After almost a decade of planning and construction, Sydney’s most ambitious food precinct has finally opened its doors. The long-awaited new Fish Market opened on the harbour on Monday, January 19, unveiling an $836 million waterfront complex that is being positioned as one of the city’s next major landmarks. Set on Blackwattle Bay beside the original market site, the sprawling three-storey building brings together seafood sellers, takeaway counters and waterfront restaurants beneath a striking 200-metre-wide roof. Official forecasts suggest more than six million people a year will pass through the precinct, doubling the foot traffic of the old market. Originally slated to open in 2023 with a $250 million budget, the project was delayed for years, eventually blowing out to more than $836 million. Here’s everything you should know before you plan a visit.
Inside the new Sydney Fish Market
At its core, the new site remains a working wholesale market. Traders now operate from a dedicated, purpose-built auction room that is open to the public, with a steady stream of buyers moving across the floor and visitors watching from nearby walkways. Live crustacean tanks and preparation areas run alongside the trading floor, with boats unloading directly at the wharf below so seafood moves straight from the water into the market. The sweeping canopy is also fitted with more than 400 light fixtures that will light up the roof at night in a fish-scale design.
Naturally at this scale, the facility has been built to handle volume and foot traffic, with infrastructure capable of moving up to 20 tonnes of seafood every hour and on-site ice machines operating all day to keep the seafood fresh. Part of the experience is seeing much of the logistics on full display, with visitors being able to watch seafood being sorted, auctioned and sold in real time. Markets chief executive Daniel Jarosch said the new facility was built “fit for purpose” for a critical industry, describing seafood as central to Australia’s food culture and coastal identity.
Food, dining and what’s on offer
The new market brings together around 40 food and retail operators spread across three levels, ranging from classic fish and chips counters to full-service restaurants overlooking the water. Many familiar traders from the old site have relocated, joined by new cafes, bakeries, wine bars and international eateries. Familiar names from the old site include Peter’s Fish Market, Claudio’s Seafood and Nicholas Seafood, while newcomers include Luke Nguyen’s Lua, Tam Jiak by Ho Jiak, Cow & The Moon gelateria, Squid Ink Bar & Grill and The Japanese Collective. Other retailers at the market include Boatshed Cafe, Fisherman’s Fine Wines, Sergio, a European-style patisserie and restaurant, Stitch Coffee and many more.
Alongside fresh seafood stalls, visitors will find everything from sushi and sashimi to pizza, dumplings, yum cha and gelato, making the fish market a veritable foodie destination rather than just a place to shop. Many venues offer indoor and outdoor seating overlooking Blackwattle Bay, with extended trading hours into the evening.
The popular Sydney Seafood School has also reopened beside the market, with upgraded kitchens and a new teaching space hosting regular classes and hands-on cooking sessions from leading local chefs.
How to visit and what’s changing around the site
The new Sydney Fish Market is located at 1 Bridge Road, Glebe, beside the original Blackwattle Bay site, and is best reached by public transport. Three light rail stops are within a short walk, while several bus routes service nearby Harris Street and Glebe Point Road. The closes stations are Central, Town Hall and Gadigal, all around two kilometres of the market. A dedicated pick-up and drop-off zone has also been added at the front, with a new ferry wharf and the future Pyrmont Metro station set to further improve access.
Opening hours run from 7am to 10pm Sunday to Thursday, extending until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, although individual traders operate on their own schedules, so it’s worth checking the website before you visit.
So what happens to the old fish market? It’s now set for major redevelopment, with plans for 1,400 new homes, 2.6 hectares of public space and a new waterfront promenade that will complete the 15-kilometre foreshore walk from Rozelle Bay to Woolloomooloo.
Read more about the new Sydney Fish Market here and plan your travels on Transport for NSW.