Melbourne Afternoon Food Bus Tour: Market to Pub Tastings

Queen Victoria Market's cheese and fresh oysters, then the laneways where Melburnians actually eat.

An afternoon food tour of Melbourne's neighbourhoods (Queen Victoria Market, Fitzroy, St Kilda and a heritage pub) by small air-conditioned bus with a live English-speaking guide. Cheese and cured meat tasting, fresh seafood, a 55-year-old vanilla slice and a beer are included. You get free time at every stop to wander the aisles, browse the galleries or sit by the foreshore as much or as little as you want. Hotel pickup is included. The tour runs 4.5 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Afternoon food tour in Melbourne neighborhoods

• Visit Queen Victoria Market
• Taste cheese, cured meats, prawns, oysters
• Explore Fitzroy suburb freely
• Try vanilla slice in St Kilda
• Stroll along St Kilda foreshore
• Drive along the bay
• Enjoy beer at historic Australian pub

The experience

The tour starts at Queen Victoria Market, where a guide points you toward a tasting of cheese and cured meats (yes, kangaroo is on the board) followed by prawns or oysters fresh off the ice. Then you have time to lose yourself in the aisles: the traders calling, the produce stalls, whatever catches your eye. No queueing, no schedule pushing you along.

From there the minivan rolls to Fitzroy, Melbourne's oldest suburb, where Victorian terraces and old factory façades now house the cafés, galleries and local designers that Time Out rated among the world's coolest. This stop is yours to explore: an hour to wander, sit in a laneway, browse a shop, or just watch the street. Then it's St Kilda for a vanilla slice from a baker who has been perfecting them for 55 years in Acland Street's first cake shop, with time for a stroll to the foreshore. The tour finishes with a beer (or non-alcoholic alternative) in a true Australian pub that has been pouring them since 1856 and still wears its original charm.

The whole afternoon is 4.5 hours. A guide travels with you on the air-conditioned minivan and knows exactly where to point you at each stop, but the time at every neighbourhood is yours: no 10,000-step trek, no rush, no obligation to stay with the group. Hotel pickup from the city centre is included.

What’s included

• Live English-speaking guide with live commentary on board.
• cheese and cured meat tasting at Queen Victoria Market, fresh seafood tasting, a vanilla slice and coffee, and a beer or non-alcoholic alternative at the pub.
• transport by air-conditioned minivan.
• hotel pickup from selected city centre locations.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Monday and WednesdayDeparts at 13:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (13 to 15 years) · Under 13: can't be booked

GroupUp to 11

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 18 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Oceania Tours and Safaris

Is this one for you?The 4.5-hour afternoon window leaves your morning and evening free, which suits anyone who wants to eat where locals do without building a full day around food. The free time at every stop means you set the pace (whether you're browsing the market for an hour or sitting in a Fitzroy laneway with a coffee), so it works for wanderers and for people who'd rather not be herded.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

2 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (13 to 15 years). Children under 13 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly do I taste on this Melbourne food tour?

The tour includes a cheese and cured meat plate at Queen Victoria Market, fresh prawns or oysters, a vanilla slice from Acland Street's oldest cake shop in St Kilda, coffee, and a beer or non-alcoholic drink at the heritage pub. All tastings are included in the price.

How much free time do I get at each stop?

Free time at every neighbourhood is entirely yours. You choose how long to stay and what to do. The guide will point you toward the best spots, but there's no group schedule or obligation to move with the bus.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

Yes, pickup from selected city centre hotels is included. Public transportation options are also available nearby if you prefer to meet the bus at Queen Victoria Market instead.

What's the difference between Fitzroy and St Kilda on this tour?

Fitzroy is Melbourne's oldest suburb, now filled with cafés, galleries and local designers in converted Victorian terraces: a neighbourhood to explore on foot. St Kilda is the seaside stop where you visit the famous vanilla slice bakery and have time to walk to the foreshore.

How long is the whole tour?

The tour runs 4.5 hours from start to finish, including all tastings, transport and free time at each neighbourhood.