Revealed: Brewpub, sushi and more coming to Queen Victoria Market food hub

Drinking and dining at the Queen Victoria Market precinct in Melbourne's CBD will get a much-needed boost in coming months, with seven new hospitality venues to open in the Queen Street area, including a Japanese restaurant and brewpub.

The $500 million Munro development on the corner of Queen and Therry Streets, includes 1800 square metres of hospitality and retail space.

Tenants include Brick Lane Brewing, which will move into the historic Mercat Cross Hotel by early 2023, adding to its current market tenancy on String Bean Alley. Techne Architecture is working on the hotel's design, which includes a ground-floor bar, a second-storey restaurant and space for live music, educational events and functions.

Brick Lane plans to run pop-ups and events this summer while works are completed.

Japanese eatery Moonfishh​ will expand from its current Albert Park location to a second restaurant at the market, where sushi and dishes showcasing market produce will be prepared.

Market Lane Coffee, already a market tenant, will add a third location while fellow specialty coffee business St Ali will open an all-day venue, St Ali and The Queen, with martinis replacing lattes at night.

Chocolatier Only Mine will add its most central shop yet, complementing its two locations at Olinda and Cranbourne West while ReWine, a low-waste wine shop and bar, has already opened. The remaining hospitality tenant is yet to be confirmed, as are opening dates for all except Brick Lane.

City of Melbourne's Munro project also includes a library, boutique hotel, housing and open space. Work began in 2019, with a public car park and affordable housing completed so far. A second, privately owned apartment tower is also on the site.

Some Queen Victoria Market traders have criticised the project and other market renewal plans, concerned that the 140-year-old market will become more of a boutique proposition with less emphasis on fresh food trade.

The market is Melbourne's largest retail food market and before the coronavirus pandemic attracted more than 10 million visitors a year.