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. If you've been missing the market, our all-day guide has all the essentials to tick off your list on your next visit.

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 or the French Shop. The freshly baked 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 open-air 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, stock up on utensils from Australian Kitchen Gadgets and pick up a beautiful Australian timber board from Woodcrafts Australia to dish up your creation.

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. At the top of Victoria Street enjoy delicious Vietnamese banh mi from Alex Canteen. Over in the food court sit back with traditional Spanish tapas at El Rincon.

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. Handpick locally made essential oils from Inner Essentials or Victorian-made skincare from Petal Melbourne. Browse Annie’s Creation and Collection for gorgeous fashion and homewares.

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.

Accessibility at the market

If you need a little help getting around the stalls, the market's Access and Inclusion Service is on hand. Over the summer months from Friday to Sunday, you can find Travellers Aid outside the deli on Therry Street. There will be mobility equipment available for hire and volunteers to help navigate from tram stops to the market and within the market.

Can’t make it to the market?

If you can’t make it to the market, shop online for over 3,000 products from more than 45 traders. Same-day delivery is available for more than 220 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.