Two years after it was announced that il Mercato Centrale would be opening in Melbourne (its first hub outside Italy) the time has finally come.

The food-focused concept hall, pioneered by Italian restaurant entrepreneur Umberto Montano and the Cardini-Vannucchi family, is an out-of-this-world blend of artisans, art, dining, learning, music and technology. It’s a lot.

So to help prime you, we’re answering all of your burning questions. Here’s everything you need to know about Melbourne’s long-awaited il Mercato Centrale.

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What is il Mercato Centrale?

il Mercato Centrale is sort of like the food court of your dreams, where you can buy items from artisan producers, passionate growers, and some of the world’s best artists. The Melbourne outpost will sprawl across 3,500 square meters over three levels. Part market, part bar, part restaurant, the first Il Mercato Centrale opened in 2014 in Florence and has since spread to Rome, Turin, Milan and now Melbourne. 

When will il Mercato Centrale open?

Il Mercato Centrale Melbourne was initially announced in 2022, with the expectation that it would open by year’s end. Good things come to those who wait though, and il Mercato Melbourne is officially open at 546 Collins Street at 4pm on Thursday, September 19.

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What can you buy at il Mercato Centrale?

What can’t you buy at Il Mercato? The ground level is the “shopping” floor, where vendors will sell baked goods, cheese, pizza, seafood, meat, and just about anything else you can think of. You can also purchase fresh produce to take away or request for it to be cooked right there in front of you. No civilised shopping trip is complete without a glass of wine in hand, so grab a drink and a basket and get cracking. 

Can you dine in at il Mercato Centrale?

You sure can. Not only can you eat in a more casual setting on level one, on level two you’ll find a fine-dining restaurant, a pizzeria, a pasta restaurant, a wine bar, a gelateria, a distillery, and a live music area. Even better, you can order food from downstairs via a universal QR code if you get hungry after a few glasses of vino.

Can you take classes at il Mercato Centrale?

The top level of Melbourne’s il Mercato will be dedicated to masterclasses run by the vendors where you can hone your pizza skills, learn about food regions, or make pasta. It will also be available for private functions if you really want to show off.

Who are the vendors at il Mercato Centrale?

Here it is! The full list of vendors and the talent behind them at Melbourne’s buzziest new food hall.

Ground floor:
il Forno – Damian Malone
La Pasticceria – Alessandro Grillo and Vincenzo Marino
La Frutta e la Verdura – Biviano and Sons
I Calamari Fritti – Paula and Gary Harding
La Mozzarella – Giorgio Linguati
I Cannoli – Dario Di Clerico
il Pesce – George Milonas
La Pizza al Teglio – Nicoló Conenna
La Pasta Fresca – Angelo Sperlinga
La Carne e i Salumi – Nikos Chatzopulous
il Caffé – Jerry Lee
Il cioccolato – Alessandro Luppolo
Main bar – il Mercato Centrale

Level one:
La pizza napoletana – Velerio Violetti
La pasta fatta in casa – Annapaola d’Alessio
Lo Smash Burger – Nathan Zammit, Tim Jordan and Cristian Calderon
L’enoteca – Mark & Michelle Singarella
il Gelato – Rovena Xeba
il Ristorante – Jerry Kim
La Piadina – Massimo Flacone
il Riso – Simone Garusi
La Distelleri – Michael Hickenbotham and Graham Jones
il Cocktail Bar – il Mercato Centrale

What are the opening hours at il Mercato Centrale Melbourne?

The best part about Melbourne’s newest food haven is that you can get your fix at just about any time of day. The Collins Street venue is open seven days a week from 7am until midnight. However, keep your eyes peeled for any special events – the mega-venue has been granted a rare 3am liquor license.

Il Mercato Centrale Melbourne is open now at 546 Collins Street, Melbourne.
For more details head to the website.

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