The Abbotsford Convent Supper Market

Whether you are a lover of harmonious surroundings, an introvert escaping the pandemonium of the city, an aspiring clergy person seeking refuge, or, perhaps, none of the above, the Abbotsford Convent welcomes you to the Supper Market every Friday night till March 13, 2015.

Just a short distance from Punt Road – one of Melbourne’s busiest roads – the former nunnery is worlds away from the chaos of peak hour traffic. Housing an art studio and luscious gardens, the Abbotsford Convent’s night market is the epitome of everything it stands for: tranquility.

Like over-zealous groupies awaiting your arrival, food trucks congregate beside the entrance and immediately invade your senses. This relaxing haven features the award-winning* ‘Mama’s Gozleme’, known for serving one of Melbourne’s best vegetarian gozlemes. If this does not garner a ‘Yes’ vote, then a range of cuisines, from Himalayan to Argentinean as well as the crowd-pleasing Thai** will satiate anyone’s palate.

Filling your ears – and eliminating the awkward silences of that kind of first date – are local bands who belt out funk, soul and folk tunes, rounding out the ethereal feel of a church garden from yesteryear.

By this stage, you may have stumbled across one stall that will stick in your mind for awhile. This stall offers the salvation that you are seeking. And that salvation is Lychee Beer. Tasting this God-given delight will truly place you among the angels. This sweet elixir is sure to make a murmur of nuns blush.

Like a prized reliquary, the Abbotsford Convent keeps its treasures in hidden confines. One such treasure is the Shadow Electric: the convent’s answer to a cinema under the stars that shows a range of critically-acclaimed flicks, cheesy rom-coms and cult classics.

Stern stone buildings enveloping the convent gardens complete the landscape by offering refuge for those who are looking for a little quiet. The gardens are an ideal escape for groups of mates enjoying a summer night picnic, for families watching their children run amok, or for amateur photographers toying with their filter options. The rolling gardens are a breath of fresh air needed after an exhaustive week of work or study (or both).

The Abbotsford Convent night market can best be described as a celebration of culture and arts in a relaxing environment. Peaceful, unique and welcoming are just three ways to describe this blissful affair.

Make sure you add the Supper Market to your list of night ventures this summer.

*The award may or may not be fictitious.

**The pad thai is highly recommended – you can sprinkle as much chili and nuts as you can handle!

The Abbotsford Convent Supper Market
Open every Friday night until March 13, 2015
1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford
suppermarket.com.au