Must-Visit Local Markets in Melbourne

What are the best local markets in Melbourne

Queen Victoria Market

The “Vic Market” is located in Melbourne’s CBD and is the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s a must-visit market in Melbourne and a go-to for locals to buy their groceries. You can pull a small trailer and fill it up with fresh produce to take home.

Walking through the archway, the food court is mainly located indoors. Various stalls gather cuisines from all over the world. Different themed night markets are held during different months, and the food also varies. The area for dining in is almost full before 6 pm. Many locals and tourists will grab their main courses, fried foods, and desserts to eat on the go. It is very lively and appetising.

On the outdoor street, there are many shops selling souvenirs and small items, with many products featuring 🐨 koalas and 🦘 kangaroos. The quality of the products is higher than in the morning market stalls, and the prices are also more expensive.

There are many cute and photogenic food trucks both inside and outside the market. The desserts and snacks sold at many stalls are also very interesting. On the day we went, we tried the Winnie the Pooh cotton candy, and many people wanted to take photos with it. There are also live shows in the market, and the atmosphere on-site is very lively.

📍Queen St

Tue, Thu, Fri 6am-3pm; Sat 6am-4pm; Sun 9am-4pm

The Rose Street Artists’ Market

Located in the hipster neighbourhood of Fitzroy, this artistic market features unique creations and handmade goods every weekend, all available directly from the artists, designers, and crafters. It’s a fun and lively market to explore.

On weekends, many Melbourne artists come here to sell their works, and you can browse for small trinkets and earrings. The highlight is that the surrounding area is great for exploring! There are many vintage shops that are worth visiting even if you don’t buy anything, and the last picture shows a famous one that is huge and can take half a day to explore. We recommend that you visit if you have the chance. The only thing to note is that it is a converted junkyard, so if you go on a hot day, it can get really hot!

📍60 Rose St

Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.

Dandenong Market

This market is relatively cheap, offering a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and delicious sesame cookies. On February 5th, during Waitangi Day, you can also find traditional New Zealand and Pacific Island street food, live performances, and face painting.

The produce here is really cheap! Everywhere you look, there are vegetables and fruits priced at one or two dollars, and the quality is excellent. The seasonal produce is super fresh and comes from local farms transported the same day. You can compare prices at different vendors and find the cheapest deals.

We also found some small succulents for only $1! Flowers are also really cheap here. You can get a bouquet of lilies from a large bunch for only $10, or combination bouquets for $25 or $35. Similar bouquets in a flower shop would cost around $60+.

Meat and seafood are also of good quality and appropriately priced.

When it comes to food and drink, there are many food trucks as you walk towards the centre of the market, similar to the night markets in Taiwan. Highly recommend the kebab in the corner. It’s always the most popular and serves large portions at reasonable prices. The lamb is really tender and juicy and tastes amazing!

📍Clow Street &, Cleeland St

Tue, Fri, Sat 7am-4pm; Sun 9am-4pm.

South Melbourne Market

South Melbourne Market is the oldest market in Melbourne, established in 1867. It is open on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The first thing that comes to mind when visiting this market is seafood. There are two large seafood shops located on the corner, and they offer fresh and high-quality seafood. Personally, we feel that they sell larger portions of seafood such as lobsters, prawns, salmon sashimi, oysters, and sea urchins. We don’t have a specific recommendation, usually, just try whatever catches my eye, and it’s always good!

There is a famous croissant shop in South Melbourne Market called Agathé Pâtisserie. Unfortunately, we arrived too late and weren’t able to buy any this time. However, we have tried them before, and they are very delicious!

📍322-326 Coventry St

Wed, Sat, Sun 8am-4pm; Fri 8am-5pm.

Esplanade Market

This market is open from 10 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon, although the exact times may vary depending on the weather. This market mainly sells creative handmade crafts, rather than the vintage or second-hand items you might find at other markets.

There are handmade earrings, necklaces, and other jewellery, including some really cute Star Wars and Pokemon-themed pieces that we saw today. Additionally, there are cards, paintings, clothing, and aromatherapy products.

The market is easy to browse because everything is handmade, so every booth is worth checking out.

There are some hot dog vendors where you can grab a bite to eat while you wander around. You can either snack on some small bites at the shops or sit by the beach and enjoy the scenery while you eat. It’s a super relaxing experience!

📍The Esplanade

Sun 10am-4pm.

Camberwell Sunday Market

Camberwell Sunday Market is a relatively well-known secondhand market in Melbourne.

It opens in the morning, around 6:30, and is located in an outdoor parking lot. The market is quite large, so you can take your time and find some things you like. Clothes are generally sold at cheap prices, and there are many stalls selling cups and plates.

There are also one or two stalls selling fresh flowers, which are much cheaper than flower shops and quite fresh.

📍Market Pl

Sun 7am-12:30pm.

Preston Market

A bustling and vibrant marketplace where you can find great deals on fresh produce. The market has a wide variety of stalls selling everything from fruits and vegetables to artisanal crafts. Be sure to check out some of the trendy cafes and restaurants offering delicious cuisines such as pasta, tacos, and croissants.

📍30A The Centreway

Open Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 8am to 3pm, and Friday from 8am to 6pm.

Lost and Found Market

Located in the hip Fitzroy neighbourhood, this secondhand market is filled with vintage and artistic finds. The famous Vintage store is a must-visit spot for its extensive selection of retro clothing, antique furniture, and vintage handbags. It’s a fun, unique shopping experience that’s perfect for snapping some cool Instagram shots.

📍288 Brunswick St

Open Monday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm.

Prahran Market

One of Melbourne’s oldest markets, Prahran Market boasts a wide range of stalls selling everything from fresh produce to specialty goods. Highlights include the Japanese charcoal grill restaurant Wasshio, one of Australia’s best cheese shops Maker&Monger (try the cheese toasties!), and the mushroom stall with the largest selection of mushrooms in town.

📍163 Commercial Rd

Open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 7am to 5pm, and Sunday from 10am to 3pm.

Melbourne Book Market

Located inside the Queen Victoria Market, this book market is a bookworm’s paradise. It also features a great selection of secondhand vinyl records for music lovers.

📍Queen St

Open Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

Oakleigh Rotary Sunday Market

This Sunday market has rotating vendors, but you can always count on fresh flowers.

📍Hanover Street & Atherton Rd

Open Sunday from 8am to 1:30pm.

Docklands Sunday Market

This small craft market is located by the waterfront and offers a variety of handmade crafts and jewellery. It’s a fun way to spend a lazy Sunday browsing through the cute trinkets.

📍35 Newquay Promenade

Open Sunday from 10am to 3pm.

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