Queen Victoria Market (2026): Complete Guide to Hours, Food and Tips

Queen Victoria Market — known to locals as Queen Vic or QVM — is Melbourne’s iconic 19th-century food market and the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere. Sprawling across 7 hectares at the northern edge of the CBD, the market sells produce, meat, seafood, deli goods, cooked food, clothing, and homewares from over 600 traders, and has done since 1878. For first-time Melbourne visitors, Queen Victoria Market is one of the city’s essential stops. For locals, it’s a weekly grocery shop. This 2026 guide covers everything you need to plan a visit: opening hours, what’s worth buying, the best traders by section, the Wednesday Night Market, food tours, history, parking, and tips for getting the most from your visit.

Queen Victoria Market quick facts

• Address: 513 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne VIC 3000.
• Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 6 am to 2 pm, Friday 6 am to 3 pm, Saturday 6 am to 3 pm, Sunday 9 am to 4 pm. Closed Mondays and Wednesdays (except Wednesday Night Market in summer).
• Wednesday Night Market: November to March, 5 pm to 10 pm.
• Winter Night Market: June to August, Wednesdays 5 pm to 10 pm.
• Established: 1878 (the market replaced an earlier 1857 site at the same location).
• Size: 7 hectares — the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Traders: 600+ stallholders.
• Free admission — no entry fee, no tickets.
• Heritage status: the original sheds and Deli Hall are heritage-listed.

How to get to Queen Victoria Market

• Free Tram Zone — the market sits inside Melbourne’s Free Tram Zone. Trams 19, 57, or 59 along Elizabeth Street drop you at the front entrance. Free.
• Train — Melbourne Central Station is 7 minutes’ walk south.
• Walk — 15 minutes from Flinders Street Station; 7 minutes from Melbourne Central.
• Drive — secure paid parking under the market (entry on Queen Street). Hourly rates A$5–A$8.
• Bike — bike racks at all main entrances; market sits on the Capital City Trail.

Queen Victoria Market layout: what’s where

The Deli Hall

The 1928 art-deco hall along the Victoria Street side is the architectural and culinary heart of QVM. Inside: cheese mongers (King Island Dairy, Andrew’s Choice, La Latteria), cured meats and salami (Curtis Stone’s stall, Andrew’s Choice deli), Italian smallgoods, fresh pasta makers, olive oils, breads, and prepared foods. This is where most visitors should start a market visit.

Fresh Produce sheds

The covered open-air sheds (named A–H) hold the fruit and vegetable stalls. Produce comes daily from Victorian farms — strawberries from Bacchus Marsh, apples from the Yarra Valley, asparagus from Koo Wee Rup, tomatoes from the Werribee market gardens. The last hour before closing is when traders mark down prices significantly.

Meat and Fish Halls

The 19th-century Meat Hall along Queen Street has 50+ butchers selling lamb, beef, pork, poultry, and game. The Seafood Hall handles fresh fish straight from Melbourne Fish Market — King George whiting, Tasmanian salmon, oysters from Coffin Bay, blue swimmer crabs.

Food Court (Hot Food)

The hot food court along the Queen Street side serves meals all market hours. Highlights include the original American hot jam donuts (the institution), Polish bratwurst, Spanish bocadillos, Vietnamese pho, Japanese takoyaki, dumplings, gozleme. Most stalls A$10–A$18 per main.

String Bean Alley and merchandise

String Bean Alley is the market’s small-trader laneway: jewellery, leather goods, small fashion brands, ceramics, and gifts. The general merchandise sheds (clothing, footwear, kitchenware) sit at the western edge.

Best things to buy at Queen Victoria Market

• The American Doughnut Kitchen jam donuts — sold from a converted caravan in the food court. Cinnamon-sugar doughnuts filled with hot jam. A$8 for 5. The market’s most-photographed food.
• King Island cheeses — Tasmanian cheese in the Deli Hall. The brie and washed-rind are exceptional.
• Andrew’s Choice salami — long-running Italian deli. The truffle salami and pepperoni are standouts.
• Olympic Doughnuts — the lesser-known Greek-style ring doughnuts.
• Borek — Turkish-style pastries from the Borek Stall.
• Fresh oysters and seafood platters — Sydney rock oysters and Pacific oysters shucked to order.
• Mussels and pippies — live shellfish from local Victorian waters.
• Fresh pasta — handmade by Italian-Australian families in the Deli Hall.
• Tasmanian salmon — fresh-cut sashimi-grade.
• Sourdough bread — from Phillippa’s Bakery and other artisanal bakers.
• Olives and antipasto — bulk-bin selection at the Mediterranean stalls.
• Honeycomb and honey — from regional Victorian apiaries.
• Wattleseed and bushfoods — Australian native pantry items at specialist stalls.
• Free-range eggs — direct-from-farm pricing.
• Italian-style smallgoods — bresaola, prosciutto, mortadella, sliced to order.

Queen Victoria Market opening hours and crowd levels

Day	Hours	Crowd level	Best for
Monday	Closed	—	—
Tuesday	6 am–2 pm	Quietest	Locals, easy shopping
Wednesday	Closed (Night Market in summer)	—	Wed Night Market only
Thursday	6 am–2 pm	Moderate	Mid-week shopping
Friday	6 am–3 pm	Busy	Lunch + weekend prep
Saturday	6 am–3 pm	Busiest	Tourist day
Sunday	9 am–4 pm	Busy	Weekend brunch

For visitors, Saturday morning at 9 am is the canonical Queen Vic Market experience — busy, lively, full of weekend energy. For quieter shopping, Tuesday or Thursday morning is best. The last hour before closing is when produce traders mark down significantly.

The Wednesday Night Market in summer

From November through March, the Queen Victoria Night Market transforms the day market into a hawker-style food festival every Wednesday from 5 pm to 10 pm. 50+ food stalls representing global cuisines (Vietnamese, Sri Lankan, Spanish, Mexican, Argentinian, Lebanese, Greek, Indonesian) line the open-air sheds. Live music and DJ stages run nightly. Fully licensed bars serve craft beer, wine, and cocktails.

• Free entry — no ticket required.
• Cashless — most stalls accept card; a small surcharge applies.
• Family-friendly until around 8 pm, then transitions to a younger drinks crowd.
• Live music across multiple stages, free.
• Designed seating at communal tables, but get there early or be prepared to stand.
• Best between 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm for food choice.

The Winter Night Market (June to August) runs the same weekly schedule with a more cosy, fire-warmed atmosphere — mulled wine, hot stews, and live indoor music.

Queen Victoria Market food tours

• Foodie Trails Queen Victoria Market Tour — A$110, 2.5 hours. Multiple tasting stops with tour guide narration.
• Hidden Secrets Tours: Queen Vic Market Heritage and Foodie Tour — A$95, 2 hours. Combines history with tastings.
• Self-guided audio tour — free, via the Queen Victoria Market app.
• Free heritage tours — operated by the market on selected weekends. Book on the QVM website.
• The Ultimate Foodie Tour — A$130, 3 hours. Premium tour with expanded tastings.

Queen Victoria Market history

The market opened in 1878 on the site of the Old Melbourne Cemetery (around 9,000 graves were exhumed and relocated). The Meat Hall along Queen Street was built in 1869, predating the market’s official opening. The Deli Hall was added in 1928 in art-deco style. Despite multiple proposals to redevelop the site over the past century, the market’s heritage status and community attachment have preserved its 19th-century footprint. The most recent major works (2021–2024) restored the heritage sheds, added new seating, and created an underground car park.

Tips for visiting Queen Victoria Market

• Bring a reusable shopping bag — single-use plastic bags are banned in Victoria.
• Cash optional — most stalls accept card; some charge a small surcharge.
• Arrive at opening or in the last hour — opening (6 am Tuesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday) for produce; last hour for markdowns.
• Bring a small esky or insulated bag if you’re buying meat, fish, or dairy on a hot day.
• Walking shoes — the market is large; you’ll cover 1–2 km easily.
• Sample before buying — most cheese mongers and deli traders offer free tastings.
• Compare prices — produce prices vary between sheds; the same trader may have different stalls.
• Ask the trader — they know what’s best in season.
• Eat lunch at the food court — it’s the best-value meal in central Melbourne.
• Public toilets — at multiple points across the market.
• Parents’ rooms — at the Queen Street entrance.
• Free Wi-Fi — covers most of the market.
• Bring a chilled bag for cheese and deli items if travelling around afterwards.
• The Wednesday Night Market is busiest 6:30–8 pm — arrive at 5 pm or after 8:30 pm for less crowding.
• Some traders only open Saturday and Sunday — clothing and merchandise stalls especially.

Best traders by category

Cheese

• Andrew’s Choice — Italian, French, Australian.
• King Island Dairy stall — Tasmanian specialty cheeses.
• La Latteria — Italian-Australian fresh cheeses.

Smallgoods and salami

• Andrew’s Choice — long-running Italian deli.
• Curtis Stone — celebrity chef’s deli stall.
• The Smallgoods Bar — Mediterranean-style cured meats.

Bread and pastry

• Phillippa’s Bakery — sourdough specialty.
• The Borek Stall — Turkish savoury pastries.
• The American Doughnut Kitchen — the iconic jam donuts.
• Olympic Doughnuts — Greek-style ring donuts.

Seafood

• Mussel Mart — live mussels, pippies, oysters.
• Various seafood traders in the Seafood Hall — best go-to is whichever stall has the day’s freshest catch on display.

Hot food court

• The American Doughnut Kitchen — sweet jam donuts.
• Bratwurst Shop — Polish-style sausages.
• Aurora Borealis — Spanish bocadillos.
• Various pho, dumpling, and gozleme stalls.

Queen Victoria Market for international visitors

• Australian biosecurity — international visitors cannot take meat, dairy, fresh produce, or honey out of Australia. Buy these for in-Australia consumption only.
• Kangaroo and emu meat — sold at QVM butchers; can be packed for in-Australia eating but rarely allowed in international luggage.
• Australian honey, Tim Tams, and Vegemite — generally allowed for international export with proper packaging; ask the trader.
• Wattleseed and bushfood — generally export-friendly as a souvenir.
• Wine, olive oil, and dried goods — typically fine in checked baggage with declarations.
• Tasmanian leatherwood honey — popular souvenir, generally allowed.
• Always check destination country biosecurity rules before buying.

Queen Victoria Market history in detail

Queen Victoria Market opened on 20 March 1878 — but the site itself has a darker history. From 1837 to 1854 it was the Old Melbourne Cemetery, holding around 9,000 graves. When Melbourne’s population growth pushed the cemetery beyond its capacity, the city moved most graves to Boroondara Cemetery in Kew. Some graves remained — when the F-shed (now part of the Deli Hall) was built, ground was disturbed and remains were re-discovered. A heritage memorial near the Queen Street entrance commemorates this history.

The Meat Hall along Queen Street was built in 1869 — predating the official market opening — making it Melbourne’s oldest continuously operating market structure. The Deli Hall was added in 1928 in art-deco style, and the H-shed in the 1930s. Through the 20th century the market faced multiple proposals to redevelop and relocate; community attachment and heritage status preserved its 19th-century footprint. The most recent renewal (2021–2024) restored the heritage sheds, added an underground car park, and renovated the surrounding public space.

Queen Victoria Market’s signature traders

Cheese and dairy

• Andrew’s Choice (Deli Hall) — long-running Italian-Australian deli. Comprehensive cheese selection, Italian smallgoods, fresh pasta. Free tastings of most cheeses.
• King Island Dairy stall — Tasmanian-island specialty cheeses. The brie, washed-rind, and triple-cream are exceptional.
• La Latteria (Deli Hall) — Italian-Australian fresh cheeses including bocconcini, ricotta, and burrata.
• Andrew’s Cheese (separate stall) — focus on aged hard cheeses.
• The Smallgoods Bar — Mediterranean cured meats and cheeses combined.

Smallgoods and salami

• Andrew’s Choice — wide range of Italian and European salami, prosciutto, mortadella, bresaola, sliced to order.
• Curtis Stone — celebrity chef’s deli stall.
• The Smallgoods Bar — Mediterranean specialty cured meats.

Bread, pastry, and baked goods

• Phillippa’s Bakery — sourdough specialty.
• The Borek Stall — Turkish savoury pastries with spinach, feta, lamb.
• The American Doughnut Kitchen — the iconic jam donuts. Sold from a converted caravan in the food court. A$8 for 5. Cinnamon-sugar donuts filled with hot raspberry jam.
• Olympic Doughnuts — Greek-style ring doughnuts.
• Polonia Cake Shop — Polish baked goods.

Seafood and fish

• Mussel Mart — live mussels, pippies, oysters from local Victorian and South Australian waters.
• The Seafood Hall has 50+ stalls; rotating fresh stock. King George whiting, Tasmanian salmon, blue swimmer crabs, snapper, flathead, prawns, and Coffin Bay oysters are regulars.
• Sashimi-grade tuna and salmon available at multiple stalls; ask for “sashimi grade” if planning to eat raw.
• Live mud crabs and Moreton Bay bugs at premium stalls in season.

Meat and butchers

• 50+ butchers in the Meat Hall. Traditional cuts of lamb, beef, pork, poultry. Game meats including kangaroo, emu, venison.
• Dry-aged steaks at premium stalls.
• Whole birds available — chickens, ducks, turkeys.

Fresh produce

Sheds A through H hold the produce stalls. Stock comes daily from Victorian farms — strawberries from Bacchus Marsh, apples from the Yarra Valley, asparagus from Koo Wee Rup, tomatoes from the Werribee market gardens, citrus from Mildura, peaches from Shepparton.

• Last-hour markdowns — produce traders mark down significantly in the final hour before closing. 50% off is common.
• Bulk buying — many stalls offer bulk pricing for restaurant buyers.
• Seasonal specials — strawberries (October–February), stone fruit (December–March), apples (March–July), citrus (May–October), asparagus (October–March).

Queen Victoria Market food tours and tastings

• Foodie Trails Queen Victoria Market Tour — A$110, 2.5 hours. 6+ tasting stops with guide narration. Includes deli, fish, bread, and cheese tastings.
• Hidden Secrets Tours: Queen Vic Market Heritage and Foodie Tour — A$95, 2 hours. Combines history with tastings.
• The Ultimate Foodie Tour — A$130, 3 hours. Premium with expanded tastings including sit-down lunch.
• Self-guided audio tour — free, via the Queen Victoria Market app. Available in English, Mandarin, Japanese, French, and Spanish.
• Free heritage tours — operated by the market on selected weekends. Book on the QVM website.
• Cooking schools — QVM Cooking School offers hands-on cooking classes A$140–A$180 per person, 2 hours.
• Wine and cheese pairing classes — periodic premium events.
• School holiday kids’ programs — themed market scavenger hunts.

Wednesday Night Market deep dive

The Queen Victoria Night Market runs every Wednesday from November through March (5–10 pm). Free entry. The day market closes Wednesday for the standard schedule, but the open-air sheds transform into a hawker-style food festival.

• 50+ food stalls representing global cuisines — Vietnamese, Sri Lankan, Spanish, Mexican, Argentinian, Lebanese, Greek, Indonesian, Thai, Korean, Filipino.
• Live music across multiple stages, free.
• Fully licensed bars with craft beer, wine, cocktails.
• Designed seating at communal tables.
• Best between 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm for food choice; 7:30–10 pm for drinking and music crowd.
• Cashless — most stalls accept card; small surcharge applies.
• Family-friendly until ~8 pm then transitions to younger drinks crowd.
• Themed nights rotate — Mexican Night, Asian Street Food Night, Polish Heritage Night, etc.
• Winter Night Market (June–August) — same weekly Wednesday format with cosy, fire-warmed atmosphere, mulled wine, hot stews.

Queen Victoria Market signature events

• Halloween at the Market (October) — themed Wednesday Night Market with costumes.
• Lunar New Year — January–February celebrations with food and decorations.
• St Patrick’s Day — Irish-themed market day.
• Mother’s Day, Father’s Day — busy peak retail days.
• Spring Festival — late October, family-focused weekend.
• Christmas at the Market — late November and December decorations and themed produce.
• Diwali — October Indian heritage celebrations.
• String Bean Alley Markets — small-trader weekend markets within the venue.

Photography tips at Queen Victoria Market

• The Queen Street meat hall — heritage 1869 architecture, dramatic interior.
• The Deli Hall — art-deco architecture, atmospheric lighting.
• The American Doughnut Kitchen caravan — iconic Melbourne photo subject.
• Open-air sheds (A–H) — colourful produce displays.
• String Bean Alley — narrow heritage alley with handmade stalls.
• Wednesday Night Market — atmospheric night photography with food trucks and string lights.
• Saturday morning crowds — vibrant, busy.
• Last-hour produce displays — mark-down piles offer abundance shots.
• Heritage signage on the brick walls — period typography.
• Permits required for commercial shoots — apply via QVM website.

Best traders by what you want to buy

For breakfast

• The American Doughnut Kitchen — jam doughnuts.
• Polonia Cake Shop — pastries.
• Phillippa’s Bakery — sourdough.
• The Borek Stall — savoury pastries.

For lunch in the food court

• Bratwurst Shop — Polish-style sausages.
• Aurora Borealis — Spanish bocadillos.
• Pho stalls — Vietnamese noodle soup.
• Dumpling stalls — Asian-fusion dumplings.
• Gozleme stall — Turkish flatbreads.
• Most mains A$10–A$18.

For ingredients to take home

• Andrew’s Choice — Italian deli specialty.
• King Island Dairy — Tasmanian cheeses.
• Mussel Mart — fresh seafood.
• Mediterranean Wholesalers (nearby) — bulk pantry items.
• Last-hour produce — bulk purchases at significant discounts.

For souvenirs and gifts

• Tasmanian leatherwood honey — international export-friendly.
• Australian native bushfood pantry items — wattleseed, native pepper, kakadu plum.
• Vegan-friendly Australian Tim Tams (multiple flavours).
• Australian wine from the Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula.
• Olive oil from Mt Zero or other Victorian producers.

Queen Victoria Market parking and access

• Underground car park (Queen Street entrance) — A$5–A$8/hour. Direct lift access to Deli Hall.
• Disability parking — designated bays at all entrances.
• Bike racks — at all main entrances. Capital City Trail passes the market.
• Trams — routes 19, 57, 59 along Elizabeth Street. Inside Free Tram Zone (free).
• Train — Melbourne Central Station, 7-minute walk.
• Walking — 15 minutes from Flinders Street Station.
• Loading dock — for trade and bulk purchases (early morning only).

Accessibility at Queen Victoria Market

• Wheelchair accessible throughout — flat surfaces in Deli Hall and Meat Hall, ramps in produce sheds.
• Companion Card recognised for tour pricing.
• Parents’ rooms at the Queen Street main entrance with feeding chairs and changing tables.
• Public toilets at multiple points across the market.
• Strollers fit easily through aisles; outdoor sheds are most pram-friendly.
• Service animals welcome.
• Audio tour available in multiple languages.
• Sensory-friendly mornings — periodic quieter mornings for visitors with sensory needs.

Queen Victoria Market for international visitors

• Australian biosecurity — international visitors cannot take meat, dairy, fresh produce, or honey out of Australia (unless specifically allowed). Buy these for in-Australia consumption only.
• Tasmanian leatherwood honey — popular souvenir, generally allowed; ask the vendor.
• Wine, olive oil, dried goods — typically fine in checked baggage with declarations.
• Wattleseed and bushfoods — generally export-friendly as a souvenir.
• Kangaroo and emu meat — sold at QVM butchers; rarely allowed in international luggage.
• Coffee beans — fine to export; many specialty roasters near the market ship internationally too.
• Always check destination country biosecurity rules before buying.

Suggested Queen Victoria Market itineraries

1-hour quick visit

Enter via Elizabeth Street. Walk through Deli Hall sampling cheese (15 min). Hot food court for lunch (15 min). Quick walk through produce sheds (15 min). Exit via Queen Street with American Doughnut Kitchen donut bag (5 min).

2-hour relaxed Saturday morning

Coffee at a market cafe (15 min). Deli Hall slow walk with cheese tastings (40 min). Produce sheds and bulk shopping (30 min). Lunch at hot food court (40 min). String Bean Alley browsing (15 min).

Wednesday Night Market evening

Arrive 5:30 pm for early food choice. Multi-stall hawker-style dinner (60 min). Live music at the main stage (30 min). Bar drinks (30 min). Leave 8 pm before peak crowd.

Foodie tour day

Book Foodie Trails 2.5-hour tour at 11 am. Multiple tastings included. Lunch at Andrew’s Choice deli or hot food court. Coffee at Market Lane (across the street). Wine at the Wine and Spirits Hall (when running).

Queen Victoria Market dining nearby

• Auction Rooms (North Melbourne, 10 min walk) — heritage auction-house brunch.
• Market Lane (Therry Street, across from QVM) — specialty coffee.
• Brunetti Classico (Carlton, 15 min walk) — Italian bakery.
• Tipo 00 (Little Bourke Street, 15 min walk) — modern Italian.
• Pellegrini’s (Bourke Street, 15 min walk) — heritage Italian.
• Mediterranean Wholesalers (Brunswick, 10 min tram) — Italian deli supplemental shopping.

QVM membership and loyalty

• No formal market-wide membership.
• Many individual traders have their own loyalty programs (free 10th coffee, etc.).
• Foodie Trails offers multi-tour discount packages.
• QVM newsletter (free) lists upcoming events and special tastings.
• Wednesday Night Market is best experienced as a regular weekly event for locals.

Frequently asked questions about Queen Victoria Market

What time does Queen Victoria Market open?

6 am Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. 9 am Sunday. Closed Monday and Wednesday (except Wednesday Night Market in summer/winter seasons).

Is Queen Victoria Market free?

Yes — entry is free, no tickets required. You only pay for what you buy.

What’s the best time to visit Queen Vic Market?

Saturday morning around 9 am is the iconic experience. For quieter shopping, Tuesday or Thursday morning. For markdowns, the last hour before closing. For Wednesday Night Market, 5:30–7:30 pm in November–March.

How long do I need at Queen Vic Market?

Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for a thorough wander including a meal at the food court. Serious shoppers spend 3+ hours. Visitors doing a guided food tour spend 2–3 hours including tastings.

Can you eat at Queen Victoria Market?

Yes — the food court along the Queen Street side has 30+ hot food stalls. Mains are A$10–A$18. The American Doughnut Kitchen jam donuts and the Polish bratwurst are tourist staples.

Are there parents’ rooms at Queen Vic Market?

Yes — parents’ rooms with feeding chairs and baby-changing tables are at the Queen Street main entrance. Strollers fit easily through the sheds.

Is Queen Victoria Market dog-friendly?

Yes for outdoor sheds (dogs on leads). Service animals welcome throughout. Some food traders have rules about dogs near food displays.

What’s the difference between Queen Vic and South Melbourne Market?

Queen Vic is much larger (7 hectares vs 1 hectare) and more touristy; South Melbourne is smaller, more upscale, with a stronger focus on prepared food and gourmet items. Both are excellent.

Final word: Queen Victoria Market is essential

For first-time visitors, Queen Victoria Market is the most authentic Melbourne experience available — a 150-year-old working market where locals and tourists shop side by side, food traders shout prices, and the smell of jam donuts and roasted coffee mixes with fresh fish and ripe tomatoes. Spend a Saturday morning here, get lunch at the food court, take home cheese and salami for the hotel room. For broader food context, see our best restaurants in Melbourne pillar.