Queen Victoria Markets

[franfran]

Maybe I've missed something, but I couldn't see anything on here about the Queen Victoria Markets.



Although I've been to Melbourne a few times, it was only during my last visit that I went there. Maybe it's because I don't really care much for the Sydney equivalent, Paddy's Markets, and I just assumed that the Queen Victoria Markets would be more of the same. But they are quite different. Sydney's markets are crowded, noisy and (dare I say it, smelly) the fruit and vegetables aren't priced much below those you would find in a fruit shop and aren't any fresher and the general retail area has mostly low quality cheap merchandise. The Queen Victoria Markets are crowded too, but you don't get pushed around like you do in Sydney, and although they're not exactly quiet, the noise isn't excessive. When I go to Paddy's Markets, after about 20 minutes I have to get outside and away from everything, but in Melbourne I just wanted to keep going around and around. I only left because we had other things to see and do that day. I loved the way it is set up with small shops (especially the deli hall) as well as stallholders. It gives it so much more character. And the stallholders were generally a lot friendlier than their Sydney counterparts.



We had lunch there (I had grilled fish and salad - and very nice it was too), something that I wouldn't even think of doing at Paddy's markets. Some of the stalls weren't much better than $2 shops, but there were plenty others selling quality merchandise. I picked up a leather handbag and a cashmere jacket for about half what they would have cost in a shop. I can't remember who I got the handbag from, but I think I bought the jacket (or more correctly had the jacket bought for me) at the Cosy Possum stall.



And if I did live in Melbourne, I think I would come here to get my fruit and vegetables too.



http://www.qvm.com.au/qvm/qvm_home.aspx



Weekdays

Trading Hours Tue: 6am - 2pm Thu: 6am - 2pm Fri: 6am - 5pm (general merchandise to 4pm)



Weekends

Trading Hours Sat: 6am - 3pm Sun: 9am - 4pm

[franfran]

I did want to go to Prahran Markets last time I was in Melbourne, as it's one of those places I always mean to go to, but never get around to see. I have been to Prahran a couple of times, but both times it was on a day when the markets were closed and, I have to admit, I didn't put the markets at the top of my list of things to do, as it seems to be mostly foodstuffs for sale there, and there's a limit to how much groceries you need when you're staying in a city for a week and then you're flying back home.



Last time I was in Prahran was about two years ago. I just spent most of the day wandering around the second-hand shops and a few other places. I had a coffee and a bite to eat at a pie shop. They didn't just have pies though - they had a lot of other things too - I can't recall for sure, but I think I had a quiche of some sort. The place was amazing. It looked like it was frozen in the 1940s. I don't know if everyone would agree with me on this, but Prahran reminds me a lot of Newtown in Sydney's inner-west - They're both slightly run down, have similar architecture, most of the shops are on one long street, the mix of businesses is about the same, and the people in both places look pretty much the same mix too. I didn't get to see Prahran on my last visit to Melbourne - my "other half" said he wanted to go somewhere else instead.....



I must say I've never even heard of Prestons Markets.