Melbourne’s hidden laneways

You never quite know what’s in store when you wander off Melbourne’s grid of city streets into the maze of gothic laneways behind them. Even the locals find surprises here, where the venues for food, fashion and art are small, quirky and sometimes hidden.  Discover a late-night jazz bar or watch the world go by from a tiny trattoria, browse the boutiques and check out urban art. You can unlock the city’s real secrets in these distinctively Melbourne streets.

Melbourne’s lively laneways wind unpredictably between the wide, ordered streets where bullock carts hauled goods in the 19th century.  Today you can escape Melbourne’s modern-day traffic in these charming backstreets.
Let the aroma of good coffee and gourmet outlets tempt you to Degraves Street and Centre Place. Stop in at home ware stores along each. There’s more great café culture along Crossley Street, as well as stylish boutiques and small, popular lunch places. Nearby Liverpool Street is lined with good-value Asian eateries and friendly Italian restaurants.
You’ll find more hearty Italian fare along Hardware Lane, where exuberant waiters wave you into their eateries. Over summer it’s all al fresco, and bands serenade you from the pavement. Dine underground in wood-paneled basement restaurants along George Parade, which sits off the ‘Paris End’ of Collins Street. Or head to the enchanting Chinatown district for a yum-cha lunch. Wander Chinatown’s main strip of Little Bourke Street, or explore the tiny side lanes lined with stylish bars. The Block Place and The Causeway are also good spots to grab a place to eat.
Check out the funky boutiques and flagship stores clustered around Little Collins Street. Hunt down a piece by a local fashion designer in Manchester or Flinders Lane, where the city’s rag trade began. For true retail elegance, visit the heritage-listed Royal and Block Arcades, with their mosiac-tiled floors and opulent finishings.
Beyond the buildings, Melbourne’s laneways have increasingly become spaces for artistic expression. See colourful, constantly-changing graffiti murals in Hosier Lane and along Union Lane. Cocker Alley features the work of grafitti artist Banksy, while Jane Bell, Rutledge and Spark lanes have been tattooed with local street culture. 
 

 

Top 10 Things to Do in Melbourne

Exploring Melbourne’s laneways is just one aspect of this diverse city. Get a cricket or football fix. Soak up art and culture. Go high-end dining or grab the best pub burger. Shop for local designer fashion or cycle the bayside. Whatever you fancy, Melbourne is a city of choices.

Dine at Melbourne’s Best Restaurants

Visit Attica, one of the world’s 50 best restaurants and delve into Ben Shewry’s unique menu. In Melbourne you’ll do destination dining in every nook, from the sublime Estelle Bar and Kitchen to Donovan’s for water views. As for the CBD, the original MoVida in graffiti-covered Hosier Lane serves knock-out tapas. Nearby, George Colombaris’s Press Room produces a clever Greek menu.

Drink at Melbourne’s Rooftop Bars

Melbourne invented the rooftop bar scene. Join the legendary Emerson Sunday sessions in South Yarra, hunt creative cocktails at its Brunswick Street neighbour, Black Pearl, or sip wines at Bellota in South Melbourne and the CBD’s Cumulus Up in Flinders Lane.

Cheer at World-Famous Sporting Events

Melbourne is sport crazy and its venues legendary. Join the fun at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground for the Australian Football League in winter or international cricket in the summer. Go trackside at Flemington for the excitement of the Spring Racing Carnival and Melbourne Cup. Be exhilarated by the Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix and see international soccer stars at Hisense Arena.

Shop Melbourne’s Designer Boutiques and Cool Local Labels

Discover edgy and high-end fashion in Melbourne’s retail scene. Shop Australian designers like Alistair Trung on Little Collins Street and Alpha 60 in Flinders Lane. Find Lupa in Fitzroy before browsing Brunswick Street and Gertrude Street. Go vintage shopping on Chapel Street and get statement pieces on High Street, Armadale. Look for international brands at Emporium.

Explore Melbourne’s Laneways and Architecture

Melbourne’s historic urban environment is full of life. Spend hours exploring the city’s beautiful arcades, one-off boutiques, eclectic laneways and graffiti art. Visit the Melbourne Museum and the World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building. Admire Victorian landmarks such as St Patrick’s Cathedral, St Paul’s Cathedral and Flinders Street Station and discover Art Deco with the beautiful Manchester Unity Building.

Day Trip to Wineries, Forests and Surf Beaches

Taste world-class wines, artisan cheeses and handmade chocolate in the Yarra Valley, 90 minutes drive east. Cuddle a koala at Healesville Sanctuary or head into the nearby Dandenong Ranges for cute villages and towering forests. For more wines and surf beaches, drive 90 minutes south-east to the stunning Mornington Peninsula, or west to the Bellarine Peninsula.

Experience Life on the St Kilda Esplanade

Enjoy the tram ride to bohemian St Kilda and check out live pub music at the Espy. Go for great burgers at Barney Allen’s or the best pizza at Mr Wolf. Eat fish’n’chips on the beach, taste sublime coffee and cake on Acland Street and ride the rollercoaster at historic Luna Park.

Shop Local at Melbourne’s Amazing Markets

Get among the hustle and bustle of the Queen Victoria Markets in the heart of the city, and pick up some fresh produce or fashion. Take the tram to the South Melbourne Market and enjoy dim sims under its historic awnings. For bric-a-brac and vintage bargains, catch an early train to the Sunday Camberwell Market, 10 kilometres east of the CBD.

Get Outdoors in Melbourne’s Parks and Gardens

Run, cycle, walk or just relax in the stunning green spaces of Melbourne. Jog the tan track around the Royal Botanic Gardens and Kings Domain along the banks of the Yarra River, seeing Government House along the way. In Royal Park, find Melbourne Zoo. Picnic in Fitzroy Gardens in the CBD after visiting Captain Cook’s Cottage.