International Food and Sustainable Practices: Melbourne’s Grazeland

Melbourne’s inner-west has a new go-to for foodies — a street food smorgasbord with cuisine from all over the world.

The end of the week has been a blessing for Melburnians since the end of March. Every Friday at 5pm, Grazeland opens its doors to foodies and families, tempting them all with an overwhelming variety: which vendor to visit? With 50 different food vendors, from savoury dumpling and burgers to sweet crepes and churros, Grazeland is the ultimate choice for a decadent night out.

The venue covers 10,000 square metres and hosts 50 converted shipping containers, each retrofitted with cooking appliances and uniquely styled by the vendors. That makes for an eclectic landscape: Tiger Prawn, which sells ‘Thai with art and soul’, painted their container in bright blue and yellow stripes, while pasta vendor Osteria Seventeen features a sophisticated façade of neutral colours. Right next door is the donut shop Doughville, with its blue sky raining pink donuts — you probably get the picture! Each stall brings its own delightful aesthetic, making Grazeland a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach.

While the sheer variety of cuisines available at Grazeland (from Indian and Mexican to Scottish and Japanese!) is a big plus, we find one of the best things about the park is its waste management — but don’t get too weirded out! We’re major proponents of sustainability, so Grazeland’s use of 100% plant-based compostable packaging is amazing news. Vendors aren’t allowed to use plastics at all, which means that around 80% of the venue’s waste will be commercially compostable or recyclable — including food organics, paper and cardboard, and glass. Many major venues with a lot of foot-traffic struggle with sustainable solutions, so it’s great to see Grazeland setting it out from the start.

With an entry fee of just $2.50, Grazeland is the ultimate weekend hang-out spot for all Melburnians. Alongside the food vendors, Grazeland also features three bars and two stages, with local musicians performing on a varied schedule. The venue is just next door to Scienceworks in Spotswood, which means it’s extremely easy to get to by car, public transport, and even by boat — did we mention the river-side deck with city views?