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Melbourne’s long-standing love affair with great food has just scored some (more) global creds – and this time, it’s not a neighbourhood pizza joint or CBD steakhouse taking the spotlight. Instead, it’s the ever-bustling South Melbourne Market that’s flying the flag, named among a recent guide to the highest-rated food markets in the world.
According to new research by AllClear, which crunched nearly 400,000 visitor reviews, the beloved southside market landed equal fourth place globally, rubbing shoulders with some of the planet’s most iconic culinary destinations – and beating heavyweights like London’s Chelsea Market and Barcelona’s La Boqueria along the way.
It’s not hard to see why locals and travellers keep coming back. With more than 150 stalls under its historic roof, South Melbourne Market is a choose-your-own-adventure of snacks, sips and fresh produce. From just-shucked oysters to piping hot dumplings, it’s the kind of place where one lap turns into three – and a coffee date becomes breakfast, then folds into lunch. Backed by more than 21,000 reviews and an impressive 4.6-star average, the numbers speak for themselves.
The study looked specifically at the percentage of four- and five-star reviews to determine which markets truly deliver the goods. Topping the list was Reading Terminal Market, followed closely by London’s Borough Market. But Australia didn’t just make a cameo – it came in strong, with Adelaide Central Market snapping up third place and South Melbourne Market locking in a top five finish.
Globally, North America might dominate the broader top 20, but Melbourne’s inclusion at the pointy end proves our food scene is a genuine drawcard for international visitors. In other words, if you needed an excuse to spend your weekend stocking up on supplies in one of the city’s foodie hotspots, this might be it.
The world’s 20 highest-rated food markets:
1. Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia
2. Borough Market, London
3. Adelaide Central Market, Adelaide
=4. Mercado Central, Valencia
=4. South Melbourne Market, Melbourne
6. Torvehallerne, Copenhagen
7. Marché Bastille, Paris
8. Granville Island Public Market, Vancouver
9. Chelsea Market, New York City
10. Ferry Building Marketplace, San Francisco
11. Milwaukee Public Market, Milwaukee
12. La Boqueria, Barcelona
13. Marché Atwater, Montreal
14. Pike Place Market, Seattle
15. Viktualienmarkt, Munich
=16. Or Tor Kor Market, Bangkok
=16. Mathallen Oslo
18. Municipal Market of São Paulo
19. St. Lawrence Market, Toronto
20. Foodhallen, Amsterdam
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