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The hotchpotch of small thoroughfares that crisscross Melbourne’s CBD reveal its fascinating history and creative character.
And while the Victorian capital is rightly renowned for diverse cultural experiences, great shopping, cool cafes, and innovative dining, a laneways and arcades walking tour tops the to-do list for many visitors — perhaps because this urban maze holds everything the city is famous for in its grasp!
Here are ten of the best Melbourne laneways and arcades to check out during your stay.
Watch our video of ten top things to do in Melbourne:
Top 10 Things to Do in MELBOURNE, Australia in 2025 (Cheap to Chic!) | Ultimate Travel Guide
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1. Degraves Street
Arguably the most famous of Melbourne’s laneways, Degraves Street is a melange of colour, conversation, and culinary aromas emanating from its myriad sidewalk cafes. Running between Flinders Street and Flinders Lane, it’s all very Paris-meets-Florence. Al-fresco dining is de rigueur and there are some really lovely little artisan shops to fossick in.
2. Centre Place
Cross Flinders Lane from Degraves and you’ll find yourself in gritty Centre Place, where cafes and alternative fashion shops jostle for space along the crowded, narrow laneway. It’s quintessential Melbourne and definitely one of the most atmospheric and evocative laneways in the CBD. Stand at the top and breathe in deep to take in the authentic scent of the city.
3. Block Arcade
Dial up the glamour and head over to the Block Arcade — a true Melbourne institution that is as historic as it is beautiful. Dating back to the 19thcentury, this stunning architectural gem gives more than a nod to the Victorian and French Renaissance styles, with its huge domed skylight and intricate mosaic tiled floors.
4. Royal Arcade
The Royal Arcade precedes the Block historically by about twenty years. Connecting Bourke, Elizabeth and Little Collins Streets, it’s the country’s oldest surviving shopping arcade. The soaring ceilings and striking black and white tiled chessboard floors are the Royal’s defining features, and you can shop like a king, queen or mere pawn depending on your budget. Shops range from the posh to the penny-pinching. Say hi to Gog and Magog — the fearsome guardians of Gaunt’s Clock.
5. Hardware Lane
Hardware Lane could be considered less ‘lane’ and more ‘precinct’, with its proliferation of cafes and restaurants. It has a really relaxed vibe, particularly in summer, and if you can’t find something to suit your gastronomic requirements here, then you might need to start double-checking for a heartbeat. A huge variety of cuisines are represented and it’s one of the best places for settling in and doing some serious people-watching.
6. Hosier Lane
Running between Flinders Lane and Flinders Street, Hosier Lane offers an iconic Melbourne selfie opportunity. This living, breathing outdoor art gallery is one of the most colourful, vibrant and photographed spots in the city. It’s always buzzing with tourists admiring the ever-changing graffitied walls that lead the eye down the lane to the contemporary lines of the newly revamped Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Federation Square. If you can get up early you might have it all to yourself, which is a magical experience.
7. AC/DC Lane
It’s a long way to the top if you… well, you probably know the rest. Any Aussie worth their salt can sing along with the AC/DC anthem, but even if you’re not a fan of the band, you’ve really got to hand it to a city that names a lane after some head-banging rock gods. Look for Mike Makatron’s sculpture of Bon Scott bursting out of a brick wall. AC/DC Lane was the home of legendary underground music venue Cherry Bar for a decade. The bar has now moved over to Little Collins Street.
8. Campbell Arcade
Speaking of underground, Campbell Arcade serves as the underpass beneath busy Flinders Street from Flinders Street railway station. This kooky arcade has a 1950s retro feel that extends from its low-ceilinged, almost cloistering architecture, to its array of quirky, alternative shops. The bonus point is that you emerge from the underpass right onto Degraves Street.
9. Howey Place
Despite being a busy pedestrian thoroughfare between Collins and Little Collins Streets, Howey Place has a unique character that’s worth your while to pause and appreciate. The wide laneway features lovely Art Deco architecture and a glass and wrought iron ceiling, and is lined with boutiques selling a range of fashion, gifts, homewares, and leather goods. One arm leads off to the Art Deco-era Manchester Unity building. The real surprise, though, is grungy Presgrave Place — just off the main lane. Here you can check out an outdoor gallery of framed street art.
10. Tattersalls Lane
Tattersalls Lane is much-loved and frequented by locals for its selection of cosmopolitan eateries and funky bars (Section 8 is housed in an old shipping container). Tattersalls links Lonsdale Street with Chinatown, and in the afternoon it’s usually packed to the rafters with the after-work crowd.
Need a place to stay?
Clarion Suites Gateway
Clarion Suites Gateway is popular with business types, but there’s no reason the big end of town should have this deluxe Melbourne hotel all to themselves. Located midway along Flinders Street — handy to the plethora of dining options on Flinders Lane — this all-apartment hotel offers studios, and one-bedroom and two-bedroom options. All suites feature a subtle, contemporary decor, supremely comfortable beds, stylish furnishings, and kitchenette facilities. Request a south facing room to enjoy amazing views across the Yarra River.
Clarion Suites Gateway’s central location makes exploring Melbourne a breeze. Step out the door and onto free public transport (within the CBD grid), including the No. 35 City Circle tram. At the end of a hard day of sightseeing, head for the hotel’s heated indoor pool or enjoy a seriously well-priced dinner at Williams Bar and Café.
This post was published thanks to Choice Hotels.
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Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
Julietta Henderson is a Melbourne-based travel writer and author. Originally planning to visit London for six months, she ended up staying for ten years and now divides her time between her home in Australia and several months of the year in the UK, Italy, and France. Julietta has travelled extensively through Europe, North America, Indonesia, New Zealand, Australia, and Russia, and believes the keys to a great travel experience are an open heart, an open mind, and an open-ended ticket. Her first two novels — The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman and Sincerely, Me — are now available in bookstores.
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