Night Noodle Markets

By Ben Stephens

‘On soft Spring nights I’ll stand in the yard under the stars – Something good will come out of all things yet – And it will be golden and eternal just like that – There’s no need to say another word.’

Mr Jack ‘on-the-road’ Kerouac wrote that. It was in a book about a drunkard dealing with a level of notoriety that he wasn’t comfortable with. It’s a rather heavy story. Through credit where credit is due, those words, in that order rip a deep hole of nostalgic feelings for the season of spring.

When it comes to this time of year, you can bank on a couple of things. The Laneway Festival line-up, friends dealing with exams and the crushing pressures of purchasing gifts for loved ones by December 25.

With all this sitting on your shoulders, there needs to be a place to get away from it all. Thankfully, Spring and more specifically, November, is Good Food Month in Melbourne town. This brings with it a whole stack of events to get hooked into. Messina has their Creative Department making magic with a seven-course degustation menu. Up In Smoke in Footscray, are matching smoked meats with Hop Nation brews, creating a partnership to loose yourself in. Now, these are all fine examples of how to spend a spring evening but nothing really cuts it like the annual Night Noodle Markets.

A hawker styled market stacked with all the goods that you want to down, right in the heart (just to the south-east, slightly) of the city. This year the Good Food Month team, along with the City of Melbourne are playing host to over 45 stalls, offering mouth-watering eats and thirst-quenching drinks aided by a sweet line-up of live entertainment.

The regulars like Bao Stop, Hoy Pinoy and Mr Miyagi will be offering up the goods, confirming that you’ll be in good hands.

This year, the marketplace is wanting to speed lines up by going completely cashless, so bring your plastic so you can tap’n’go that yakitori faster than previous years.

For all the opening hours and other deets, check out the NNM website HERE

Melbourne Night Noodle Markets are on now until November 27