Relaxed atmospheres, handcrafted and zero-kilometer products: the Brisbane market is a must for those who love multicultural profiles.
Il Davies Park Market a West End it is not so much a market in the canonical sense of the term, as a large and eclectic shared space where you can spend a few hours between food stalls, artisan and farmer stands, street artists, music and a lot of people.
Multicultural atmosphere
Arriving in West End is a bit like stepping into a world parallel to that of the rest of the city of Brisbane. It is a small strip of land surrounded by the bend of the river, an area once of great importance for the aborigines who lived there due to the high fertility. Today, it still retains that pinch of magic connected to its past and its own multicultural profile, as well as the great open-mindedness that distinguishes both inhabitants and occasional visitors.
And every Saturday morning, the Davies Park Market is a bit like the checkpoint of this eclectic cultural coexistence. Here the sun and the heat are defeated by the rising of the market tents, each close to the neighbor and accessible from a central artery where the flow of passers-by flows uninterrupted from 6 in the morning to 14 in the afternoon, closing time.
Davies Park Market: what it is
It is a market that comes to life every Saturday morning from 6 to 14 presso Davies Park, in the West End.
There are stands of all kinds, mainly of fruit, vegetables, street food and artisanal products at zero kilometer, including hand-made clothing and jewelry. The frame is that of a wonderful park bordering the river and dotted with huge fig trees under whose branches you can walk or relax reading a book or listening to good music.
Everything is managed by a non-profit organization, so anyone can participate and place their banquet without paying any tax! There is no limit to the number of sellers and there is no discrimination. An excellent solution to facilitate producers and make food market lovers like me happy!
How to reach us
The site is not very far from city ​​centre. Davies Park is located between Montague Road and Jane Street in the West End.
Very well served by the service of Brisbane public transport, which also incorporates an extra bus service on Saturday mornings, specially designed to allow people to reach this place from the main West End train station (running every 20 minutes).
Furthermore, from the most important bus stations, buses to the West End are very frequent at any time of the day.
If you love walking, from the city center and in particular from the area of Southbank and Victoria Bridge you can reach the market by walking for about half an hour, along the river on the panoramic pedestrian promenade surrounded by green parks and bamboo walls. This alternative can also be traveled by bicycle.
What to buy at Davies Park
Mainly you will find products from local farms: seasonal fruit and vegetables, but also eggs, honey, infusions, spices, baked goods and cheeses.
Cute and screaming “stall” will catch your attention by literally screaming in your face prices and special promotions. The fact is that here, the cost of these goods is SUPER CHEAP compared to those that can be purchased in city supermarkets. The discounts are close to percentages that go even over 50% of the savings and fun, for us low cost travelers, is guaranteed! Also because, you should know that often in Australia the cost of fruit and vegetables is quite high and especially if you are a grass eater like me (vegetarian to the full) it sometimes turns out to be a little annoying.
Here, however, you can satisfy your every green desire without thinking too much about the weight of your wallet.
In addition to savings, the origin of the food you buy (and therefore you will eat) is also guaranteed, which, in my opinion, is not of little importance. In fact, the farmers or artisans producers themselves will welcome you, offering you the fruit of their passionate work with great enthusiasm.
Often at the stands you can taste free of charge the food on sale and therefore personally test the quality of the products. For example, I could not resist and after a little taste I bought myself a whole form of banana bread hand made with blueberry filling: a real DELIGHT!
Furthermore, the Davies Park Market proposals do not end here: are you looking for a new vinyl or a book to add to your collection? Are you a lover of handcrafted and eco friendly costume jewelery? Have you run out of natural essences to vaporize during your morning yoga sessions? You are in exactly the right place!
Street food from all over the world
Here, you will not only be able to fill bags and backpacks with local and fresh products, but also delight yourself in the various food stands and indulge in a special lunch in the relaxed and slightly 70s atmosphere of the neighborhood.
Do you miss the food of your home?
Are you addicted to the strong and spicy flavors of Middle Eastern countries?
Can't resist a plate of noodle or pad thai?
Or is all you are looking for is a big, huge, refreshing fruit smoothie or a full-sized serving of Nutella churros?
Here we go again: once again, this is the place that will satisfy your taste buds, at a cost that is difficult to match in the rest of Brisbane.
Almost every country in the world is represented here: from Portugal to Japan, from Turkey to Jordan, from Italy (we are everywhere when it comes to baby food heheheh) to Germany. Furthermore, many proposals are created ad hoc to meet the needs of the vegan and vegetarian people. Well, what do you think? Could this be enough for you?
But no, because it's not over yet :)
Hippie atmosphere and community spirit
I have already told you how this is considered the slightly more alternative neighborhood of the city, populated by artists and yuppies from all over the world. These colors and this atmosphere, which are somewhat reminiscent of the decades of the last century, are perfectly embodied by the Davies Park Market.
Here you will find yourself surrounded by hundreds of people whose only intent is to disconnect from the frenzy of the outside world, socialize, have fun and breathe that scent of social freedom that only certain places can give.
You will find all this in the large green space of the park, where the grass is short and soft and the Australian ibises trot happily in search of some piece of food. Here people are lying down and nibbling, laughing and chatting, the children play football, the acrobats are practicing and the street performers cheer those present with the best of their repertoire. Password: WELLNESS.
What else to add? I would say nothing that can be further described in words. Davies Park Market in Brisbane is the perfect place to spend a leisurely Saturday morning, sipping a chai tea while wandering from one stall to another, without obligations or pressures, letting yourself be lulled by the melody of the guitar of some local folk group.
Useful Information
Email: Davies Park Market
Address: Montague Road and Jane Street, West End, Queensland 4101, Australia.
Opening time: every Saturday morning from 6 to 14
Entrance: free.
