This post is sponsored by Nuffnang.

Prahran Market is Australia’s oldest continuously running market in Australia, but it isn’t actually in Prahran… it’s in South Yarra. It was originally in Greville Street, Prahran, and the first market was held on Saturday 13 July 1864, and scheduled thereafter for Wednesday and Saturdays between the hours of dawn and noon. On Boxing Day 1950, the Market was gutted by fire. The Prahran City Council erected a temporary replacement structure. In 1972 they appointed Gunn Hyball Pty Ltd to complete a new market, and in 1976 the final stage was complete, at a total cost of $6.5 million.

There are a range of great stores at the Prahran Market, from fresh fruit and veg, to ciders, beers, gorgeous fresh flowers and hard to find ingredients. Each stall with some great history behind it. If the Prahran Market don’t have what you are after, be sure someone will be able to track it down for you. If you need to do a lot of shopping and don’t have a trolley, head to Prahran Market Hardware, and you can hire one for the duration of your shopping trip!

One of the most well known stalls is Damian Pike The Wild Mushroom Specialist. Damian is well known for his French and Australian variety of mushrooms. In Winter, he has truffles in stock, and was only too pleased to bring them out for a sniff and show. Apart from the vast array of mushrooms, he also stocks micro herbs, white asparagus, and China flat peaches. As well as being the mushroom guru, Damian is only too happy to share with you some cooking tips. I’m looking forward to going back and stocking up on some fresh chantrelle mushrooms and perhaps a tiny piece of truffle to make some delicious wintery mushroom dishes, better save up first!! July is Mushroom Mania month, so if there was ever a better time to check out Damian’s stall, it would be now!

Another great vendor is M J Mow Gourmet Potatoes. You can spot this stand by the Mr.Potato Heads hanging from the roof. Michael Mow’s family has had the stall at the market since 1891. With more varieties of potatoes than you could imagine, all free of pesticide sprays, this stall also stocks the most amazing bush smoked garlic, as well as sweet onions, horseradish and fresh wasabi. Michael is only more than happy to share some cooking secrets for every variety of potato he stocks, there isn’t a thing about potatoes he doesn’t know! Michael Mow, Michael and Damien Pike the mushroom specialist are the only 2 non-chefs to be recognised as living legends by the Melbourne food and wine festival!

I wish I could tell you about everyone we met on the tour; from Tad the amazing chocolatier who has the best chocolate in the world (voted by the Italian Pastry Academy) Felchlin’s Maracaibo Clasificado, in stock; 53º East who have an amazing array of nuts, dehydrated fruits and more all stored at the right temperature, the fantastic seafood, poultry, game and meat stalls, as well as great deli’s including Naheda’s Choice which sell the most morish white rose water Turkish delight.

It is known as the food lover’s market, and it’s not hard to see why. With great looking produce at every turn, the biggest problem you’ll have it what to buy!

The Prahran Market trading hours:

Monday – Closed
Tuesday – 7am – 5pm
Wednesday – Closed
Thursday – 7am – 5pm
Friday – 7am – 6pm
Saturday – 7am – 5pm
Sunday – 10am – 3pm (selected traders only).
The Essential Ingredient is open 7 days a week, and most of the cafes are open 7 days a week as well. The market is closed on public holidays.

Prahran Market is located at 163 Commercial Road, South Yarra, with free and paid parking available all around it. Tram No. 72 to Camberwell will get you there at stop no. 30 near Chapel Street.

Free Wifi is available in the square, gift vouchers are available as well as Hidden Gems Tours. These tours run Thursday 3pm as well as Saturday 10am – noon. Bookings must be made in advance and cost $25 per person. They last approximately 1.5 hours and I highly recommend them. I’ve been to the Prahran Market before and didn’t really know too much about what vendors specialise in what. The tour really made me aware of who is there and where to head to for what. You can book by calling (03) 8290 8220 or at the Prahran Market Office.

For more information head to: www.prahranmarket.com.au