Adjacent to its former home on Blackwattle Bay, the new 26,000-square-metre Sydney Fish Market finally opened to the public at 7am on Monday 19 January, after years of anticipation and more than $836 million spent on a striking multi-storey development and expansive waterfront precinct and outdoor dining areas.
The market has 42 vendors including 19 fresh seafood wholesalers, casual dining options and cafes, elevated restaurants and specialty retailers. As the largest seafood market in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s expected to welcome over six million visitors annually.
The Sydney Fish Market at Blackwattle Bay was established in 1966, functioning as both a site for wholesale trade and consumer-facing sales and ready-to-eat dining (with more than 50 tonnes and 100 different species of seafood moving through the market daily). The new Sydney Fish Market has a high-tech market floor with purpose-built facilities including separate, temperature-controlled zones for different seafood categories, updated auction room and flashy new space for the popular Sydney Seafood School.
“This new precinct creates a global platform for our fishers, wholesalers and retailers, while offering visitors an authentic, immersive experience that celebrates the quality, diversity and sustainability of Australian seafood,” said Sydney Fish Market CEO Daniel Jarosch.
Sydney Fish Market’s CCO Adam Mourad said, “The new market preserves the authenticity of Sydney Fish Market, while significantly improving the environment for both trade and public customers. It also opens up the working market to the public, giving people a view of the live auctions and daily operations in a way that has never been possible before.”
Food at the new Sydney Fish Market
As well as offering the public a glimpse into the daily seafood trade, the Sydney Fish Market retains a beautiful waterfront setting and varied dining options from just-cut sashimi to elaborate social media favourites like blow-torched lobster rolls.
Top chefs have entered the lineup, with names like Luke Nguyen, Somer Sivrioğlu and local favourite omakase chef Toshihiko Oe operating venues at the new Sydney Fish Market. Favourite retailers from the past site including Claudio’s Seafoods, Christie’s Seafoods, The Boatshed and Musumeci Seafoods made the move, and it’s an all-day affair with coffee (including yuzu cold brews) by local roastery Stitch Coffee, and breakfast through to dinner at Touch Wood.
Beyond seafood, the new Sydney Fish Market has specialty vendors such as an olive oil concept store by Olivetta, Cow & The Moon gelato, fresh daily bunches from Mayfarm Flowers and cheese and charcuterie from Blackwattle Deli.
Notable food options at the new Sydney Fish Market
- Get Sashimi for colourful market-fresh nigiri and donburi to take away, omakase at Sushi Oe’s eight-seat counter or seasonal kaiseki dining at Restaurant 16
- Hamsi Taverna by Somer Sivrioğlu for modern flavours from coastal Türkiye
- Lua by Luke Nguyen for fire-cooked Asian dining
- Tam Jiak by Junda Khoo for home-style Malaysian cooking
- Tin TIn Seafood Harbour for refined Cantonese yum cha and private dining rooms
- La Dea Pizza for Roman-style slices
- Nanjing Dumplings for steamed and fried specialty dumplings
- TJ’s Po Boys by local operator Trippas White Group
- Tavira Bakehouse for fresh pastries
- Gotcha Fresh Tea for fruity and milk teas
Getting to the new Sydney Fish Market
Parking remains a challenge at the new site, with limited on-site parking available (free for 20 minutes only). Public transport is the best option for getting there, with service details on the Sydney Fish Market website. A dedicated Sydney ferry terminal will commence services in 2027.
What’s happening to the old Sydney Fish Market?
The former site will be demolished and rebuilt as a mixed-use precinct with Mirvac developing more than 1500 homes. There’ll also be further retailers, creative spaces and a waterfront promenade completing the foreshore walk between Rozelle Bay and Woolloomooloo. Construction is estimated to be completed in 2028.
The new Sydney Fish Market is open daily (except for Christmas Day) from 7am at 1 Bridge Road, Glebe.
