You know it\u2019s Thursday evening in Darwin when a steady flow of tourists and locals starts arriving at the gorgeous Mindil Beach Sunset Market<\/a>, esky and camp chairs in hand.<\/p>\n This magical market attracts thousands of people each week, offering a multicultural feast, live entertainment and a sunset worthy of any postcard.<\/p>\n Hungry hordes graze their way along the food stalls, which serve up tastes from Turkey to Timor. From made-to-order papaya salad to the sugary goodness of Spanish churros, there are hundreds of picnic-friendly dishes, including flattened fauna from the quirky Roadkill Caf\u00e9, whose motto is: \u2018You kill it, we grill it.\u2019<\/p>\n At the Sunset Oyster Bar, seafood lovers queue for their freshly shucked half-dozen before heading down to the dunes for a different kind of sunset: the famous Darwin one, garishly pink and orange, like a highlighter across the sky.<\/p>\n Market madness continues on Saturday at vibrant Parap<\/a>. This is the locals\u2019 favourite for a progressive brunch. A Malaysian laksa noodle soup, with its creamy coconut broth, and an icy fresh-fruit shake are non-negotiable.<\/p>\n But don\u2019t stop there; there\u2019s also Cambodian prawn pancakes, Indonesian satays, Lebanese snacks and authentic Thai sweets to try.<\/p>\n \u201cThe market is a weekend institution,\u201d says Sousou Elayoubi, while serving up kofta,<\/em> hummus and falafel at her Lebanese food stall.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has a relaxed vibe and is a great place to catch up with friends, have a quick massage and check out the crafts.\u201d<\/p>\n Look out for some terrific Territory gifts such as Humpty Doo Spices and the well-regarded Vanilla Mozi products. Walk off your meal with a wander through the Parap galleries.<\/p>\n In the late afternoon you can head over to Malak in the northern suburbs, one of the city\u2019s most culturally diverse areas, for the Malak Marketplace<\/a>. This is Darwin\u2019s youngest market and it has more of a focus on organic produce, locally handmade crafts and great entertainment. Think raw vegan cakes, spray-free oranges, Congolese cooking and terrific flea-market finds. Running during the dry season from April to October, Malak is open until 9pm.<\/p>\n For weird and wonderful tropical fruits, piles of Asian greens and eskies filled with mud crabs, head to Rapid Creek Markets<\/a> on a Sunday morning.<\/p>\n It might be set in a suburban shopping centre, but no serious foodie will want to miss this bustling Asian market, with its maze of stalls teeming with fresh-picked vegetables and fruit sold by Filipino, Tamil, Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese growers.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a popular haunt for local chefs such as Ben Andrews, who swears the best banana fritters this side of Bangkok can be found here, hot from the fryer, between the bright-green pandan cakes and the golden galangal.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery week, I stumble across an ingredient I have never seen before. It\u2019s as exciting as any south-east Asian market,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cI like to visit early to beat the crowds, and the heat. Plus, the banana fritters are best at 8am.\u201d Arrive hungry to hoe into delights such as spicy jackfruit curry and roti wraps.<\/p>\n There\u2019s less food and more tie-dye at Sunday\u2019s Nightcliff Markets<\/a>, a popular brunch spot where locals kick back to live music and have their tarot read over a coffee or three.<\/p>\n Highlights include the near-perfect pork banh mi (also available with tofu) from Ha Hong, Nutella and banana creations from Ken\u2019s Crepes, and mixed berry donuts from the revered Alley Cats Patisserie.<\/p>\n In a town where you can get laksa on every corner, there is stiff competition for the best bowl of this famous Malaysian curry soup. But Mary\u2019s legendary laksa at Parap Markets (just look for the queue) \u2013 with its fragrant, noodle-stuffed broth, quality seafood and fiery sambal \u2013 certainly deserves the devotion it inspires.<\/p>\n Darwin\u2019s iconic markets are a tropical fantasy come to life: an overindulgence of smells, tastes and colours that take you from northern Australia to far-east Asia, the Mediterranean and beyond. 1. Mindil Beach Sunset Market You know it\u2019s Thursday evening in Darwin when a steady flow of tourists and locals starts arriving at the gorgeous […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":182,"featured_media":173658,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"advertorial.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_expiration-date-status":"","_expiration-date":0,"_expiration-date-type":"","_expiration-date-categories":[],"_expiration-date-options":[]},"categories":[880],"tags":[833,6470,4576,4402,5713,4748,5139,4394,4564,4628],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n2. Parap Markets<\/h2>\n
3. Malak Marketplace<\/h2>\n
4. Rapid Creek Markets<\/h2>\n
5. Nightcliff Markets<\/h2>\n
Foodie tip<\/h2>\n
Hungry for more? Head to the best cafes<\/a> and restaurants in Darwin<\/a> for breakfast, lunch and dinner.<\/h5>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"