It’s 2023 and we are embracing the slower life. Heading to the market is a wholesome venture with hand-made crafts, quality local produce and communal vibes.
Across Melbourne/Naarm, there are a variety of different markets, from inner-city institutions like the Queen Victoria Market to suburban favourites like Camberwell Market's trash and treasure. For foodies, there’s the Dandenong Market and South Melbourne Market which offer fresh local produce for days.
Here's Urban List's picks on where to find the best Melbourne markets for 2023:
Coburg Night Market
Bridges Reserve, Bell Street, Coburg
Image credit: Coburg Markert | supplied
Coming back for its 23rd season, the Coburg Night Market provides a more-vibey experience, with the same market wholesomeness that is locally-made artisan products. Taking over Bridges Revserve’s historic and leafy grounds are over 68 stallholders, a killer music lineup and open-air bars.
Triple R’s DJ Jas Moore is hitting the decks, while First Nations singer-songwriter Pirritu will take to the stage, along with upbeat afro-jazz crew Jarabi Band and more. This year’s iteration introduces the Mindful Mob Healing Market—a dedicated cultural space, with various workshops and performances, curated by First Nations producer Maylene Yinarr.
THE DETAILS:
When: Various times, Friday 15 December to Sunday 17 December
Where: Bridges Reserve, Bell Street, Coburg
For more information click here.
Queen Vic Summer Night Market
Queen Street, Melbourne
Image credit: Queen Vic Market | supplied
As summer sees us emerge out of the house on weeknights, Queen Vic Night Market turns up with over 45 street food stalls, 6 festival bars and over 50 market stalls on Wednesday evenings. Serving in the open-air shed will be crowd favourites like Its Off Tap’s cup of chocolate-covered strawberries, The Traditional Lemonade Stand’s slushies and Nepal Dining Room’s juicy chicken-filled momos.
The first month of the night market’s return is festive-themed, with a Christmas tree forest, carollers performing and visits from Santa as you tick off that gifting list.
THE DETAILS:
When: 5pm to 10pm on Wednesdays, 22 November until 13 March (excluding 27 December)
Where: Queen Street, Melbourne
For more information click here.
The Queen Vic Market
Queen Street, Melbourne
If Melbourne is home, then the Queen Vic Market is a part of the furniture. Operating for more than 140 years, this mammoth-scaled market offers a bit of everything—from fresh produce stalls for all your grocery needs, to restaurants and food trucks for a bite. The hot jam numbers from American Doughnut Kitchen reign supreme and pair perfectly with some of Melbourne’s best brew from Market Lane Coffee.
Browse through an abundance of specialty shopping traders, selling clothes, books, homewares, beauty products and souvenirs. It’s your one-stop shop open five days a week.
THE DETAILS:
When: Various times
Where: Queen Street, Melbourne
For more information click here.
Camberwell Market
Market Place, Camberwell
Despite being tucked away in the suburbs, Victorians travel far and wide to hit up the Camberwell Market for quirky finds. This thrift-shoppers dream, run by Rotary International, brings the Camberwell Junction car park to life every Sunday.
For decades, routine punters have arrived in the early hours to snatch up antiques, pre-loved clothes, collectables and handmade goods. There are often buskers performing and hot jam doughnuts (there’s a theme here) being served up—adding to your wholesome Sunday vibes.
THE DETAILS:
When: 7.30am to 12.30pm, every Sunday
Where: Market Place, Camberwell
For more information click here.
Prahran Market
163 Commercial Road, South Yarra
Image credit: Prahran Market | supplied
With the best free-range butchers in Melbourne, sustainable seafood sourced daily and certified organic groceries, this Prahran establishment provides one of the best foodie experiences out of the Melbourne markets. Drop by for lunch at Mr Bratwurst for a sausage cooked over coal, or Maker & Monger’s not-so-average cheese toastie made with farmhouse and artisan cheeses matured onsite.
For those sustainability savvy, this market practices a number of initiatives, including being Melbourne’s first market to donate food to SecondBite—an organisation determined to end hunger and food wastage in Australia.
THE DETAILS:
When: Various times
Where: 163 Commercial Road, South Yarra
For more information click here.
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Dandenong Market
DANDENONG
With a timeline dating back to the mid-1800s, the Dandenong Market has been acclaimed as one of the best markets Melbourne delivers. There’s a fruit and veg hall, a meat, fish and deli hall, and a range of specialty shopping stalls.
A point of difference from the other markets Melbourne offers, the Dandenong Market offers 90-minute street food tours on selected weekends throughout the year. Once you’ve got your hands on a ticket, expect to eat your way through different traders for tastings and insider cooking tips, in an intimate guided group.
THE DETAILS:
When: Tuesday, Friday, Saturday 7am to 4pm, Sunday 9am to 4pm
Where: Clow Street and Cleeland Street, Dandenong
For more information click here.
Rose Street Fitzroy Market
Rose Street, Fitzroy
Image credit: Rose St Market | supplied
On-brand with Fitzroy’s aura, the Rose Street Market has a lineup of Melbourne’s best original artists, designers and crafters. Inspired by markets found in London, Berlin and New York, this market is nestled in a former junkyard in the back streets of Fitzroy and displays the work of up to 120 creatives.
Explore bespoke paintings and clothes, while making connections with fellow creative minds. There’s also a bunch of art galleries and cafes nearby, so you can make a day out of it.
THE DETAILS:
When: 10am to 4pm, every Saturday and Sunday,
Where: 60 Rose Street, Fitzroy
For more information click here.
Preston Market
30A The Centreway, Preston
The colourful brick exterior, filled with murals painted by various Melbournian artists, is emblematic of the vibrant multicultural food and experiences the Preston Market offers. We’re talking Daily Fresh Gozleme’s signature savoury Turkish turnover filled with spinach and cheese, or the iconic South Melbourne Dims Sims (branching out to the other side of town).
You can also pick up your weekly groceries at numerous fresh produce, meat and poultry, and deli stalls while supporting local businesses selling homewares and crafts.
THE DETAILS:
When: 8am to 3pm, every Wednesday to Sunday
Where: 30A The Centreway, Preston
For more information click here.
South Melbourne Market
322-326 Coventry Street, South Melbourne
Image credit: South Melbourne Market | supplied
Established in 1867, the institution that is that South Melbourne Market reigns on—offering Melbourne’s finest fresh produce, premium meats, deli goodies, flowers, crafted gifts, street food and cafe culture.
Must-visits include the famous South Melbourne Dim Sims, who have been selling their ridiculously large dimmies like hotcakes for almost 60 years, and Agathe Patisserie for authentic French pastries (think basque burnt cheesecake, buttery croissants and custard flans) that are worth lining up for.
THE DETAILS:
When: 8am to 4pm, every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Where: 322-326 Coventry Street, South Melbourne
For more information click here.
Oakleigh Market
Hanover Street &, Atherton Road, Oakleigh
Featuring some of the best and most affordable fresh produce in the state for over 50 years, this Oakleigh establishment is one of the Melbourne markets worth paying a visit to. The Hellenic influence of the suburb also provides the market with plenty of multicultural delights, as well as speciality cuts at the local butchers.
On Sunday there's also the outdoor market put on by The Rotary Club, with 140 spaces available for stallholders selling trash and treasure, plants and more in the car park off Hanover Street.
THE DETAILS:
When: Various times
Where: 12 Chester Street, Oakleigh
For more information click here.
Footscray Market
18 Irving Street, Footscray
Image credit: Kristoffer Paulsen (supplied)
A true reflection of Footscary’s diverse community, this is one of the Melbourne markets celebrating multiculturalism. Expect a plethora of local produce, meats, nuts and spices, along with more specialty items, like Asian grocers and seafood vendors showing off live lobster and abalone to pick from.
For sought-after Vietnamese drip coffee, hit up Scarlet Corner Cafe and grab a renowned Banh Mi from Nhu Ngoc Bakery.
THE DETAILS:
When: 7am to 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday
Where: 81 Hopkins Street, Footscray
For more information click here.
CERES Makers & Flea Market
Corner Stewart Roberts and, Stewart Street, Brunswick East
Favouring quality over quantity, CERES Makers And Flea Market showcases up to 20 stalls, featuring locally and ethically made crafts. Sitting next to the CERES Grocery and Bakery—which offers an urban farm shopping experience to Melburnians—this intimate market adds to the charm on Saturdays, with handmade, eco-friendly and upcycled treasures on offer.
THE DETAILS:
When: 9am to 2pm, Every Saturday
Where: Lee Street, Brunswick East
For more information click here.
St Kilda Esplanade Market
The Esplanade, St Kilda
Image credit: Visit Victoria | supplied
With the scenic backdrop of Port Philip Bay, and just 15 minutes out of the city, visiting St Kilda Esplanade Market is the ideal weekend activity. It’s got a bunch of locally-made jewellery, art, fashion and well-being goodies on offer, as well as take-away treats like Dutch pancakes, decadent doughnuts and souvlakis.
Quite literally on the foreshore, bring your pooch along for a dip in the water and then dry off wandering through the market vibes.
THE DETAILS:
When: 10am to 5pm, every Sunday
Where: The Esplanade, St Kilda
For more information click here.
Melbourne Farmers Markets
Various Locations
From the ground to the market, to your kitchen—Melbourne Farmers Markets are hella dedicated to supporting Victoria food producers and sustainable farming practices. Operating since 2002, there are now three locations of this fresh produce haven. Visit Coburg and Carlton on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm, and Alphington on Sundays 9am until 1pm.
THE DETAILS:
When: Various times
Where: Various locations
For more information click here.
Hunter Markets
10 Balcombe Road, Mentone
If you’re due for a wardrobe revamp, why not shop for someone else’s beloved one? Determined to expand the lifespan of clothing, the Hunter Markets offer a thrift utopia for all things designer, on-trend and secondhand slay, situated in a groovy warehouse in Melbourne’s southeast. Since its birth in 2015, this market has become all the rage on social media and now operates on both Saturdays and Sundays on selected weekends, with different stallholders who want to get rid of their deadstock.
THE DETAILS:
When: 9am to 1pm, selected weekends
Where: 10 Balcombe Road, Mentone
For more information click here.
Check out more things to do in Melbourne over here.
Main Image credit: Visit Victoria | Josh Robenstone