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13 Must-Try Eats & Budget-Friendly Events at Melbourne Food & Wine Festival 2025
Feast on free eats, cheap thrills, and must-try bites at the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival.
Melbourne Food & Wine Festival is back, and this year’s lineup is packed with flavour, fun, and—best of all—plenty of eats that won’t break the bank. Free tacos from two of the city’s top snack kings, a dumpling-fuelled fiesta, a Turkish pide party, and a pie night with serious game are just the beginning. Sip coconut fro-yo at Fed Square, dive into Melbourne’s street food history, or dance the night away with a pastry in hand. These are the must-try bites and experiences that’ll make your festival unforgettable.
Baker’s Dozen
Melbourne Food & Wine Festival’s Baker’s Dozen is back, bigger and butterier than ever. Taking over Fed Square for a free, two-day celebration of all things baked, this year’s lineup features Melbourne’s finest bakeries—think Lune, Baker Bleu, and Tarts Anon, plus Sydney’s cult-favourite A.P Bakery.
Hit up the Hot Cross Bun Bar for four takes on the Easter classic, get your hands on limited-edition scones at Vote #1 Scone, and refuel at Coco Cabana with coconut-infused drinks. Expect demos, giveaways, and seriously good carbs.
Free entry
29th & 30th March, 10am to 3pm
Federation Square
Cool Off with Cocobella’s Chocolate Coconut Fro-Yo
Yes, you heard that right. For one weekend only, the cult-favourite Cocobella Chocolate Coconut Water is getting the frozen treatment. As part of Melbourne Food & Wine Festival’s Baker’s Dozen, the Cocobella Coco Cabana pop-up at Fed Square is serving up coconutty delights like iced coco coffee, tropical smoothies, and (most excitingly) chocolate coconut frozen yoghurt. It’s dairy-free, outrageously creamy, and the perfect way to keep summer alive just a little longer. No tickets, no fuss—just grab a spoon and let the good times melt in your mouth.
Free entry
29th & 30th March, 10am to 3pm
Federation Square
Habibi Hafla: Maha North x Runner Up
Maha North is teaming up with Northside’s “second-best” rooftop bar (their words, not ours) for an afternoon of beats, eats, and SWANA culture. Habibi Hafla, curated by DJ Mz Rizk, brings Arabic music, art, and traditions to life—paired with roving mezze from Maha North and Middle Eastern-inspired cocktails featuring Victorian distillers Zonzcello, Ciccio, Gallivanter Gin, and Vansetter Vodka. Food, entertainment, and entry are free—just register, grab a drink, and vibe out.
Free entry; drinks at bar prices
Register here
23rd March, 2pm until late
Runner Up Rooftop Bar, Johnston Street, Collingwood
The Dirty Dozen
Step into Melbourne’s delicious past at The Dirty Dozen, a free exhibition uncovering the city’s street food evolution. Curated by food writer Richard Cornish, it charts everything from 19th-century oyster saloons to the dim sim empire. Adding flavour, artist Kenny Pittock’s ceramic recreations of iconic bites—think souvlaki and soft serve—look good enough to eat. A must for history buffs and hungry minds alike.
Free event
21st to 30th March
City Gallery, Melbourne Town Hall
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Spice Up Your World: Indonesian Street Food Festival
Melbourne’s about to get a whole lot spicier. Spice Up Your World: Indonesian Street Food Festival is bringing the heat to Queen Victoria Market on the 22nd and 23rd of March with sizzling satay, rich rendang, and next-level martabak. Expect bold flavours, electric vibes, and cultural performances that’ll transport you straight to Jakarta’s streets. Get ready for a weekend of eating your way through Indonesia’s best.
$0 to $65 per person
22nd to 23rd March, 10am to 4pm
Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne
The Finders Keepers Food Market
Big flavour energy is landing at the Royal Exhibition Building with The Finders Keepers Food Market. This month, Melbourne’s favourite makers market is dishing up an epic selection of artisan treats—think small-batch chocolate, funky ferments, next-level cheeses, and all the pantry staples you never knew you needed. It’s a feast for the senses, with top-tier bites, cool drinks, and indie producers bringing their A-game. It’s pure food lover heaven.
$7 to $10 entry
22nd to 23rd March, 9am to 4pm
Meat Market, 3 Blackwood Street, North Melbourne
Hart Bageri at Melbourne Quarter
Richard Hart, Copenhagen’s carb king, is landing in Melbourne for five days only, and you’ll want to be first in line. From the 24th to the 28th of March, Melbourne Quarter transforms into a Nordic pastry haven, serving up flaky spandauers, signature city loaves, and those life-changing cardamom buns. Plus, a little Mexican magic with pan de muerto and conchas. Doors open at 9am daily—free entry, but get in quick. The good stuff won’t last.
Free – while stock lasts – no tickets required
24th to 28th March, doors open 9am
Melbourne Quarter, 699 Collins Street, Docklands
Something Saucy: Presented By Leggo’s
For one deliciously fleeting day, Leggo’s is turning a hidden slice of the CBD into a pasta lover’s playground. On the 25th of March, the maestros behind Super Norma, Marco Salzano and Luca Muscato, are firing up the forno at Whitehart for a lunchtime pop-up dripping in Southern Italian flavour. Think baked sedanini alla Norma, reimagined with Leggo’s Gourmet Rich Passata. No tickets, no fuss—just show up from 11am to 2pm (or until the pasta’s gone) and get saucy.
Free – while stock lasts – no tickets required
25th March, 11am to 2pm
22 Whitehart Lane, Melbourne
Turkish Pide Party at HER ROOFTOP
For three nights only, HER ROOFTOP is throwing a Turkish pide party, and you’re invited. Chef Nada Thomas and pizzaiolo Salim Gafayri are ditching the usual menu for something hotter—crispy, golden pide fresh from the Gozney oven. Expect three bold takes on the classic: spiced lamb with sumac onions, smoky collard greens with mozzarella, and sujuk with egg and roasted peppers. No bookings, no tickets—just walk in, grab a bite, and soak up the city skyline with a slice in hand.
Free – while stock lasts – no tickets required
25th to 27th March
HER ROOFTOP, Level 4, 270 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Film, Food and Fun at East Brunswick Village
Settle in for a night of great food and film at East Brunswick Village this Melbourne Food & Wine Festival. Start with a craft beer or a glass of Victorian wine from Blackhearts & Sparrows, then enjoy La Cocina, starring Raúl Briones Carmona and Rooney Mara, at FoMo Cinemas. For dinner, take your pick between a signature sondwishe from The Rocket Society or a deluxe cheeseburger from Bridge Road Brewers, with a classic choc top for dessert. A relaxed and flavour-filled way to spend an evening in Brunswick East.
$39
Book tickets here
26th March
East Brunswick Village, 127-149 Nicholson Street, East Brunswick
Dim City
Dim sim lovers, this one’s for you. Emporium Melbourne is throwing a dumpling-fuelled fiesta, celebrating Melbourne’s most iconic snack with bold new takes from three top chefs. Rosheen Kaul brings the heat with lamb, chicken, and green chilli. Moon Mart’s Eun Hee An goes crispy with kimchi, pork, and cheese. John Rivera flips the script with a sweet banana, jackfruit, and caramel dimmie. Expect giveaways, games, and some seriously good bites. These dumplings won’t stick around for long. Get ready to have a dimmielicious time.
Free – while stock lasts
28th March, 12pm to 4pm
Lonsdale Street entrance, Emporium Melbourne, 287 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Tacos and Toum
Tacos and toum, a match made in snack heaven. Raph Rashid and Tom Sarafian are joining forces to explore the deep-rooted Middle Eastern influences in Mexican cuisine, dishing up tacos de canasta with prawn, potato, toum, and salsa verde, plus goat kibbeh with Oaxacan cheese, labne, and sumac. It’s free, it’s flavour-packed, and it’s happening at Wesley Place for one day only.
Sitchu Tip: The tacos de canasta are gluten-free.
Free – while stock lasts – no tickets required
26th March, 11am to 2pm
Wesley Place, 130 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Wildpie Party
Mr West is throwing a pie party, and it’s anything but ordinary. Teaming up with Wildpie—a game-changing project from award-winning chef Jo Barrett—this Footscray soirée is serving up pies with purpose. Expect party-sized pastries packed with wild, free-range, and nutrient-dense meats, paired with top-notch drinks from Victoria’s High Country. DJs will be spinning till late, so come hungry, come thirsty, and come ready to vibe. Tickets: $78 with drinks, $36 for food only. Four pies, three drinks, one seriously good time.
$36 (food only) to $78 (with drinks)
Buy tickets here
29th March
Mr West, 130 Nicholson Street, Footscray
From game-changing pies to free-flowing dumplings and next-level pastries, this year’s Melbourne Food & Wine Festival is serving up serious flavour without the hefty price tag. Grab your crew, hit the city, and feast on the best. For more definitive Melbourne experiences, check out these essential restaurants in the CBD, or pay a visit to one of these iconic markets.
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