New-look food hall opens at Queen Victoria Market

A newly revamped Queen’s Food Hall at the iconic Queen Victoria Market (QVM) has officially opened its doors, promising to bring a “fresh vibe” to the historic marketplace.

Located at the corner of Victoria and Queen streets, the new $5.5 million space replaces the outdated 1980s food court, with eight operators now presenting a diverse range of cuisines that are sure to delight food enthusiasts.

Visitors can look forward to offerings including El Rincon, a Spanish tapas bar dishing up popular share plates, such as cured meats, Spanish meatballs and paella; and Le Consulat, a Parisian-inspired patisserie and café, serving a selection of savoury and sweet French delights.

There’s also Bellboy Coffee Bar, a chic city offering with coffee, beer, wine and cocktails, as well as light bites; and Canton Malay, a beloved eatery known for its mouth-watering curry laksa and other traditional delicacies.

Drums, a Sri Lankan café is returning with a fresh new look, serving traditional favourites, while Rubens Grill, an American-themed café, will serve mouth-watering meats and sides; and a sushi and oyster bar called Saltwater will celebrate the market’s quality seafood with a fresh, theatrical menu.

“The new Food Hall will bring a fresh vibe to the market and boost business for traders,” Lord Mayor Sally Capp said following the Food Hall’s celebratory opening on November 17.

“We’ve made the largest investment in the council’s history to ensure we preserve the heritage of this site while also adding modern attractions that will drive visitation,” she said.

“Our spectacular new food hall brings together the market’s fresh produce and some of the city’s most exciting eateries – promoting the precinct’s reputation as a world-class dining destination.”

QVM CEO Matt Elliot said the market, which was home to 500 traders and seven million visitors a year, had been an icon of Melbourne’s fresh food and culinary scene, “and we’re excited to introduce the Queen’s Food Hall to further enhance the options for foodies at the market”.

“The Queen’s Food Hall is a vital piece of the renewed Queen Victoria Market which we hope will become a favourite place for visitors to grab a meal, meet friends or just sit back and enjoy the unique market ambience,” he said.

Bellboy Coffee Bar owner Emilio Rogliano said his team was thrilled to be a part of the relaunch and welcoming people to the “amazing new space”.

“We’d encourage everyone to pay us a visit and make the most of the great food and drink on offer at the market.”

The council said remaining operators were expected to open in the coming weeks, with the final operator to be announced soon. •

Caption: Lord Mayor Sally Capp joins traders in celebrating the opening of the Queen’s Food Hall. Photos: Marcela Lehocka.