Melbourne is famous for its laneways and arcades. They’re the canvas for the city’s adored street art and hide Melbourne’s best bars and cafes. It’s pretty rare to find a city where you actually want to spend time in the city centre, but you could lose hours following Melbourne’s laneways & arcades.
The gorgeous arcades get less hype, but they offer a refuge from the noise of the city (and often, the rain). The arcades fuse with alleyways and laneways, making it easy to duck into an arcade off Little Collins Street and pop out in a laneway a couple of blocks away, a little disoriented but thrilled by tumbling through Melbourne’s rabbit holes.
I acknowledge the Boon Wurrung and Woiwurrung people as the First Nations owners of the lands now recognised as Melbourne. I pay respect to their Elders, lores, customs and creation spirits. I recognise that these lands have always been places of great natural beauty, culture and community.
Centre Place is one of Melbourne’s most famous (and crowded) laneways, off Flinders Lane. The Majorca Building is a beautiful blue, and one of my favourites in Melbourne.Melbourne has more cafes per capita than any other city in the world, and with laneways like Centre Place crammed with cafes, it’s easy to see why.Melburnians flocking to Tonka on Duckboard Place on a Monday eveningFormerly Corporation Lane, ACDC Lane is named in homage to Australian rock band AC/DC. It was named for the band’s ties to Melbourne, their role as cultural ambassadors for Australia and the lane’s importance in the city’s rock ‘n roll sceneWaiting outside Cherry Bar on ACDC LaneSome of the city’s best restaurants are hidden down laneways, such as Pastuso, a Peruvian restaurant at the end of ACDC Lane
I love the contrast of the heritage facade Tomasetti Building with the modern street art on the side of the building. Cnr Flinders Lane & Rothsay Lane
Balcombe Place is fringed by two extremely old buildings, both of which are looking a little worse for wear, but add a bit of character to Little Collins St’s facadeThis is my favourite tram stop, outside the beautiful GPO building in the Bourke Street Mall – a former post office, now a H&M.Built in 1869, the Royal Arcade connects the Bourke St Mall, Little Collins St & Elizabeth St.Block Place tumbles out of the Block Arcade, the perfect place for a post-shopping coffee.
Royal Arcade entrance on Bourke StHaigh’s Chocolate, a luxury chocolatier in the Block ArcadeThe Block ArcadeDetails in the Block ArcadeMysterious Australian flag & pendant light display
Have you been to Melbourne, or any of these spots? What’s the most beautiful part of your city?
Thank you Jeff! Glad I could show you a new side of Melbourne 🙂 Definitely a very charming city, but then right as you think it’s all old world elegance, you’re surprised by street art or modern design.
Beautiful photos. Melbourne has more old world charm than I expected.
Thank you Jeff! Glad I could show you a new side of Melbourne 🙂 Definitely a very charming city, but then right as you think it’s all old world elegance, you’re surprised by street art or modern design.