Melbourne: Queen Victoria Market Food Tour with Tastings

Summary

Melbourne food tour at Queen Victoria Market with tastings and local stories

You’ll wander Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market with a local guide, tasting everything from grilled kangaroo to fresh oysters and sweet jam doughnuts along the way. Hear traders’ stories, sample seasonal specialties in small groups, and leave with your own market tote (plus maybe a few new cravings). It’s lively, surprising — sometimes messy — but always real.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit, I didn’t expect to get so attached to a tote bag. But there I was, outside the Mary Martin Bookshop on Queen Street, clutching mine like it was some kind of badge. Our guide, Sam — who seemed to know every trader by name — gathered us up and led us into the heart of Queen Victoria Market. It was loud in that comforting way: clatter of crates, someone calling out prices for apples, the smell of coffee mixing with something briny from the seafood stand. I kept getting distracted by all the handwritten signs and the way people greeted each other here — lots of nods and quick smiles.

The first bite that really caught me was a sliver of grilled peppered kangaroo. I hesitated (I mean, kangaroo?) but Sam just grinned and said it’s a classic at Vic Market. It was smoky and surprisingly tender — not what I expected at all. We tried oysters from Coffin Bay next; bracingly cold, almost metallic, but somehow perfect after all that noise outside. There were cheeses too (the goat’s milk one still lingers in my mind), olives slick with oil, pickled octopus that made Li from our group laugh when she tried to pronounce it in Greek — she gave up halfway through.

There’s this part in Deli Hall where everything smells like bread and spice at once. Sam pointed out a family-run pasta shop tucked behind a stack of crates — you’d miss it if you weren’t looking for it. The owner waved us over and handed out tiny samples of dolmades wrapped so tight they looked like little green jewels. I thought about how many hands had touched these foods before they got to us. The market felt less like a place to shop and more like its own little city.

We finished near the doughnut van — hot jam doughnuts dusted with sugar, eaten standing up because there’s no way you can wait until you sit down. My fingers were sticky and I didn’t care at all. The whole day trip around Queen Victoria Market felt both chaotic and oddly intimate; maybe because we were such a small group or maybe because everyone here seems to belong somehow. Even now, sometimes when I open that tote bag back home, I swear it still smells faintly of olives and coffee grounds.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Guided walking tour of Queen Victoria Market

• Meet group at Queen Victoria Market
• Explore market laneways and stalls
• Learn market history and tips
• Taste fresh seafood and local cheese
• Sample grilled peppered kangaroo and octopus
• Visit specialty shops and deli hall
• Enjoy hot jam doughnuts and gelati
• Receive Market tote bag
• End tour with fruit platter

Top questions

How long is the Queen Victoria Market food tour?

The guided walking tour lasts about two hours.

Are dietary requirements accommodated on this foodie tour?

No, individual dietary requirements cannot be catered for on this tour.

Where does the tour meet?

The meeting point is outside Mary Martin Bookshop at the corner of Queen Street & String Bean Alley.

What foods are included in the tastings?

Tastings vary by season but usually include oysters, grilled peppered kangaroo, cheese, dips, olives, dolmades, pickled octopus, and hot jam doughnuts.

Is water provided during the tour?

No bottled water is provided; guests are encouraged to bring their own bottle to refill at water stations around the market.

How many people are in each group?

The small-group tour is limited to 10 people per guide.

Is the market wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible.

Are children allowed on this tour?

Yes; infants and small children can join in a pram or stroller.

What’s included

Your day includes a guided two-hour walk through Queen Victoria Market with generous tastings of seasonal foods (like fresh seafood, cheeses, dips, olives), plus a reusable market tote bag to take home as a souvenir.