Australias Best Foodie Markets Melbourne Versus Sydney

Thanks to an abundance of lush farmland and a never-ending coastline, Australia boasts countless local ingredients. This, combined with the blend of European and Pacific Rim cultures, has resulted in an enviable foodie scene. The ingredients and techniques are in their prime within Australia’s many foodie and farmers’ markets. We check out what Australia’s rival cities, Sydney and Melbourne have to offer.

Sydney Fish Market – Sydney

Sydney Fish Market prides itself on being ‘Australia’s home of Seafood’, where you can feast your eyes on the piles of blue swimmer crabs and rock oysters, fresh sushi and much more. As the largest market of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, this Sydney gem is home to its own cookery school, with some classes hosted by Australia’s leading chefs.

Eveleigh Farmers’ Market – Sydney

This award-winning, authentic Farmers’ Market is held every Saturday at Carriage Works, and has become Sydney’s premier fresh food and produce market. Eveleigh Market is home to eye-catching piles of fresh fruit and vegetables, along with mouthwatering aromas wafting from the bakery, smokehouse and coffee bar.

The Rocks Foodie Market – Sydney

With the Rocks nestled on the doorstep of Sydney’s CBD, you have to admire its surprisingly laid-back, easy-going pace. Between 9am and 3pm every Friday, The Rocks is home to its ‘Foodie Market’. The charming, cobbled laneways become an open-air food heaven, selling everything from homemade preserves to traditional gozleme and seasonal cured meats. Above all, however, is its location, situated between Sydney’s breezy Harbour and Harbour Bridge, there’s no better place to devour your purchases.

South Melbourne Market – Melbourne

With 133 businesses in operation at South Melbourne, the eclectic mix of gourmet stalls sits alongside those for fashion, hardware, and arts and crafts. Revelers recharge on specialty coffee blends amidst the hustle and bustle of the deli isle, whilst tourists and locals queue up to sample the legendary dim sums; the mouthwatering Chinese mix of meat, cabbage and spices stuffed generously into a steamed or deep-fried parcel.

Queen Victoria Market – Melbourne

Queen Victoria Market is a historic landmark, spreading over two blocks. Featuring a deli hall, meat hall, organics, and fruit and veg section, Queen Victoria Market is a foodie’s heaven, with both local and imported gourmet goods. Transforming into a night market on a Wednesday, and with street performers coming out to entertain on Sundays, this spot is a delight for all the senses.

Prahran Market – Melbourne

Unlike South Melbourne and the Queen Victoria, Prahran Market is devoted solely to food. Known as ‘Melbourne’s Food Lovers Market’, Prahran is famed for outstanding food, freshness and hard-to-find specialities. It’s also home to a vast amount of events, including the MFAW festival at the end of February. Tickets include two complementary drinks and over ten ‘tastes’, lovingly prepared by selected stallholders.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.