The Market-lover’s Guide to Hobart

Whatever your fancy, Tasmania’s capital has markets for all tastes (but not always all seasons – be sure to check opening months).

Salamanca Market

The biggest and best known of Hobart’s bustling market scene is Salamanca, run by the city council since 1972. Every Saturday morning more than 300 stallholders hawk their wares to tens of thousands of visitors against a picturesque backdrop of Georgian warehouses and sandstone escarpment. Traders sell everything from bric-a-brac to flowers, art of all persuasions, enough woodwork to build a forest, and plenty of packaged, fresh and takeaway food. There’s a no-plastic-bag policy, so BYO shopping sack.

Salamanca Place, Hobart waterfront

Every Saturday (except Christmas and Anzac Day), 8.30am-3pm

Mona Market (MOMA)

On summer Sundays the sprawling lawns at the Museum of Old and New Art transform into a trading post that’s almost as eclectic as its host museum. MOMA is a rotating roster of stallholders but expect a strong showing of custom jewellery, clothing fashioned from recycled saris, “lamps inspired by the Tasman Sea”, head massages, handmade underwear, authentic South Indian street foods and Cantina Latina empanadas packed with Tasmanian-grown produce. Need more? There’s live music, too.

MONA Lawns, 655 Main Road, Berriedale

Sundays, 11am-4pm, from late January to mid-April

Farm Gate Market

Since it debuted seven years ago the golden rule at Madi Peattie’s Farm Gate Market has been “Know Thy Farmer”. Here, the primary producers, or at least someone closely involved in the production, must be the ones selling the food. So when you’re queuing for Jono and Jo’s barbecued octopus tentacles you can rest assured they fished the creatures themselves from the frigid waters off Eaglehawk Neck. Downtown Bathurst Street is closed off on Sundays and given over to 50-70 stallholders and their many local admirers, who come to pick up sourdough, smoked seafood, fresh apple juice from Thurlaston Farm in the Huon Valley and much more goodness besides.

Bathurst Street, between Murray and Elizabeth streets, Hobart

Sundays, 8.30am-1pm

Hobart Twilight Market

Another popular Friday evening drawcard, the Twilight Market splits its affections between Long Beach in the swank riverside suburb of Sandy Bay and the cruise terminal piazza at Macquarie Point, just behind the Henry Jones Art Hotel. From fresh and cooked foods to leather-hide sandals and craft beers, everything sold by the 40-plus vendors must be made in Tasmania. There’s also live music, and the market is dog-friendly– a big attraction for locals.

Long Beach in Sandy Bay: 4.30pm-8.30pm on the second and fourth Fridays of the month, from October to March

Macquarie Point on the Hobart waterfront: 4.30pm-8.30pm on the first Friday of the month, from August to April

Street Eats @ Franko

This fun Friday gathering held in central Franklin Square with the Derwent River glittering below is run by the same folk as Farm Gate Market. Held in warmer months (December -April), provenance is the key feature at Street Eats @ Franko, too. Standout stalls include Ross O’Meara from Bruny Island Foods with his pork jowl on “dirty rice” and Deep End Farms’ steamed buns (baozi) stuffed with pork, beef or vegetables from their Geeveston property. As Hobart markets go, this is a boutique affair of up to 20 purveyors, including three bars showcasing craft beverages, but the big drawcard is the stage where local acts entertain picnickers into the twilight.

Franklin Square (70 Macquarie Street), Hobart

Fridays, 4.30pm-9pm from December to April

Bellerive Community Farmers’ Market

A true community market, Bellerive Community Farmers’ Market stallholders assemble on the Bellerive Boardwalk on summer Saturday mornings to sell their wares and admire the views across Kangaroo Bay. There’s a strong showing of backyard produce, from squashes to stone fruits as well as pickles and preserves, just-baked breads and those breakfast-on-the-go essentials – good coffee and egg-and-bacon rolls.

Bellerive Boardwalk, 30 Cambridge Road, Rosny Park

Saturdays, 8.30am-12.30pm, from November to late March