A Chocolate Lovers Tour of South Melbourne Market
Yet another reason to visit Melbourne, Australia
South Melbourne Market is my favourite market in Melbourne. Opened in 1867, they sell a little bit of everything, and it all looks amazing. The stalls are all great, the service friendly and attentive. If I lived in Melbourne, I think I’d have to find a place to stay walking distance from here. Priorities.
Over the years, I have spent many hours walking up and town the aisles of the market in search of everything chocolate related. There are more options, of course, but this is a good (albeit slightly over the top) place to start.
Where to start
There are many entrances to the market. Start this walk on the entrance on Cecil Street closest to Coventry Street. There are paper maps of the market at this entrance or at the info desk inside that can help you find your way around.
Start on Aisle B…
Stop 1: Cobb Lane Bakery (Stall 42) pickup a pain au chocolat on your way from the train stop to the start of this chocolate tour (if you took the light rail over from the centre of Melbourne, what the locals call the CBD).
Stop 2*: Atypic Chocolate (Stall 88A) for some great single origin bean to bar chocolate. They also sell hot chocolate and chocolate icecream, depending on the season.
Stop 3: Agathé Patisserie (Stall 63) for their baby chocolate cake with a sprinkle of sea salt.
Stop 4: Joy Cupcakes (Stall 45B) for some classic chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing.
Stop 5*: Swords Select Wine & Beer (stall 73) Ask the staff for the latest selection of chocolate beers. We tried the Melba’s Chocolates Coffee Stout which is basically dessert in a can.
Stop 6: Cannoleria (Stall 72) sell a range of cannoli with chocolate fillings.
Stop 7: Tea Drop (Stall 34) one of my go to tea shops, they sell not only a few hot chocolates (including one with gingerbread spice that my kids like) but also chocolate bonbons from Only Mine.
Now loop around and head down Aisle C and then D…..
Stop 8: In2Homewares (Stall 193) for a new set of colourful bowls to serve your chocolate desserts in.
Stop 9: Greenvalley Timber (Stall 179) for a cutting board to chop chocolate on home but beautiful enough to also present your chocolate creations on (as I do).
Stop 10: The SuperCool (Stall 153) for a new mug to serve your hot chocolates from at home. They also sell books (not usually chocolate, but hopefully mine when it comes out) and even table cloths to create a whole look for your chocolate table.
Stop 11: My Cookie Factory (Stall 170) for some pretty impressive chocolate chip cookies.
Stop 12: Brothers Hatters (Stall 166) for a cozy hat to wear during hot chocolate season.
Keep going down Aisles E, F and G…
Stop 13: Moses & Co Market Wholefoods (Stall 26) has a display of chocolate made from beans from the Solomon Islands called Solomons Gold Chocolate.
Stop 14: La Lapa (Stall 130) for chocolate brownies.
Stop 15: Flour Patisseries (Stall 110) for all sorts of ridiculously decadent looking sweet chocolate desserts. It smells like sugar as you pass…
Stop 16: The Soap Shop (Stall 111) for a bar of chocolate soap: no fat, no calories chocolate….no kidding.
Stop 17: W.B. Smith & Co Kitchenware (Stall 116) for a chicken shaped timer to help time the baking of the perfect chocolate cakes (chickens lay eggs, eggs make chocolate desserts good…legit connection there).
Stop 18*: Ugo Burrata Bar (Stall 22) as they sometimes have desserts mixing burrata and chocolate (yes….amazing).
Then walk up the Deli Aisle towards the Food Hall.
Stop 19: All sorts of things that pair beautifully with chocolate especially K-SEIN Fromageria (Stall 30), Padre Coffee (Stall 33), and Nutshoppe (Stall 1)
Stop 20: Gewirzhaus (Stall S3). They sell an interesting sounding chocolate spice made with dutch cocoa and cassia, coriander, ginger, clove, nutmeg.
Stop 21: Pieno di Grazia (Stall S6) for chocolate filled donuts.
Stop 22: Fritz Gelato (Stall S11) for chocolate gelato.
If you still have energy (please try because at this point you will need a bit of extra exercise to balance the high calorie intake of this walk), venture outside the market.
Chef’s Hat the corner of Coventry and Cecil Street for all of your baking needs
Chéri on Coventry street for decadent chocolate desserts
Coventry Bookstore on Coventry for your chocolate book needs
. I love this bookstore. It is small, but seems to only stock fascinating books. This is where I got Hot Chocolate on Thursdays (read post here).
South Melbourne Market is open Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8am to 4pm (5pm on Fridays).
Now for dinner….
Thanks for reading
Giselle
Chief Chocolate Sipper