After over two years of planning, the three-storey Italian food hall Il Mercato Centrale – with branding by the same Florence-based team behind Mercato Centrales in Florence, Rome, Turin and Milan – opens to the public at 4pm today. Collins Street’s McPherson building has undergone an $18-$20 million renovation to make way for the 3000-square-metre “central market”. It’s now home to 23 food stalls with different specialties.
Here are all 23 Il Mercato Centrale vendors. From a stall specialising in Sicilian-style fried calamari to a cheese shop from That’s Amore and even a Southern American burger joint.
La Frutta e la Verdura
Fresh fruit and vegetables from Fairfield produce market Biviano & Sons.
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SIGN UPIl Pesce
Fishmonger George Milonas, who has worked at the Queen Vic Market for years, sells fresh seafood at the aptly named Il Pesce.
La Pasta Fresca
Lavezzi’s Angelo Sperlinga sells fresh pasta at this stall.
La Pasticceria
Much like the pasticcerias (cake and pastry shops) seen in Italian streets, La Pasticceria has Italian pastries and cakes with a modern twist.
La Mozzarella
A new shop from cheesemaker and Sicilian-native Giorgio Linguanti of That’s Amore Cheese.
La Pasta Fatta in Casa
Handmade pasta from food blogger Annapaola d’Alessio.
Il Forno
This stall from Damian Malone of The Flour House in Highett has bread and pastries made using wholegrain flour that’s ground in-house using an Austrian mill.
La Pizza al Taglio
A shop specialising in pizza baked in rectangular trays sold by the slice.
La Carne e i Salumi
Cold cuts and aged meats from a Josper grill from former Society chef Nikos Chatzopoulos.
I Calamari Fritti
A store with Sicilian-style calamari.
La Pizza Napoletana
Neapolitan-style pizza from Valerio Violetti of Hello Bello Pizza in Black Rock.
Il Riso
A gluten-free risotto stall by Simone Garusi of Brighton restaurant Italian Chef.
La Piadina
A stall specialising in piadinas, the classic Italian flatbread.
Lo Smash Burger
Texas-inspired smash burgers and Nashville hot chicken.
Il Ristorante
The restaurant mixes handmade Italian ingredients such as sourdough, pasta, and balsamic vinegar, with local parmesans and olive oils.
Il Caffe
A coffee shop selling espresso drinks made using Lavazza beans.
I Cannoli
A cannoli store from Dario Di Clerico of South Melbourne market’s UGO Burrata Bar. Cannoli will be topped with seasonal ingredients and filled with ricotta from That’s Amore.
Il Cioccolato
A chocolate shop from former To Be Frank head pastry chef Alessandro Luppolo.
Il Gelato
A gelato shop with a counter you can watch the entire churning process from.
L’Enoteca
A wine shop from Mark and Michelle Singarella of Vino Bambino, with bottles from Italy, France, Australia and New Zealand.
La Distilleria
A spirits shop from Australian Distilling Co’s master distiller professor Graham Jones and the brand’s master distiller and founder Michael Hickinbotham.
Main Bar
One of two bars run by Il Mercato Centrale.
The Cocktail Bar
A lounge bar run by the Il Mercato Centrale team with spritzes and inventive cocktails.