Brick Lane Market

Overview

Brick Lane Brewing tapped its very first keg at the Queen Vic Winter Night Market in 2018, and then — almost exactly five years later — the team opened its latest bricks-and-mortar restaurant and bar across the road from that very same spot.

Brick Lane already has its brewhouse in South Dandenong and Brick Lane Shed on Queen Vic Market's String Bean Alley, but Brick Lane Market is an altogether bigger and more flash venue set within the former Mercat Cross Hotel.

Spread across two floors, the downstairs area is open to everyone wandering around on market days and has more of a bar vibe, while the much bigger upstairs space lends itself better to long lunches and dinners. It's also where you'll find the 16-seat private dining room and huge 150-seat wrap-around terrace overlooking the market itself.

And this proximity to the market isn't just about foot traffic and views. The team is set to work collaboratively with vendors, featuring local produce throughout the site.

This is notably seen in the Brick Lane Market's raw bar. Here, the team serves up fresh oysters and seafood sourced directly from QVM's newly refurbed Food Hall.

Chef Ankit Padmani (ex-Indu, Mejico and Collins Quarter) is overseeing the restaurant's main menu, pushing a market-to-plate ethos, serving up dishes chock full of local and seasonal produce sourced from the market itself.

Either pop by for drinks and snacks like the tuna tostadas, sashimi and charcuterie boards, or get around some of the bigger plates. The massive grilled pork belly is an absolute banger, covered in a thick chilli caramel and gochujang, but you can also keep things simple with elevated pub grub — think schnitzels, burgers and steaks.

Of course, beer is the star of the show at Brick Lane Market. Thirty-six taps are scattered throughout the venue, pouring the brewery's core range, seasonal specials and one-off Pilot Batches. These more experimental brews are for those wanting to try something a little different and are set to be inspired by Queen Vic Market itself. Don't know your beers but you're up for trying something new? The front-of-house team are there to make things easy for you.

Compared to most brewery pubs in Melbourne, Brick Lane Market is offering up one of the most extensive range of food and drinks within some mighty glam surrounds.