Il Mercato Centrale Melbourne opens its doors after two year wait

A first of its kind Italian mega-market is finally opening in the CBD after a two-year wait — here’s when you can get a taste.

Italian mega-market Il Mercato Centrale is finally launching in Melbourne after a two-year wait.

The first of its kind eating and drink mecca outside of Italy will open Thursday at 4pm — with the ability to feed more than 800 punters across three-levels.

A total of 23 homegrown artisans with Italian flair will live inside the Collins Street fortress, including on-site bakery and grain mill, coffee roastery, distillery and bustling market floor selling fresh fruit, veg, fish and meat.

Star traders include That’s Amore cheese king Giorgio Linguanti, family green grocers and wholesalers Biviano Direct, and viral Lo Smash Burgers.

The second floor will be home to both casual eats and a fine dining restaurant, a wine and cocktail bar, while the third level will used exclusively for functions and events.

Nikos Chatzopolous and Maria Paula Gonzalez get set for the opening of Il Mercato Italian mega market. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Mark and Michelle Singarella, of Vino Bambino Wines, will run the wine bar and shop, Australian Distilling Co will make gin and spirits on-site, and ex-Foglia di Fico chef Jerry Kim will lead the kitchen at fine diner ‘il ristorante’.

Greek-expat Nikos Chatzopoulous, who runs La Carne e i Salumi, said the venue was a one-stop-shop for meat lovers.

“It’s a butcher meets fast-food shop,” he said.

“We are selling raw and cooked meat and salumi, and all of the dishes will be based off recipes of mine, inspired by the Mediterranean.”

Mr Chatzopoulous said the dynamic meat bar would let customers choose a raw cut from a butchers-style window and have it cooked to order — or to takeaway and eat at home.

“We have everything from Bistecca Fiorentina (T-bone), tomahawks, sirloins and tenderloin beef, as well as pork, chicken and lamb,” he said.

“We also have plenty of salumi, that’s imported from Italy, so mortadella, prosciutto, jamon and capocolla.”

il Mercato founder and president Umberto Montano said: “The manual skills, professionalism and dedication I encountered in the artisans that have joined il Mercato Centrale Melbourne are outstanding and inspiring.”

“I knew that bringing this project to Australia would have its challenges, but the meeting with our partner Eddie Muto, the common vision that we found and the dedicated team that he built, convinced me that it could be done the highest standards.”

il Mercato Centrale is the third global outpost of the Italian market — and the first to live outside Europe.

Unlike it’s Italian counterparts, the Melbourne outpost has a strong focus on featuring local producers and businesses, with most food and drink made on-site from scratch.

It will be open daily and entry is free, with late-night trading until 3am on Friday and Saturdays.

Il Mercato Centrale, 546 Collins St, Melbourne.