Hungry? Us too. With so many delicious options, deciding what to eat at the market can feel like an impossible task. But don’t worry, we’ve done the hard work (aka taste testing) and put together a cheat sheet of our must-tries, must-buys, and everything in between. Let’s dig in!
Friday Dinner: Your Market Feast Starts Here
Start with a sparkle. Head straight to Fin Wines and order a glass of their I’m All Ears bubbly, the perfect sip to set the mood and kick off your market adventure.
Wander over to our Picnic Ground, which is back bigger and better this season (because, Melbourne, you really do love an outdoor dining spot). Here you’ll find Via Gianlu, a first-timer serving up drool-worthy Schiacciate. It’s their market debut, and we can already tell they are going to be a crowd favourite.
Finish strong (and sweet) with Billy van Creamy. Our pick? The Honeycomb ice-cream – creamy, crunchy, and an all-time crowd-pleaser.
Dinner = sorted.
And when the food coma settles? Top it all off with a coffee from Beanto. Need we say more?
Saturday Morning (10 am – 12 pm)
Start the day right with a cup of the good stuff from Coffee Supreme, once again, do we need to say more?
Then dash over to Mrs Browne Bakes for one of their award-winning Raspberry Goldfields Cookie Pies. They’re gooey, sweet, and basically a slice of heaven. (Pro tip: grab one for the road too – it won the 2025 Ballarat Best Pie for a reason).
To cleanse the palate before lunch, sip on something bright and refreshing from Hello Lemonade. Their Pink Lemonade is a must-try, it’s fresh, tangy, while also sweet and utterly delish!
Saturday Lunchtime (12 pm – 2:50 pm)
It’s five o’clock somewhere, which means… It’s beer o’clock! Stop by Molly Rose Brewing and treat yourself to their award-winning Brunswick Rosso Aperitivo IPA. Inspired by Italian aperitivo culture, this citrusy red IPA has won back-to-back awards for good reason.
For lunch, you can’t go past The Lil Dumpling Van. Grab a plate of eight and try all four flavours, we’ve done it, and yes, they’re all delicious.
And for dessert? St. Gerry’s are masters of Greek donuts (loukoumades). We recommend the Nutella ones, no further explanation needed, you will just have to take our word for it!
Saturday Arvo (2:50 pm – 5 pm)
Time to power through that food coma! Grab a refreshing matcha from Matcha Mate, their matcha (naturally) is vegan-friendly and just the pick-me-up you need.
Still peckish? Treat yourself to something cool from Not Pops, another first-time stallholder we’re buzzing about. Their handmade popsicles are single-serve, wrapped in home-compostable film, and taste like pure joy. The Apple Crumble flavour is calling our name.
Round it all out with a fizzy, flavour-packed sip of Mailer McGuire Kombucha, the perfect cheers to a Saturday well spent.
Sunday Morning:
Sundays at the market start a bit slower with our Low Sensory Hour, the perfect time to wander at your own pace, explore every corner, and (bonus!) grab your food without the queues.
Our first stop? Mamé Cocoa. Trust us, you need to try their Japanese-inspired chilled chocolate ganache. Each bite simply melts in your mouth, and the best part? Every piece is handmade right here in Melbourne.
Our top picks: the Japanese whisky ganache (smooth, rich, and a little bit fancy) and the yuzu ganache (bright, zesty perfection). We’ll take one of each, thanks.
Sunday Lunch:
Are you looking for a vegan, plant-based meal? Well, look no further than HAMSA HUMMUS BAR‘s loaded hummus bowls! We had a review from a stallholder saying she had HAMSA HUMMUS for lunch all 3 days she was at the market! This one gets a Tick, Tick, Tick!
Real OG Burgers joins us for the 3rd year in a row, and Melbourne, you guys just can’t get enough of them! So while your vegan friend gets in line for HAMSA HUMMUS BAR, be sure to grab the real OG burger, from the Real OG burger, because original is always the best flavour! (don’t fight me on that one).
Finally, to have a hydrating beverage, we recommend Sodasmith’s Sparkling Water. Both refreshing and very flavorful, you must try Lime & Native Citrus flavour! Simply the best!
Some snacks to take home:
This food blog journey wouldn’t be complete without a suggestion of snacks we think your pantry deserves! And what better way than the suggestions from our team:
Katie – When the sun’s out but you’re not quite ready to commit to a frosty white or a fizzy spritz, may I suggest a chilled red? Enter Goth Juice from Fin Wines. Perfect for park picnics, BBQ, or to be enjoyed as you sit back and admire your market purchases.
Lindsay – A household favourite of ours is Cham Cham Sauce’s Green Chilli Ssamjang. The umami goodness it brings to a meal truly elevates it. We love it on fried eggs and greens in the morning, on our fav bibimbap combo & stirred through hot noodles!
Rox – ooft I picked up my Mamé Cocoa at bump out and this treat was exactly what I needed to get me through, I also got a pack that was going to be a gift to my partner but turned into an extra gift to myself 🙂
Lizzie – I’m cheating here by suggesting the good old pickles from ACIDE! Technically, fridge, however, I love to have extra stock in my pantry too – classic dill cucumbers are short-lived in my household as we consume them like our daily milk and bread! For something a little edgy, we go for their pickled green beans!
Ash – My pick is Thousand Apologies hot sauce. I was chatting with founder Rita at the AW25 Melbourne Design Market and found out they actually have a bottle take-back program, so they can clean and reuse their cute hot sauce bottles over and over. So if you’ve bought some before, bring the bottles back – bonus!
Steph – My discovery at Melbourne AW25 Market was Chai Addict. Sometimes I don’t always want a second coffee, so skipping the jitters with a calming chai was something future Steph thanked me for. This market, I’ll be picking myself up a bottle to enjoy iced chai all summer.
Jane – You simply must try Six-Eyed Scorpion’s chilli oil. I bought the jar for the first time at our Melbourne AW25 market, and I kid you not, the jar was empty within 2 weeks. I don’t know how. It just made itself onto every dish I cooked!
Emma – I love Azteca’s margarita mix. It’s such a treat and so versatile – I’ll often enjoy it with soda water as a refreshing non-alcoholic option, but it also makes the perfect base for a Friday night marg. I usually come away with a bottle (or two!) because it never lasts long at home. Knowing it’s handmade in Billinudgel with only natural ingredients and no nasties makes it taste even better – it’s truly a “feel good” drink in every sense.