Most Sydneysiders have a memory of Paddy’s. The whopping marketplace in Haymarket has stood there since 1834, and over its lifetime has evolved into a mishmash of fresh food producers, snack stalls and oddities. Whether you need a Mardis Gras outfit, tropical fruit, three kilos of almonds or seafood, Paddy’s Markets was for you. Now, it’s had a $20 million food-fuelled upgrade.
One 3000-square-metre patch of the site is now Hay St Market, a food hall that’s tipped to compete with international players like London’s Borough Market and La Boqueria in Barcelona – and it opens on Wednesday March 26.
Late last year Melbourne got Il Mercato Centrale, the first global outpost of the Italian marketplace. So, it seems fair Sydney’s getting in on the action. Here are the 43 Hay St Market vendors that are open now.