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

Queen Victoria Market — complete 2026 visitor guide. Opening hours, what to buy, the best traders, food court favourites, the Wednesday Night Market, and tips for a great visit.

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: corner of Elizabeth and Victoria Streets, Melbourne VIC 3000.
• Hours: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 6 am to 3 pm, Saturday 6 am to 4 pm, Sunday 9 am to 4 pm. Closed Mondays and Wednesdays (apart from the seasonal Wednesday night markets).
• Wednesday Night Market: a summer series on Wednesday evenings; check the market’s website for the coming season’s dates.
• Winter Night Market: the 2026 season ran on Wednesdays from 3 June to 9 September, 5 pm to 10 pm, with free entry; check the organiser’s site for next winter’s dates.
• Established: officially opened in March 1878. It grew out of a market reserve set aside in 1857, and the Lower Market was used as a livestock and hay market from 1865.
• Size: 7 hectares — the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Traders: 600+ stallholders.
• 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 — 7 minutes from Melbourne Central; from Flinders Street Station it’s a longer walk straight up Elizabeth Street.
• Drive — paid parking at the market (entry on Queen Street). On market days it’s free from 6 am to 9 am, then A$8 for the first two hours after 9 am and A$4 for each extra hour; on other days casual parking starts at A$4 for one hour.
• 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 art-deco Deli Hall 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 dozens of 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.

Queen’s Food Hall (Hot Food)

Queen’s Food Hall, on the corner of Victoria and Queen Streets where the old food court stood, 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 at the market. 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–3 pm	Quietest	Locals, easy shopping
Wednesday	Closed (seasonal night markets)	—	Wed Night Market only
Thursday	6 am–3 pm	Moderate	Mid-week shopping
Friday	6 am–3 pm	Busy	Lunch + weekend prep
Saturday	6 am–4 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

In summer, the Queen Victoria Night Market turns the day market into a hawker-style food festival on Wednesday evenings. Dozens of street food vendors 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.
• Seating is limited and varies, so be prepared to stand.

The Winter Night Market brings Wednesday nights back in the colder months (in 2026 it ran from June into September) 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 — multiple tasting stops with tour guide narration. Check Foodie Trails’ site for current tours and prices.
• Hidden Secrets Tours: Queen Vic Market Heritage and Foodie Tour — 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 — the market’s own two-hour guided walk, with generous tastings and a Market shopping bag. Check its booking page for the current price.

Queen Victoria Market history

The market officially opened in 1878 beside the Old Melbourne Cemetery and later spread over it: between 1920 and 1922, 914 bodies were exhumed and reburied elsewhere. The Meat Hall along Queen Street was built in 1869, predating the market’s official opening. The Deli Hall was added later 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. Renewal of the market is continuing, with further heritage restoration and new public space planned as part of Gurrowa Place.

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, and you’ll be on your feet between halls and sheds.
• 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 Queen’s Food Hall — on the corner of Victoria and Queen Streets, with plenty of stalls to choose from.
• 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.

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

• 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. When Melbourne’s population growth pushed the cemetery beyond its capacity, the city moved some graves to Boroondara Cemetery in Kew, but many burials remain beneath the market. F Shed was built in 1878 as a barrier between the market and the remaining cemetery; dairy trading began there in 1890, before the separate Dairy Produce Hall was built. A heritage memorial near the Queen Street entrance commemorates this history.

The Meat Hall along Queen Street was built in 1869, nine years before the official market opening, and is the oldest building on the Queen Victoria Market site. The art-deco Dairy Produce Hall, today’s Deli Hall, came later, while H and I Sheds go back to 1878. Through the 20th century the market faced multiple proposals to redevelop and relocate; community attachment and heritage status preserved its 19th-century footprint. The renewal is still going: Gurrowa Place is planned to bring further heritage restoration and new 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. 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 many fishmongers; 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

• Dozens of 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.
• 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 guided walk with stops along the way. Includes deli, fish, bread, and cheese tastings.
• Hidden Secrets Tours: Queen Vic Market Heritage and Foodie Tour — history and tastings in one walk.
• The Ultimate Foodie Tour — two hours with a market guide; tastings are generous and you leave with a Market shopping bag.
• 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 takes over Wednesday evenings through its summer season. Free entry. The day market closes Wednesday for the standard schedule, but the open-air sheds transform into a hawker-style food festival.

• Dozens of street food vendors cooking dishes from around the world.
• Live music across multiple stages, free.
• Fully licensed bars with craft beer, wine, cocktails.
• Seating is limited, and what’s set out varies.
• 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 — the same Wednesday-night idea in the cold months, with a fire-warmed atmosphere, mulled wine and 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 Queen’s Food Hall

• 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

• Car park (Queen Street entrance) — free from 6 am to 9 am on market days, then A$8 for two hours and A$4 an hour after that; non-market days from A$4 for an 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 — from Flinders Street Station, head north up Elizabeth Street to the market.
• 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). Queen’s Food Hall for lunch (15 min). Quick walk through produce sheds (15 min). Finish with a bag of American Doughnut Kitchen donuts.

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 Queen’s Food Hall (40 min). String Bean Alley browsing (15 min).

Wednesday Night Market evening

Arrive early for the widest food choice. Multi-stall hawker-style dinner (60 min). Live music at the main stage (30 min). Bar drinks (30 min).

Foodie tour day

Start with a Foodie Trails tour. Multiple tastings included. Lunch at Andrew’s Choice deli or in Queen’s Food Hall. 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) — heritage auction-house brunch.
• Market Lane (Therry Street, across from QVM) — specialty coffee.
• Brunetti Classico (Carlton) — Italian bakery.
• Tipo 00 (Little Bourke Street) — modern Italian.
• Pellegrini’s (Bourke Street) — heritage Italian.
• Mediterranean Wholesalers (Brunswick) — 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

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 Queen’s Food Hall, take home cheese and salami for the hotel room. For broader food context, see our best restaurants in Melbourne pillar.

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