The world knows the Market is a top foodie destination, but when did you last properly explore it? Here are four stalls to check out next time you go.
More than nine million people visit Adelaide Central Market each year. And last month, it was ranked the third-best food market in the world, beating famous markets in Paris, Valencia and New York.
The Adelaide Central Market houses more than 70 traders under one roof, making it the largest undercover fresh produce market in the southern hemisphere.
Adelaide Central Market General Manager Fabienne Reilly says the world ranking isn’t a surprise so much as a reminder. “The character of our market comes from being a great melting pot,” she says. “It’s a mix of hyper-local and multicultural. It reflects our diverse migrant communities. It’s relaxed, but with a really high standard of quality. People care for quality here. We just don’t make a fuss about it.”
Her tip for anyone who hasn’t been in a while is to walk in with all your senses switched on. “We often think shopping can be a chore, but the Market is a great sensory experience,” she says. “It’s good for the soul.”
It can also be good for your bank balance. “What’s taken for granted is how it’s not only really quality and fresh produce, but often the most affordable, especially for fruit and veg,” she says. “We forget that, especially compared to supermarkets.”
Here are four stalls regulars know to head for:
Saudade: The tart people queue for
If you’ve ever walked past the Grote Street entrance and noticed a queue, that’s Saudade. Their pastel de nata – Portuguese custard tart – has built a following so loyal that visitors keep asking them to open in Melbourne.
“Many visitors, including locals, often tell us our pastéis de nata are as good as, if not better than, the ones they have tried in Portugal,” says Miguel Alemao from Saudade.
His order for a first-timer? A “nata” with a dusting of cinnamon and a coffee.
Les Deux Coqs: Pastries on one side, pâté on the other
Les Deux Coqs is run by Alexis and Audrey, who took over the business from its French founders in 2025. There, you’ll find glossy tarts on one side, terrines and pâté en croûte on the other.
“Visitors are often intrigued when they see a traditional-looking French store inside the Market,” Alexis says. “At first, it can seem like an unusual combination, but it really works. From appetisers and charcuterie to pastries and desserts, we have something for every part of the meal.”
The best-seller is the duck mousse. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, try the canelés, crème brûlée or lemon meringue tart.
House of Health Collective: The four-stall secret
If you’re trying to cut back on single-use plastic, the House of Health Collective is the easiest place to start. Its four stalls make up one of the longest-running certified organic operations in the country, and bring-your-own-container shopping is built into how the whole thing works.
“Buy what you need, bring your own container, skip the packaging,” says Chester Frank, who runs the Collective with his brother Rob Jnr. “Bulk buying is one of the most cost-effective ways to shop. It’s cheaper than people think and the quality difference is immediate.”
The bulk section lets you scoop the quantity you need of oats, rice, nuts, lentils and dried beans. The refill stations work the same way for liquids: pour your own oil, nut butter, or even liquid soap into your own jar.
The Collective stocks plenty of less expected items too, like ceremonial cacao, adaptogenic mushroom blends, wild-caught seafood, artisan ferments and raw honey.
The Olive Tree: A cellar door in a market stall
If you’re buying ingredients for dinner and want to match the right wine, Paul Bratovic is your man. He’s been at the Market for more than 25 years and Stall 61 – The Olive Tree – stocks only South Australian wines, so his staff can talk you through the regions, the producers and exactly what to pour with whatever you’ve just picked up from the seafood or charcuterie counters.
You can also BYO(E)B – bring your own empty bottle. The Olive Tree refills high-quality Clare Valley olive oil and Bleasdale Tawny.
And most Friday nights The Olive Tree pours free wine tastings from visiting South Australian producers.
A new chapter, same heart
If you’ve walked past Gouger or Grote streets lately, you’ve seen the cranes. The Market is about to double in size as part of the Market Square development. But in the meantime, it’s very much open, trading and thriving.
Fabienne says the expansion is a major new chapter, but not a reinvention. “What’s most important for us is that we preserve everything that makes the Market so loved – the unique atmosphere, the authentic shopping experience, the focus on amazing food and a sense of community,” she says.
Where Adelaide shows up
The Market isn’t just where South Australians shop, it’s also a place where we celebrate.
Tasting Australia turned the Market floor into a live cooking stage earlier this month. All through May, as part of History Month, market-goers can take a free audio tour and hear the stories behind some of the much-loved treasures at the heart of the Market.
During National Reconciliation Week, the Market will also host On Country at the Market – a free program of First Nations art, music, cooking demonstrations, storytelling and pop-ups from 27 May to 3 June.
Then on Sunday 7 June, The Olive Tree presents the Adelaide Wine Festival, featuring more than 50 South Australian wineries, five distilleries and food by Market traders.
In July, Illuminate Adelaide’s magic comes to the Market, with roving performances to engage with, a mesmerising art installation to explore and a special after dark foodie event.
Also in July, the Market’s much loved Bastille Day celebration returns, showcasing French food, wine and culture, bringing a taste of France to the Market.
There’s also the Producer in Residence stall near the Grote Street entrance, where a new South Australian producer, start-up retailer or eatery tests their idea every three weeks – so even regulars have a reason to see what’s changed.
Friday nights, Saturday mornings and the art of wandering
Friday nights were voted Australia’s favourite food experience in the 2025 delicious 100 awards. With live music from 6pm and trading until 9pm, these evenings put the fun in grocery shopping.
“You can shop, but you can also dine,” she says. “You can go with loved ones. You can listen to music, entertain the kids, hang out. It’s a perfect place for a wander.”
Fabienne says some regulars have been doing Friday night shopping and dinner for years religiously. One customer told her they’d been sitting at the same table every Friday for years – and the couple at the next table had too. They became friends.
Saturday is for taking your time. Fabienne says her perfect Market morning is less about a strict plan and more about following your nose: coffee and breakfast at Atlas Continental, cheese tasting at Smelly Cheese, traditional sweets at Turkish Delights, then stocking up on fruit and veg for the week.
“By the end of it, a lot of people who haven’t been here for a while are thinking, ‘Why have I not been here for so long?’,” she says. “It’s like rereading a really good book. You just feel recharged.”
Explore the stalls, events and free audio tour at the Adelaide Central Market website.
