Queen Victoria Market has been operating since 1878 and is one of Melbourne CBD’s best-known attractions. It covers two city blocks, has 600-odd stallholders, and is a foodie’s paradise.
While it can feel chaotic at times, it’s worth visiting with kids because it’s an opportunity to experience a real market — not a supermarket.
This guide covers the market itself, what to do with kids on a visit, and what’s in the immediate precinct, including a library a two-minute walk away and a playground directly opposite.
things to do in Melbourne CBD with kids
Practical info at a glance
Getting there: Tram routes 19, 57, and 59 stop on Elizabeth Street at the market, within the free tram zone from the city centre — no Myki needed. The market has a multi-storey undercover car park (with 12 x slow EV chargers) and an open-air carpark. Daytime rates apply on regular market days, $15 flat rate from 4:30pm on night market evenings. There is a limited paid street parking nearby.
Opening days: Closed Mondays and Wednesdays except for night markets which are open on Wednesday nights. Saturday is the main event for most families, and Sundays often feature a multicultural festival.
Prams: The covered sheds and the Dairy Hall can be tight with a pram during busy times.
Toilets: There are public toilets at the upper market, between the sheds and the Dairy Hall. narrm ngarrgu Library a two-minute walk away has accessible family bathrooms (which are much nicer than the public toilets).
Best time to visit: Weekend mornings are the fullest experience. Tuesday and Thursday are quieter and better if you want more room to move. Avoid the midday weekend rush with toddlers.
Things to Do in Melbourne CBD with Kids
Exploring the Market
QVM has three main areas and knowing them before you arrive saves the first twenty minutes of getting your bearings.
Dairy Produce Hall
The covered sheds running along the Elizabeth Street side house the produce and specialty food hall, and for most families it’s the best bit. It’s brimming with cheese, deli meats, spices, fresh pasta, bread and coffee and more samples than you can manage.
Every Melburnian has their favourite stallholders, but here are our go-to stalls.
Dianne’s Delights (Shop 43–46)
It’s famous for its homemade dips, with a bargain special of 3 dips for $10! Their specialty is a mix of spicy capsicum and cashew, mascarpone and spinach and basil pesto (which is $5 a tub). Also recommended are the marinated artichokes, grilled eggplant and antipasto. Buy Turkish bread from any of the bakeries and you have lunch sorted!
M&G Caiafa (Shop 66–70)
Bakery stall trading for over 40 years and now with new owners. The stall is piled high with croissants, brownies, bagels and bread and they even have an oven where you can grab a fragrant buttery croissant in the mornings. We buy our granola and sourdough pizza bases from here.
Curds & Whey (Shop 12–13)
A specialist cheese and dairy shop with fresh cheese curds, truffle-infused grana padano, Warrnambool butter carved off the slab. It also stocks vinegars and passata.
The Epicurean (Shop 14–16)
A place for epicureans indeed, with fine foods, specialty cheese, free range nitrate-free meats and hand-cut ham. It’s the only stall with goat’s milk raclette and handmade vegan cheeses – try the plant-based feta.
Bill’s Farm (Shop 17–20)
Another well-known cheesemonger, stocking local and imported cheese, salami and smallgoods.
Gewürzhaus (Shop 7-9)
A spice stall selling more than 350 spice mixes, blends, and seasonings. Try their Oishii instant ramen blend (better than the super-processed packet stuff) and Everyday Eggs blend to zhoosh up your morning eggs. They even have ‘Australian Chicken Salt’ with no MSG, a great souvenir!
Big Vic Deli (Shop 25–28)
This Greek deli was opened by George Kardaras in 1965, now run by his son Kon. Shop here for salted cod, cured meats and traditional Greek cheeses and sausages.
The Corner Larder (Shop 33–35)
They do ready-made deli boxes for picnics — a useful option if you want to head straight to Flagstaff Gardens without assembling the meats, antipasto and cheese yourself.
F and G sheds
The open-air F and G sheds run along the Victoria Street side and cover fresh fruit and vegetables. Saturday is the biggest produce day with the most stallholders and the most atmosphere, but it’s also very busy.
If you go late just before market closing time, but particularly on weekends, you can pick up $1 and $2 bags of fresh produce that the stallholders need to move. Here are some of our favourite stalls.
Queen’s Harvest
This third-generation stall has the widest range of hard-to-find produce at QVM such fresh wasabi, black garlic, native finger limes, wild mushrooms.
We also shop at Queen’s Harvest through the TooGoodToGo app — their Surprise Bags of end-of-life produce are always interesting (what to do with so many chillies and purple tomatoes?) and last longer than supermarket equivalents.
Benny’s Fruit Corner
The stall specialises in seasonal fruit in summer cherries, stone fruit, melons, crisp apples. It’s good for families because the fruit is pre-selected and reliably in season.
Garden Organics
A certified organic retailer that’s staffed predominantly by vegetarians and vegans who give recipe suggestions and organic produce advice. The go-to for organic buyers at QVM.
Upper Market
The upper market on the Queen and Therry Streets side has over 200 stalls across J, K, L, and M sheds selling clothing, accessories, jewellery, electronics, souvenirs, leather goods, and homewares. It’s a well-stocked spot to shop for Melbourne and Australian souvenirs.
String Bean Alley
The laneway of independent makers, artists, and retailers runs between the sheds and the upper market, and is worth a dedicated visit.
The Purpose Precinct sits here too: a cluster of Victorian social enterprises selling homewares, clothing, food, and gifts, including Clothing the Gap, HoMie, and Good Cycles which does on-site bicycle repairs.
Note String Bean Alley retailers are only open Thursday to Sunday, 9am–4pm.
Kids Passport Program
To help families engage with the market, kids can collect stamps from traders around the market and claim a prize at the Information Hub.
It’s worth picking up a passport on arrival as it gives younger kids a mission and gets them talking to stallholders. Ask at the main Information Hub on entry.
Where to Eat at Queen Victoria Market
Picking a favourite stall at QVM is like picking a favourite child. There are simply too many good options! Here’s a rundown of our favourite take away and sit-down options.
What to eat inside the Dairy Produce Hall
The borek stall is non-negotiable — spicy lamb for the carnivores, spinach and feta for vegetarians and a bargain to boot ($6 at last visit). It’s the go-to hot snack while wandering the hall.
The Bratwurst stall is a nearby option for people who want something more substantial, but fair warning you will need to sit down to eat it (just too messy). My order is the classic bratwurst served in a crunchy white roll with sauerkraut and mustard.
For hot chocolate, Mork Chocolate is the pick – watch them brulee a marshmallow for their signature campfire hot chocolate. For coffee, Market Lane Coffee is the pick. Both are in the sheds and both are worth the queue.
Don’t forget to stop at the American Doughnut Kitchen van, which has occupied the same spot near the open-air sheds since the 1950s. Hot jam doughnuts inside a paper bag, powdered sugar everywhere. This is a non-negotiable part of any market visit, though on weekends the queue snakes around the van (it does move quickly).
What to eat inside the Queen’s Food Hall
The revamped Queen’s Food Hall opened in November 2023, replacing the old food court at the corner of Victoria and Queen Streets.
Some of the tenants stayed, and some new eateries have opened. Here are some notable places to visit:
Drums Serving hearty, affordable Sri Lankan food, including traditional curries, hoppers, lamprais, chips with curry sauce, hot butter cuttlefish.
Canton Malay is a long standing QVM favourite with their char kway teow, curry laksa, Hokkien noodles and fish head noodle soup.
El Rincon is where we go for paella and share plates of Spanish tapas.
Note the food hall is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9am–3:30pm
What to eat in the Munro Development and surrounds
The Munro Development is on the corner of Queen and Therry Streets. It’s technically not part of the market but is directly opposite, so it melds into one. We recommend families head to:
Brick Lane Market is a two-storey craft beer and dining venue at the former Mercat Cross Hotel site. It’s best for families for lunch on the terrace, though you’ll have to carry your pram upstairs.
Operator San is another Japanese cafe with a distinctly Melbourne flavour. The katsu curry Benedict — house-made spam, soft poached egg, Japanese curry hollandaise on a toasted muffin — is the signature. It’s good for families with older kids and food-curious tweens.
DOH offers small-batch Korean-style cream doughnuts. Premium flavours change regularly and may include earl grey, matcha, Dubai chocolate. Good for kids who want something a bit different from the classic jam doughnut (or do both!).
Romanello Tuscan schiacciata bread — thinner, crispier, and airier than focaccia — is baked fresh on-site daily and loaded with QVM-sourced produce. The cotoletta sanga with breaded chicken, pistachio pesto, and spicy provolone is the standout. Pizza by the slice too. There’s no indoor seating and only outdoor shaded tables on Therry Street, so it’s a good option on a fine day but less so in winter or rain.
Publique Bakery bakes Asian-influenced French pastries baked fresh daily. The almond croissant, sesame baton, and fig danish are the picks. There is some outdoor seating on Therry Street, indoors will be too squashy for prams.
Queen Victoria Market Tours
The Ultimate Foodie Tour runs Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 10am. It’s a two hour tour through the heritage food halls with a guide, tastings at multiple stalls, and a market shopping bag. It’s worth it if you’re visiting for the first time and want more stories behind the stalls. Meet at Mary Martin Bookshop at the corner of String Bean Alley and Queen Street.
You’ll need to book ahead at qvm.com.au — use code DIRECT to save $10. Adult $89, child (5–14) $9, infants free.
There are also third party operators who also run tours of the market:
What’s nearby
narrm ngarrgu Library
narrm ngarrgu Library is a two-minute walk from the market on Therry Street (inside the Munro development). The three-level public library has a whole floor dedicated to children’s books, a makerspace, a quiet room for families, and a storytime program during school term. The design reflects First Nations knowledge systems and the rooftop terrace (currently closed) looks back over the market sheds and city skyline. It’s a great place to combine with a market visit, particularly if you need somewhere calm to rest after the busy market.
narrm ngarrgu Library, 141 Therry Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, +61 1800 695 427
Flagstaff Gardens and Playground
Flagstaff Gardens is directly opposite the market. It’s Melbourne’s oldest public park with a small playground, open lawns, free tennis courts, a bowling green, and public toilets. A morning at the market followed by the playground is a great half-day adventure in the CBD. The park is shaded with mature elm trees and big enough for kids to run around.
Flagstaff Gardens, King Street, West Melbourne VIC 3003
Night Markets
QVM runs night markets throughout the year and they’re a different experience to the daytime market. There’s a lot of pop up food stalls, live music and a noisy bustling atmosphere. It’s better for older kids and families with teens than for toddlers at bedtime.
The Winter Night Market runs Wednesday evenings from early June to late August, 5pm–10pm. It’s a good reason to venture out on a winter’s night, with roving performers, mulled wine, and a lot of warm food. Get there at 5pm as by 7pm it’s crowded and the lines are long.
The Summer Night Market runs Wednesday evenings from November to March. Same format, different season.
In between the summer and winter editions are shorter seasons of themed night markets, such as the Hawker 88 Night Market and Europa Night Market. They’re a great option for families who eat adventurously (as the range of food is not as broad).
For all night markets: it’s free entry, food and drinks cost extra (allow $25-30 per person for food) and get there early with kids.
What’s On at Queen Victoria Market — check before you go
QVM hosts multicultural festivals, pop up markets and free events throughout the year.
During school holidays and major seasonal events eg Christmas and Easter they will have additional events and workshops for kids.
Check the events calendar before you visit to see what’s on.
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