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Laneways & arcades

Street art in laneways 
Weaving a maze through the city grid, Melbourne’s laneways have been revitalised with street art, bustling cafes and atmospheric bars.
Al fresco eateries, one-off shops and cosy litte bars all nestle side-by-side in laneways threading throughout the city.

For a bite to eat, hit Hardware Lane, Degraves Street, Centre Place, Block Place or the Causeway. There are also hidden lanes on either side of Chinatown. To find a bar that’s tucked away, try Meyers Place, Bennetts Lane, Cohen Place, Sniders Lane or Market Lane.

Looking for retail therapy? Then brace yourself and enter into the realm of the 260-plus boutiques set within Melbourne’s historic and ornate arcades, all within walking distance of each other.

Apart from the eclectic range of quality shops and cafes, each arcade has its own individual charm. Don't miss the Italianate splendour of Block Arcade (1891) and Melbourne’s oldest trading arcade, Royal Arcade (1869).

Read more in our City Laneways brochure (PDF) and Melbourne Walk: Arcades and Lanes.

If you love shopping, eating and exploring fascinating places full of character you should also check out Melbourne's cultural precincts.

Melbourne is known as one of the world’s great street art capitals for the colourful displays of art in laneways and other outdoor locations throughout the city.

Image of The Block Arcade
The Block Arcade is one of the finest examples of a 19th century shopping arcade. It is richly decorated, with mosaic tiled flooring, a glass canopy, wrought iron and carved stone. The arcade connects Collins Street to Little Collins.
Image of Royal Arcade
There are few words which can describe the feeling and olde-style charm captured in the Royal Arcade. Since 1869, the arcade has acted as a hub between Melbourne's, Bourke Street Mall, Little Collins Street and Elizabeth Street.
Image of Arcades and lanes
Explore Melbourne's lanes, alleyways, little streets, arcades, café society and fascinating shops. Walking time 1.5 hours. Distance 2.5 kms.
Image of Laneway Commissions 2011
Dedicated to showcasing artists from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, placing their art and culture firmly in the public realm.
Image of Street art
Melbourne is known as one of the world’s great street art capitals for its unique expressions of art displayed on approved outdoor locations throughout the city.
Image of Bars
Melbourne has a great range of bars, including: rooftop bars, wine bars, lounges, cocktail bars, karaoke, beer gardens, jazz bars, live music bars and sports bars.
Image of Cherry Bar
Opening in 1999, tucked away down one of the CBD's intriguing little alleyways, Cherry is Melbourne's first authentic Rock bar, showcasing some of the greatest rock and soul music from the past half a century.
Image of Section 8 Bar
Can you imagine a beer garden without a pub, or a bar in a box? Well we've created both! The Container Bar has docked and our cargo includes a wide range of liquid goodness - wine, spirits and supreme coffee, as well as slow food sandwiches and tasty s...
Image of Lustre Bar
Lustre Bar is a cocktail and dessert bar. A place where you can indulge in a carefully crafted cocktail made by our professional staff and also indulge in a locally made dessert or specialty chocolate.
Image of Eat & drink
Melbourne is a serious culinary hotspot, with everything from burger joints to swish eateries with big-name chefs, and there’s also a thriving bar scene.
Image of B3 Cafe Et Patisserie
This popular lunchtime spot in Centre Place specialises in great value baguettes, making it the perfect place to grab a quick bite.
Image of Ca De Vin
Ca de Vin – ‘House of Wine’, is located in Postal Lane at Melbourne’s historic GPO on the Bourke Street Mall. With our quality Pizza and Mediterranean cuisine, friendly staff and a unique laneway atmosphere, Ca de Vin is perfect for lunch and dinner.
Image of Hell's Kitchen
Far from hellish, this groovy little upstairs cafe/bar makes you feel special to even know about it.
Image of The Little Mule Company
We formed the Little Mule Company as we love bicycles and coffee. So we decided to open shop, the kind of place we’d like to hang out and we’re pretty fussy about this stuff. So it had to have some sweet bikes and great coffee.
Image of Chinatown
Chinatown: Through the ornate archway, past the marble lions, you are transported to the clattering, chattering streets of China, a world of dumplings, dragonfruit and drunken chicken.
Image of Laneways and Arcades Walking Tour
Sat 10 Mar 2012 to Mon 28 Sep 2015
Discover Melbourne's laneways and arcades.

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