickled, brined, and aged. Pick up spices, dips, and cheeses, to pastries and charcuterie for your basket. The Epicurean, The Corner Larder, and Curds and Whey are a cheese-lover's dream. Get your antipasto at Dianne’s Delights and try international treats from the Hellenic and Polish Delis. The croissants at M&G Caiafa are a hit with early risers, but be quick. Peckish? Grab cheese and spinach borek and spicy grilled bratwurst.

Shop the sheds

For gifts and homewares, make a beeline for the shopping sheds and bag a bargain. Find fashion, jewellery and skincare. Pick up cooking and gardening essentials and browse books and art.

On Victoria street, home chefs are well catered for at Books for Cooks. Broaden your culinary skills with a new purchase, then stock up on utensils from Australian Kitchen Gadgets.

Stop for lunch

Snag a spot at the bar and order up a storm at Coffea Coffee. Order Italian treats like paninis, salads, pies and tarts. Or go for classic coffee and cake.

Find something unique and support small makers

Visit The Hat Project for the latest trends for summer and local legend Bruce Goose for quirky socks. Pick out a luxury candle from Inner Essentials or Victorian-made skincare from Petal Melbourne. Browse Annie’s Creation and Collection for gorgeous fashion and homewares. Keep the kids happy with a nostalgic wooden toy or colourful pinwheel from Spotty Dot. For the grown-ups, Andrew Bertuleit Photography has stunning images available to mount, frame or print.

Grab an afternoon pick-me-up

Make a mid-afternoon caffeine stop at Market Lane Coffee. Grab your takeaway and head for the American Doughnut Kitchen van. No visit to the market is complete without a bag of their famous hot jam doughnuts.

If you prefer something stronger, look no further than ReWine. Offering high quality, affordable Aussie wines, all are available for tasting before purchase. Even better, they let you bring back empty ReWine bottles to refill at a discounted price.

Can’t make it to the market?

If you can’t make it to the Market, shop online for over 2,000 products from 45 traders. Same-day delivery is available for more than 150 suburbs. Meat, fish, poultry, fruit and vegetables, bread, eggs and deli products are all available to order. Nuts, organics, coffee, tea, wine and craft beer can also be delivered. You can also click and collect.