Melbourne’s cafe culture is the pride of the city, and nowhere is it better exemplified than the city’s laneways. Originally intended to connect the city’s main thoroughfares, the laneways are now vibrant hubs full of cafes, eateries, bars, barbershops, boutiques, art galleries and much more. They’re an integral part of central Melbourne life and an unmissable experience for visitors to the city, whether they’re coming in from elsewhere in Australia or overseas.
Centre Place
The archetypical Melbourne laneway, Centre Place’s collection of hole-in-the wall shops, cafes, coffee bars, colourful art and quirky vibe has led to it becoming the most famous of the city’s laneways. Whether it’s something to drink, something to eat, something for the home, or something interesting to look at while passing the time, there’s nowhere quite like Centre Place, located off Flinders Lane, to do it.
Flinders Lane
Running parallel to Flinders St and its famous railway station in the heart of Melbourne, Flinders St was once the heart of Melbourne’s rag trade and is still home to some boutique designers, along with boutique hotels as well as the ever-present cafes. Luxury fashion label Chanel have a store at one end, and the lane also has several heritage-listed buildings along it.
Degraves Street
Located Between Flinders Lane and Flinders St, Degraves St runs between Flinders St and Flinders La and features the same archetypical Melbourne Laneway experience and like Centre Place, is a much-photographed part of the city with a range of shops, cafes, artworks and buskers adding to the atmosphere.
Hosier Lane
One of the best places to see examples of Melbourne’s thriving street arts, Hosier Lane may be one of the most photographed places in the city. Connecting Flinders St and Flinders La, Hosier Lane is host to an ever-changing art exhibition with works from a range of talented local and international artists.
Crossley Street
Located off Little Bourke St in the north-east of central Melbourne, Crossley St is well known for its electic shops, covering everything from cappuccino to curios to classic fashion and more. Designer dresses can be found alongside Art Deco items, antiques and fashionable menswear
Tattersalls Lane
A taste of the Orient in central Melbourne’s norhteast, Tattersalls Lane is located off Little Bourke St and is famed for its Chinese and Indian restaurants offering tantalising dishes, with a popular bar also featuring here as well.
Hardware Lane
This laneway, running between Lonsdale St and Little Bourke St, is famous for its restaurants and a key part of Melbourne’s dining scene , with everything from Italian to Seafood to Gastropub fare on the menu. At night, the laneway is host to live jazz musicians – as well as the cries of restaurant spruikers enticing visitors to try the specials on offer from their establishment.
Albert Coates Lane
Part of the Queen Victoria Village development in Melbourne’s CBD, Albert Coates Lane is named after Sir Albert Coates, an Australian military medic during the Gallipoli Campaign in WWI and the Malayan Campaign in WWII. The laneway itself is home to several modern mens and women’s fashion shops, as well as being connected to the QV Centre mall with a selection of major retailers.
Meyers Place
Melbourne’s small bar scene is well known in Australia and Meyers Place, located between Bourke St and Little Collins St near the Victorian Parliament building, is one of the best places to sample it. From craft beer to cider to cocktails, there’s a tipple for every taste here – and if people are looking for somewhere to unwind after a busy day exploring the city, Meyers Place is also home to an authentic Japanese bathhouse as well.
ACDC Lane
Named after iconic Australian rock band AC/DC, the lane – previously known as Corporation Lane, and located off Flinders Lane – was renamed in 2004 to honour the band and their contributions to Australian music and culture. The lane name omits the band’s slash due to geographic naming requirements, but is home to a rock-and-roll nightclub and is also a popular place to visit for fans of the band – or rock music in general.
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