Queen Victoria Market

Timings: 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM from November-March and June-August
Queen Victoria market is closed on Wednesday mornings, but during the months of Summer (November - March) and Winter (June - August), Wednesday evenings are reserved for a Night Market that’s famous for local artisans who feature their art and craft, free live entertainment, and over 50 hawker-style food stalls from around the globe.

The market is world-famous for its diversity in food. Here are a few dishes must-try dishes and where to get them at the market: 1. Homemade Gelato at Geloso Gelateria 2. Soft Shell Crab Burger at Hammer and Tong 3. Exotic Meals at Banjo's BBQ 4. Hot Croissants and Kwak Scrolls at M&G Caiafa 5. Buffalo Wings at Wingmans 6. Hot Jam Doughnut at American Doughnut Kitchen You can enjoy different cuisines from around the world including German at Bratwurst Shop & Co, Malay at Malay Canton Cuisine, Indian at Original Chai Co. and Drums Cafe, Italian at Pizza at QV, Turkish at Borek Shop and Gözleme Turkish Cafe, and Spanish at Simply Spanish and Spanish Donut Van. You can also go on customized guided Food Tours of the market.

Queen Victoria Market is known for various specialty shopping stalls and decades-old retail stores where you can buy designer clothing, shoes, accessories, souvenirs, sporting goods, kitchenware, toys, and many other things. Given below is a list of shopping destinations under the type of goods they offer:

1. Clothing
When it comes to shopping for clothes, Queen Victoria Market offers everything ranging from thrifty t-shirt stores to high-end luxury brands. You will find vintage, recycled denims, cashmere scarves, snug knitwear, trendy coats, and casual fashion clothing. Some of the famous brands in the market include Anh the Ngo, Ariel’s Sweaters Australia, Catcher Coats, Danny’s Knitwear, Golden Leather Fashions, Kashmir Commodities, LJ Fashion Wear, Makov’s Jeans, Pussycat Black, Yan Chang Zhen Fashion, and Wendy Voon Knits.

2. Accessories
You can buy quirky accessories at Queen Victoria Market including handmade jewellery, custom made phone covers, cartoon-designed bags, leather belts and purses, and designer sunglasses. Look out for Zoi Barbagiannis Leather Goods, Tecolote, Purse World, OM Art Gallery, Ilya Akselrod, By Avalon, B.B’s Jewellery, and Ambiance while looking to buy accessories.

3. Souvenirs
Take home Australian memorabilia including Koala soft toys, caricatures, canvas tote bags, country patches and stickers, and miniature ships from famous brands such as Allanson Australian Souvenirs, Art N Groov, Flamin’ Signs and Boxes, Fossik, Map Tag, Nautical Replicas, and Victoria Market Gifts & Engraving.

4. Wellness and Beauty
You will find premium wellness and beauty products such as organic supplements, soaps, and balms, cold-pressed oils, nail-art stamps, and home and car diffusers at Australian Lavender Essentials, Coconut Revolution, JAK Boutique, Inner Essentials, Melburn Co, QVM Vitamins, Victoria Market Soapbox, and Shen Chinese Medicine Center.

Queen Victoria Market has an interesting history behind its construction. The original construction used to be Melbourne’s first cemetery. The Market is also known to have been associated with the Italian Mafia during 1960's. The construction of the market started in 1868, and was the Meat Hall opened as a wholesale market in the following year. The year fruit and vegetable market started in the year 1877 and the market was declared officially open in 1878. Over the next few decades, the retail stores on the Victoria Parade, Elizabeth Street, and Franklin Street were constructed. In the year 1917, 914 bodies were exhumed and re-entered in other cemeteries for market expansion. There are still 9,000 buried below the market car park. The market has entered the Victorian Heritage Register, thanks to its architectural, archaeological, historical, and social significance.

Queen Victoria Market hosts various events, activities, and festivals to keep visitors entertained. From book markets and cultural programs to eclectic live performances by artists on Wednesday evenings, there’s not a boring moment spent at the market.

Queen Victoria Market is located at 513 Elizabeth Street in Melbourne. Given below are different modes of transport you can use to reach the market:
By Tram: You can take Tram 58 and get off at Stop 9 (Peel Street), or Tram 19 or 59 till Stop 7 (Elizabeth Street)
By Train: The market is 450m from the Melbourne Central station and 1km away from Flagstaff Station. After getting off, you can reach the market on foot via Franklin Street or Elizabeth Street.
By Bus: You can take the Melbourne Visitor Shuttle service and get off at stop 8 to get to the market.
By Car: You can park your vehicle at metered parking on Queen Street between Victoria and Therry Streets. The market also has its own car park that you can reach via Franklin or Queen Streets. You can also avail free parking between 6:00 AM - 9:00 AM.

If you are planning to visit Queen Victoria Market, here are a few useful tips to make your visit more convenient:
1. You can not take your dog inside the enclosed areas of the market including the Meat Hall, Food Court, Deli Hall, and Victoria Street and Elizabeth Street shops, except it’s a guide or assistance dog.
2. If possible, have some loose cash for shopping at the market, as not all vendors may have EFTPOS and it would be also easier to bargain if you are paying in cash.
3. If you are there to do some heavy shopping, make sure you take a shopping jeep.
4. The food stalls keep shifting places. You may need to ask around if there’s someplace particular you wish to eat.