Shopping · Melbourne · Australia
Shopping in Melbourne
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: User:Bmra73, Public domain
Quick answer
Melbourne shopping centres on the arcades and department stores of the CBD, independent designers and vintage in Fitzroy and Collingwood, and fashion along Chapel Street. Markets, from the Queen Victoria Market to weekend design markets, are a big part of the scene. Best souvenirs: Melbourne-designed fashion, Locally roasted coffee and Aboriginal art and design.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 5
- Top souvenir
- Melbourne-designed fashion
Where to shop
Bourke Street Mall and the arcades
The Myer and David Jones department stores, the restored GPO building and the Victorian Block Arcade and Royal Arcade.
Fitzroy and Collingwood
Independent fashion, vintage clothing, design shops and record stores on Gertrude, Brunswick and Smith Streets.
Chapel Street
Fashion boutiques, homewares and vintage stores from South Yarra down to Windsor.
Melbourne Central
A large shopping centre by the State Library, built around the 19th-century Coop's Shot Tower under a glass cone.
Markets
Queen Victoria Market
Produce sheds, the deli hall and general merchandise stalls on the northern edge of the CBD.
South Melbourne Market
A neighbourhood market known for dim sims, oyster bars and delis.
Rose Street Artists' Market
Local designers and makers selling jewellery, prints and homewares in Fitzroy, usually at weekends.
St Kilda Esplanade Market
Arts and crafts stalls along the St Kilda Esplanade on Sundays.
Prahran Market
Fresh produce, butchers and delis a block from Chapel Street.
What to buy
Melbourne-designed fashion
Labels from local designers are sold in Fitzroy, Collingwood and the CBD arcades.
Locally roasted coffee
Bags of beans from Melbourne roasters are light, distinctive gifts.
Aboriginal art and design
Buy from galleries and shops that work directly with artists, such as the Koorie Heritage Trust at Federation Square.
Victorian wine
Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula wines are sold in bottle shops; check your home country's import limits.
AFL merchandise
Team scarves and guernseys from club shops make fun souvenirs for sports fans.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Street · Melbourne CBD
Hosier Lane and the CBD laneways
The CBD's lanes and arcades are Melbourne's signature.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Food
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Market · Melbourne CBD
Queen Victoria Market
Trading since 1878, the Queen Victoria Market covers several city blocks of produce sheds, a deli hall of cheese, meat and smallgoods, and general merchandise stalls.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
- History
Neighbourhood · Fitzroy
Brunswick Street and Fitzroy
Brunswick Street and Gertrude Street are lined with vintage shops, record stores, street art, cafés and pubs, and the side lanes are some of the best places in Melbourne to see murals away from the CBD crowds.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Art
- Food
- After dark
Street · Melbourne CBD
Chinatown
Dating from the 1850s gold rush, Melbourne's Chinatown along Little Bourke Street is one of the oldest continuous Chinese settlements in the Western world.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- History
- After dark
- Free
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Specialty coffee and the 'magic', Dim sim, Pide and gözleme and Hot jam doughnuts. Laneway cafés around Degraves Street and Centre Place, and roasters in Fitzroy, Collingwood and Brunswick. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Melbourne CBD | $$$ | Laneway cafés, Victorian arcades and the free tram zone on the Hoddle Grid |
| Southbank | $$$$ | Riverside promenade, the arts precinct and high-rise hotels across the Yarra |
| Fitzroy and Collingwood | $$ | Street art, vintage shops and bars along Brunswick, Gertrude and Smith Streets |
| Carlton | $$ | Italian cafés on Lygon Street, the university and UNESCO-listed gardens |
| St Kilda | $$ | Bayside Esplanade, Acland Street cake shops and a century-old amusement park |
| South Yarra and Prahran | $$$ | Chapel Street shopping, Prahran Market and leafy residential streets |
| Richmond | $$ | Pubs, Vietnamese food on Victoria Street and the walk to the MCG |
| Brunswick | $ | Sydney Road's Middle Eastern bakeries, live music and student bars |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in AUD. Tipping is not expected. Leaving about 10% at a sit-down restaurant for good service is appreciated but optional, and tipping at cafés and bars is uncommon.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in May–August; the busiest months are January.
- January: Midsumma Festival — LGBTQ+ arts and culture (usually January to February)
- February: Midsumma Festival (usually until early February)
- February: Summer night market at the Queen Victoria Market (usually Wednesday evenings)
- March: Moomba Festival on the Yarra (Labour Day weekend, usually March)
- March: Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (usually March)
- March: Melbourne International Comedy Festival (usually late March to April)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, food lovers and solo travellers
Melbourne CBD
Laneway cafés, Victorian arcades and the free tram zone on the Hoddle Grid
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Melbourne?
Melbourne-designed fashion, Locally roasted coffee, Aboriginal art and design and Victorian wine.
+Where is the best shopping in Melbourne?
Bourke Street Mall and the arcades: The Myer and David Jones department stores, the restored GPO building and the Victorian Block Arcade and Royal Arcade.
+What are the best markets in Melbourne?
Queen Victoria Market, South Melbourne Market, Rose Street Artists' Market, St Kilda Esplanade Market and Prahran Market.