SAT 30 AUG · ARGYLE SQUARE, CARLTON

A night market that starts when the shops close.

Eighteen stalls under paper lanterns in Argyle Square. Sate smoke from five o'clock, dangdut at seven, and someone's aunty will absolutely tell you that you ordered wrong. Free entry until six.

See what's cooking Programme →

Traders confirmed

18

Six Indonesian, two Malaysian, four dessert, three drinks, three snack carts.

Doors

17:00

Last orders 22:30, lights out at 23:00. Entry is free before 18:00, then $5 on the gate.

The lantern — drag it SPEC 17:00

SILK SHADE18 ribs, hand-glued
RATTAN RINGØ 300 mm
TASSELraw cotton, 7 strands
DROP CORD2.4 m, over the path

Four hundred of these go up across the square at dusk. The colour of the wire follows the clock below — indigo at five, ember by nine.

What is cooking

    Two of the dessert carts only turn up if it is not raining. It is Melbourne, so plan accordingly.

    How busy, by hour PEAK 20:00

    100

    Relative queue length. If you want the sate without waiting, come at five or after ten.

    Right now on the square17:00

    Gates open

    Gamelan warm-up by the fountain. Nothing has sold out yet — this is the good hour.

    Programme — one evening17:00 → 23:00

    The stalls18 SHOWN

    Eighteen kitchens, one square

    Getting there

    Argyle Square, Carlton

    Tram
    1 or 6 to Stop 11, Lygon St — 3 min walk
    Train
    Melbourne Central, then 12 min up Swanston
    Parking
    Don't. Seriously. Bowen St is metered until 8pm
    Cash
    Six stalls are cash-only. There is one ATM and it will have a queue
    Weather
    Runs rain or shine; the marquee row is along the north edge

    Bring

    Tick them off. Nothing is saved anywhere — this is a poster, not an app.

    17:00