Queen Victoria Market & Melbourne's Best Street Eats
Credit: Visit Victoria
There’s no better way to experience Melbourne than through its food (and coffee, of course). And there’s no better place to start than Queen Victoria Market. With more than 600 stalls, it’s a smorgasbord of local produce, iconic bites and global flavours, all in one place.
From there, Melbourne’s best foodie neighbourhoods are just a tram ride away. Whether it’s dumplings in Chinatown, pho in Footscray or pasta on Lygon Street, this guide takes you through the market and beyond with tips straight from locals who know exactly where to find the good stuff.
In this Blog
Why Kick Off at Queen Vic Market?
Credit: Visit Victoria
If there’s one place that captures Melbourne’s obsession with food, culture and good coffee in one bite-sized destination (well, a very large bite size), it’s Queen Victoria Market. As the premier food markets Melbourne has to offer, there’s every reason and more to visit during your travels.
Affectionately known as Queen Vic or QVM, this historic open-air metropolis is a veritable banquet of food trucks, delis, stalls, cafés, and treats that will leave the most deliciously lasting memories for years to come.
Located on the northern edge of the CBD and a short tram ride-plus-walk from Hotel Grand Chancellor Melbourne, Queen Victoria Market is the ideal starting point for any foodie’s Melbourne itinerary.
With over 600 traders and stalls, it’s easy to spend a morning (or, truthfully, an entire day) tasting your way through everything from artisan cheeses and international street food to hand-rolled pastries and fresh oysters.
The market is centrally located, open five days a week, and lets you sample some of the city’s best bites before you’ve even left the block.
Where do you find the good stuff (and is it really 600+ stalls)?
Yes — it’s big. Really big. 600+ stalls is not an exaggeration. But don’t worry, because once you’re there, the layout of these sprawling food markets Melbourne starts to make delicious sense. The market map and directory are also useful tools before and during your visit.
The main Food Hall on the corner of Elizabeth Street and Queen Street is where you'll find the market's big bites: cafés and restaurants, global street eats, stalls worth lining up for... we recommend going straight here to kickstart your Queen Victoria Market Melbourne experience.
The Meat & Fish Hall is exactly what it sounds like: exquisite cuts and fresh catches from the region's most esteemed farmers and fish mongers. If you're craving a lobster roll, fresh mussels, juicy prawns or sausages with the perfect snap, this is your heaven.
The Dairy Produce Hall is a cheese and charcuterie board lover’s paradise. Fill your basket (and your belly) with European imports, aged cheeses, cured meats, olives, dips, and artisan loaves that make picnic dreams come true.
Outside on Therry Street, Queen Street, and in the Specialty Shops sheds, you'll be treated to even more eateries, coffee carts and food trucks serving up everything from freshly baked pastries to crispy golden potato swirls.
There are also food stalls and gourmet food shops dotted along the F Shed strip inside the main hall. This section is adjacent to the sprawling Fruit & Veg and Specialty Shopping halls – the latter are easy to find, so from there, just follow your nose.
Hot jam doughnuts — are they worth lining up for?
Credit: American Doughnut Kitchen
Short answer: yes.
There’s a reason this stall gets its own section in our article. Simply put, it’s a Queen Victoria Market Melbourne icon, and having traded for over seventy years, it knows how to make a doughnut worth lining up for.
We’re talking, of course, about the must-visit American Doughnut Kitchen. This family-run food truck has been rolling out hot, sugar-dusted, raspberry jam-filled doughnuts since the 1950s. You’ll spot the vintage blue-and-white van in the outdoor sheds, and likely a line of locals and visitors patiently waiting their turn.
Even if the line seems long and daunting, trust us when we say that the first bite — crispy on the outside, molten jam on the inside — is worth every second.
Sit-down eats and food truck favourites
Roving a market this size can get tiring, and besides, such good food is always enjoyed better in a comfy place to sit. Whether you’re after a sit-down breakfast, a snack on the go, or a cheeky glass of wine with your chorizo, Queen Vic’s got options. Here are just a few must-tries:
Cafés and restaurants
- Bellboy Coffee Bar (in the Food Hall): Grab a roasted coffee and try the Prawn & Crab Roll or house-made Chia Pudding straight from their Brunswick East kitchen.
- Cafe Gilli (on Therry Street): Italian breakfasts, fresh paninis, lasagna, porchetta rolls and melt-in-your-mouth pastries.
- El Rincón Tapas Bar (in the Food Hall): Authentic Spanish tapas and paella, paired with a wide selection of local and imported wines.
- Geloso Gelateria (in the Main Hall): In-house gelato made from traditional family recipes. Try a vegan sorbet or a creamy shake between stalls.
Food trucks and street eats
- Asian Noodle House Street Food: Laksa, pho, bao, and all the fragrant favourites. Catch them in the sheds Thursday to Sunday.
- Juicey Brucey Burgers: Smash burgers made with local ingredients, crisp hot chips, and handmade blueberry lemonade.
- Miss Amelie Gourmet Pies: Hearty, flaky pies baked fresh with local ingredients — perfect for warming up on the go.
Hot tip: Check the full food trader directory on the Queen Vic Market website if you're chasing something specific. With this many choices, planning ahead pays off!
Summer & Winter Night Markets
Credit: Visit Victoria
As if the daytime eats weren’t enough, Queen Victoria Market Melbourne also transforms into a buzzing Night Market during Melbourne’s warm summer and cosy winter months.
Taking place on Wednesday evenings during select months in summer and winter, these after-dark food markets in Melbourne are perhaps the best times to experience Queen Vic in all its delicious glory.
Winter Night Market
When: Every Wednesday, 5–10pm (June to August)
Sip on mulled wine, wander through twinkling fairy lights, get cosy with plenty of indoor and outdoor heaters, and enjoy fabulous live music. Perfect for warming up with ramen, raclette and roasted marshmallows.
Summer Night Market
When: Every Wednesday, 5–10pm (December to March)
Visit in the summertime to take advantage of longer days and warmer nights. Indulge in fresh, tropical cocktails, international street eats, live DJs and a festival buzz that makes Melbourne evenings feel electric.
Both seasons offer 60+ artisan stalls, live music, DJs, roving entertainers, and some of the most atmospheric outdoor dining in the city — all with free entry.
More to Explore: Neighbourhoods That Taste Like Melbourne
Ready to wander? After Queen Vic, keep the flavour trail going with a wander through some of Melbourne’s best foodie precincts. Here are some must-visit suburbs and hotspots to complete your Melbourne food adventure.
Credit: Visit Victoria
Lygon Street (Carlton)
Espresso, pasta and a proper Italian welcome await in the Lygon Street dining precinct. Melbourne’s original Little Italy is one of the city's most iconic foodie strips and houses some of the best and longest-running family restaurants in town.
Sip a double ristretto, fill up on handmade gnocchi, and finish with a cannoli you’ll dream about later.
There's a lot to explore on Lygon Street, so to help you get started, some of our favourites include:
- Brunetti Classico Carlton: handcrafted Italian cakes, pastries, gelati and espresso.
- Tiamo: fresh, handmade pasta, pizza and signature Italian goodies in a funky yet elegant setting.
- Cafè Corretto: pizza, handmade pasta, signature parmigiana, and sizzling charcoal-grilled steaks.
- Good Measure: pup-friendly courtyard bar-meets-restaurant-meets-café with live music and DJ sets from Thursday to Saturday.
Chinatown (Little Bourke Street)
Late-night dumplings and noodle runs, anyone? With history dating back to the gold rush, Melbourne’s Chinatown is packed with Sichuan spice, steaming baskets of xiao long bao, and spots that stay open well after dark.
Some of our top picks include:
- Hochi Mama: some of the best Asian-fusion in the city, housed in a funky, neon-lit restaurant setting.
- Master Lanzhou Noodle Bar: authentic Chinese food, always fresh – try the noodles in their signature spicy chilli soup.
- Secret Kitchen: Yum cha is on at this Chinatown establishment, where for us, the dim sum takes the cake.
- Cha Ching: another standout Asian-fusion restaurant with bold dishes like truffle dim sum and sichuan lamb rice noodles.
Footscray
Fill up on pho, banh mi, and the kind of scrumptious value you’ll tell mates about.
This west-side gem is all about big Asian-fusion flavours and no fuss. Follow your nose to steaming bowls of pho, fresh banh mi, and house-made rice paper rolls.
Try Sapa Hills for fresh, authentic, flavour-packed Vietnamese food, or JukJut for moreish Thai-fusion food that packs a punch.
Fitzroy & Collingwood
Sit down to brunch with a twist, natural wine and small-plate fun.
These trend-setting suburbs are packed full of boho charm, café cool, and enough sourdough experimentation to satisfy any brunch hunter. Bonus points for the cocktails and low-intervention wine lists.
Pay a visit to Archie’s All Day for al fresco brunch and sunshiney vibes. In the evening, hit up Above Board, an exclusive and award-winning cocktail bar that boasts minimalist decor and no standing room – first in, best dressed, exquisitely served.
After Something Special? Try These Crowd Favourites
Credit: Visit Victoria
If you're in Melbourne for a special occasion, or just feel like dressing up a little, make time for these acclaimed dining experiences:
- Attica (Ripponlea): A world-famous fine dining spot with a heart and plenty of boundary-pushing brilliance. Ben Shewry’s ever-evolving tasting menu at Attica celebrates native Australian ingredients and storytelling through food. Booking essential.
- Lune Croissanterie (CBD, Fitzroy and Armadale): Known as the croissant destination, Lune Croissanterie’s creations are layered, buttery, and often sold out by noon. Go early. Don’t share.
- Kisumé (Flinders Lane): Sleek sashimi and smart service make for an unforgettable fine dining experience. Kisumé is modern Japanese with a Melbourne twist. Sushi, sashimi and an incredible wine list await in this sophisticated city favourite.
How to Plan Your Melbourne Foodie Day (Without the Stress)
Getting around: tram, rideshare or on foot?
- Queen Victoria Market is a 10-minute walk or 2 stops on the tram from Hotel Grand Chancellor Melbourne.
- For other neighbourhoods, the free tram zone covers the CBD and surrounds, and rideshare or bikes get you to further-flung gems like Footscray or Ripponlea.
Dietary requirements and queues
- Many stalls cater for vegans, coeliacs, and everything in between — but check menus online first.
- For cult favourites like Lune or Attica, book ahead or aim for off-peak.
- Have a Plan B café nearby if lines are long — this is Melbourne, after all, and brunch queues are real (especially on the weekends).
Market first, laneways later
- Start your day at Queen Vic Market, fill up (or snack lightly), and then wander south into the laneways for espresso, bar hopping or dessert.
- Finish strong with sunset cocktails by the river or a reservation at one of Melbourne’s rooftop gems.
The Wrap-up: Eat, Explore, and Stay Close To It All
Melbourne is a city that’s meant to be tasted, and with Queen Victoria Market Melbourne as your launch pad, you’re already ahead of the game. Savour hot jam doughnuts, sip wine under market lights, and explore the best food markets Melbourne-wide.
For all of that, you’ll want a central, comfortable base to recharge between bites. Hotel Grand Chancellor Melbourne offers just that — a prime location, warm hospitality, and easy access to trams, laneways, and some of the city’s most delicious destinations.
Book your stay today and get ready for a foodie adventure you’ll never forget. Bon appétit!
Hungry for more Melbourne food markets? Check out our guide to the fabulous South Melbourne Market.