A Guide to the Best Markets in Adelaide

Adelaide is home to a thriving local market scene with all sorts of markets from those specialising in local fresh produce to markets focused on showcasing the wares of local designers and curators.
 

If you're a visitor to Adelaide, the markets are a great way to experience the city like a local. The community atmosphere and local farmers and business owners provide a way to see what makes Adelaide special. And with so much diversity of offerings at the various Adelaide markets, you're sure to find exactly what you're after. Whether it's a souvenir to take from your Adelaide visit, a gift for a loved one, or something for lunch!

Adelaide is home to many popular markets from those focused on locally grown produce and home made specialty foods, to those offering fashion, arts, and homewares crafted by local small businesses.
 

Looking for a few recommendations to get started planning your Adelaide markets visit?

If fresh produce is what you're after, you can't miss Adelaide Showground Farmer's Market. It's South Australia's largest farmers' market where you can buy direct from local producers.

For a centrally located market, Adelaide Central Market is your go-to. Located right in Adelaide CBD, there's fresh produce, ready-to-eat foods, and entertainment too. All within walking distance of your Adelaide hotel.

If you're all about supporting local small business and scoring quality, unique fashion or homewares, the monthly Gathered Market is the place to go. You'll always be able to find something special to take home, and so many great gift ideas too.

For families travelling with children, it's worth checking out Gilles at the Grounds which has a children's zone and Adelaide Central Market which has free face painting for kids.

Perhaps a day trip to the Adelaide Hills is what your weekend is calling for? If so, make your way to Adelaide Hills Farmers Market and you're in for a fun-filled Saturday with plenty of delicious food to enjoy.

Finally, if your trip to Adelaide is around Christmas time, many of Adelaide's markets also host special Christmas markets each year in December - some even do night markets to really get you into the festive spirit.

Adelaide Central Market  is the city’s premiere market experience. The Adelaide Central Market has a long, proud history having been established in 1869. Today, the market hosts over 70 traders under one roof and is one of Adelaide's most popular destinations for both tourists and locals. 

Adelaide Central Market’s primary appeal is the sheer range of foods available. You can find everything from Asian gourmet to quality coffee, plus loads of local fresh produce. When planning your visit to Adelaide Central Market you can visit the market's website to learn about what fruit and vegetables are currently in season.

It’s a great market to visit if you want sustainable food, vegan options, traditional European foods like bratwurst and cheese, or local foods from Adelaide and across South Australia.

But it's not just top-quality local food on offer at Adelaide Central Market. You'll also find regular live entertainment including musicians and face painting for the kids.

The Adelaide Central Market is located in the heart of Adelaide CBD. You'll find it on Gouger St, and parking is available close by. The markets are also easily accessible via public transport, or walking if you're staying nearby in the city.
 

The Adelaide Central Market is open every week Tuesday through Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday.

As the name suggests, the Adelaide Farmers' Market is an ideal market if you're after locally-grown fresh produce. Located just out of central Adelaide at the showground, the Adelaide Farmers' Market brings together food producers from family-run farms across South Australia. At the Adelaide Farmers' Market you're buying your fruit and vegetables from the growers themselves. 

For this reason, the Adelaide Showground Farmers Market is a must-visit for anyone interested in food sustainability. The market prioritises seasonal produce, allowing you to enjoy in-season food at its best. During late spring, you will find stalls with apples, avocados, grapefruit, lemons, , pears, peas, potato, cauliflower, carrots, and more. By late summer, you'll find apricots, figs, nectarines, raspberries, corn, and olives. 

You can also enjoy ready-to-eat food at the Adelaide Farmers' Market, picking up a treat at Bush Tucker Ice Cream or digging into healthy gluten-free snacks at Barossa Bagels as you browse the market stalls. You can also grab ready-made meals to enjoy later, such as Jamface pies, pasties and toasties, Ishtar Middle Eastern ready-meals, and Kimchi Club plant-based South Korean meals.

If you're visiting the markets with children, try to time your visit when Kids’ Club is open. This voluntary service offers a programme of activities for free or for a small donation between 10 and 11am on Sunday mornings. Kids do everything from paint rocks to make vegan chocolate chip cookie jars.
 

The Adelaide Showground Farmers' Market is open every Saturday morning.

If you're after a Sunday morning market, the Magill Sunrise Market is a great choice. These Adelaide markets take place every second Sunday of the month at Campbelltown Memorial Oval in eastern Adelaide, about a 15 minute drive out of the CBD.

At the Magill Sunrise Market you can enjoy a bite to eat and a cup of coffee while browsing the various food and craft stalls on offer. These friendly Adelaide markets are run by the local Rotary Club and are a worthy way to spend a Sunday morning enjoying the community atmosphere. 

The Brighton Sunday Market is another great Adelaide market held on a Sunday morning. As one of South Australia's largest markets you'll find all sorts of stallholders at the Brighton Sunday Market from fresh produce and food to arts and crafts. 
 

Known as the market where locals bag a bargain, the Brighton Sunday Market is the kind of place you'll want to spend time browsing to uncover the unique bric-a-brac on offer and to bag a bargain for yourself.
 

You'll find the Brighton Sunday Market about a half hour's drive out of central Adelaide at North Brighton, on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month. 

Gilles at the Grounds is a market showcasing fashion and design from local makers as well as pre-loved and vintage wares curated by creatives. The market's ethos is very much around ethical shopping, supporting reuse, recycle and re-love of goods. That means this Adelaide market is the type of place you'll always find something fun and unique.

You'll also find all your market favourites such as great coffee and food to enjoy, as well as live music. Did we mention Gilles at the Grounds is a dog-friendly market too? 

Gilles at the Ground is held at The Old Brick Dairy at the Adelaide Showground. Check the Gilles at the Grounds market website for the date of the next market.
 

And if you're planning a visit around Christmas time, the December markets are hosted as a night market making for a fun way to tick off your Christmas shopping while supporting local makers and curators.

Stirling Market is located about 20 minutes out of central Adelaide as you head up into the scenic Adelaide Hills. This popular monthly market has home-made local goods such as jams, chutneys and honey, as well as cakes and pies, plus handcrafted arts and crafts that make for ideal gifts.

You'll also find antiques and collectibles if you're after something truly unique. And if you have a bit of a green thumb, you'll love the garden offerings which include rare natives.
 

The Stirling Market is open monthly at Druid Avenue in Stirling on the fourth Sunday of the month.

Gathered Market is the perfect Adelaide market to visit if you're looking for some special for yourself or a unique gift for loved one. This market has food and drink stalls available, but the focus is really on fashion, arts, and homewares made by South Australian small businesses .
 

You'll find the Gathered Market open monthly on a Sunday at the Gawler Place Canopy in Rundle Mall in Adelaide CBD. Gathered also hosts a Christmas Design Market at Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills. For more information about Gathered Market's dates and stallholders be sure to take a look at the market's website when planning your visit.

Speaking of the Adelaide Hills, we need to tell you about the Adelaide Hills Farmers Market.

This Saturday morning market is located at Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills so it's a great option if you're staying in the Adelaide Hills or you're looking for a good reason to head out of Adelaide CBD and spend a day in the hills — not that you'll be short on things to do in the Adelaide Hills, between the wineries and the villages there's so much to see and do!

At the Adelaide Hills Farmer Market you can shop locally-grown produce under the shade of the elm trees in a village atmosphere that the Adelaide Hills region is renowned for.

And if you're a dog-owner, you'll be pleased to know that Adelaide Hills Farmers Market welcomes dogs, and is one of Adelaide's only pet-friendly markets.
 

You can find out which stallholders will be at the upcoming weekend markets, and any special workshops taking place, by visting the Adelaide Hills Farmers Market website when planning your visit.

As you can see, at Adelaide's markets you're not short on choice when it comes to the type of locally made food and goods on offer. You've got everything from fresh produce to ready-to-eat meals as well as unique, handmade designs from Adelaide small businesses.
 

Many of Adelaide's markets also have live music and entertainment for the kids so it's always worth checking out what's on at the weekend markets when planning your visit.

A trip to the markets on a weekend is always going to be a busy experience, but that's part of the fun. The community atmosphere is what makes Adelaide's markets such a drawcard, whether you're a local or visiting Adelaide for the very first time.
 

It's always a good idea to arrive earlier, especially if you're driving and hoping to find a car park. Be prepared to pay for parking at the markets (each market's website usually has details on current rates so you can plan ahead). But don't overlook other options to travel to Adelaide markets too. 

Public transport is an option for many of Adelaide's markets, and for the markets in the CBD, you can walk from your Adelaide hotel.
 

While most stalls will accept card payment, be prepared for some to be cash only. 

If you're visiting the markets with your dog, be sure to check first if pets are welcome as it is not always the case at all of Adelaide's markets. 

Most importantly, don't forget your reusable shopping bags to carry all the goodies you pick up along the way!