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The Best of Melbourne Markets
There is an abundance of Melbourne markets, each of them an interesting reflection of Melbourne's life and culture.
Melbourne comprises a fascinating mix of glamour and fashion, different ethnic communities and sub-cultures.
What unites them is a passion for life, good food and music. Combine this with Melbourne's outdoor climate and you get a rich market culture.
The sheer number of Melbourne markets is staggering — for many Melburnians, going to the markets is part of life.
Here are some Melbourne markets you may want to visit:
Rose Street Artists Market
For an art and craft market, I recommend the Rose Street Artists Market. It is open every Saturday in bohemian and eclectic Fitzroy.
It is modeled after similar markets in New York, London and Berlin and enables artists and crafts people to avoid hefty commissions and sell their creations directly to the public.
Each week, you will find more than 70 of Melbourne's best designers and artists displaying their quirky, inventive and genuine goods. Throughout the year there are more than 400 contributing artists and designers, which is why it's always great to revisit another time.
You will find original high quality work at Rose Street market. I find it engaging, tend to linger and feel recharged by conversations with artists and their creations.
You can also get lunch or coffee in its gourmet café and listen to live entertainment.
Camberwell Sunday Market
For second-hand goods and trash and treasure, the Camberwell Sunday Market is a must. It operates from the carpark behind the main street shops. Camberwell is about 20 minutes east from the city, and the market is only a short walk from the train station.
This Melbourne market is a hot tip and many locals scavenge there for a piece of designer clothing or interesting home wares.
You can get collectibles, bric-a-brac, recycled and vintage clothing — and often something you did not know you needed.
This Melbourne market is extremely popular with sellers and buyers alike.
Queen Victoria Market
A Melbourne visit is not complete without calling in on the Queen Victoria Markets, which operate out of the original city market buildings established in the 1870s.
It is a place where many locals buy their fresh food — meat, fish, fruit and vegetables as well as European cheeses, sausages, bread and delicatessen.
Locally it's called the Vic Markets. It is worth visiting just for the experience and the hustle and bustle of traders in the food halls yelling out their prices.
You can also get great bargains there. If you want a didgeridoo, sporting memorabilia, Italian "designer" bags or leather jackets, this is where you pay a fraction of what it costs in regular shops.
On Wednesday nights, between December and February, a visit to the Vic Night market is a must.
You will get live entertainment and many stalls with a focus on natural health and crafts — as well as a lot of good food and wine.
Esplanade Market
The Esplanade Market in St Kilda is another great Melbourne market to visit, as long as the weather is good on a Sunday.
It is located along the St Kilda Esplanade with views over the bay and easily combined with a trip to the beach or a walk along St Kilda pier.
There you get almost 200 original artists and crafts people displaying a diverse range of quality handmade artworks of wood, glass, paper, resin, recycled materials.
St Andrew's Market
An insider's tip for an alternative market — similar to markets in places such as Byron Bay — is the St Andrew's Market. It is about one hour's drive northeast of Melbourne and operates on Saturdays.
Its focus is on "handmade" and "home grown" items.
It has a Chai tent, people jamming, home made food and produce. You can get everything from tie-died clothes, to jewelry, to toys and plants, and all sorts of handmade gifts and treats.
And there's more
This is only a short list of Melbourne markets. It does not include many other great markets you can visit in Melbourne — but it is a start.
