Now Open: Hay St Market at Paddy's Is Sydney's New Hawker-Style Foodie Spot — and It's Operating Till Late Seven Days a Week
Sydney's first fully licensed market is home to nearly 50 vendors dishing up over 25 cuisines from around the world.
Melbourne's got the Queen Victoria Market (and, more recently, Il Mercato Centrale). Adelaide's home to the Adelaide Central Market. And now, Sydney has scored its very own destination that'll finally give the Harbour City the market it's been crying out for, in the form of Hay St Market at Paddy's.
The most significant new development in the Market City complex since the opening of the 1909 Dining Precinct, Hay St Market has radically transformed a 3,000-square-metre section of Paddy's Market into a bustling, world-class food destination, the likes of which Sydney has, surprisingly, never seen. The sprawling hawker-style market boasts over 48 traders plating up more than 25 international cuisines, and is open from morning until night, seven days a week.
Headlining the food offer are star chefs Luke Nguyen and Mark Olive. Nguyen has his finger in a number of proverbial pies at Hay St Market: he's serving up his dad's closely guarded pho recipe and its 24-hour broth at Pho Chu Lap, creative dumplings (think: Singapore chilli crab and laksa varieties) at Luke Luk Dumplings, and reimagined banh mi at Madam Banh Mi — like the signature bo kho, in which a crispy baguette is filled with tender braised wagyu brisket and the traditional fixings, and is served with a bright, zingy salsa for dunking. Meanwhile, Olive's seafood-focused menu at Little Midden draws on Indigenous Australian flavours and techniques, like in the smoked blue gum barramundi and bell pepper skewers, which are given a lift with saltbush and pepperberry.
Elsewhere, you'll find Cypriot barbecue, handcrafted pies, an oyster bar, smash burgers, Italian desserts, Spanish and Polish delis and more. There's fresh food available, too — former Rockpool head butcher Tim Casey is showcasing prime cuts at Love Me Tender, Paris-trained cheesemonger Christina Murphy is curating the selection at The Cheese Table, and veteran greengrocer Frank Canturi is bringing fresh local and seasonal fruit and veg at greengrocer The Signorelli Bros. Beyond the food, you'll also find flowers, homewares, books and more.
Hay St Market is also Sydney's first fully licensed market, with two bars on site. Cans & Crates stocks over 180 canned drinks from around the world, including cocktails, beer, wine and zero-alc options, while Traders Bar serves up craft brews, regional wines and classic cocktails.
"We've left no stone unturned in creating Hay St Market at Paddy's — an affordable destination that Sydney can be proud of, where visitors can eat, drink and shop," says Joseph Murray, group CEO at Doltone Hospitality Group, which is overseeing operations at the new precinct. "Inspired by some of the world's best markets, we've built something extraordinary that harnesses Sydney's cultural diversity, offers a twist on tradition and taps into our collective love of food and beverage."
Hay St Market at Paddy's is now open at Market City, Haymarket. For more info, head to the venue's website.
Images: Esteban La Tessa.
