PReCINCTS | Laneways
City secrets
I
t’s always a thrill entering Melbourne’s hive of bustling laneways, with their covert boutiques, famed restaurants, hole-in-the-wall cafes and unique bars. Give ‘main street’ a miss and duck down the alleyways instead, where you might discover surprising street art, creative boutiques, quirky bars, or your new favourite restaurant.
an extension of the subway that connects Degraves Street with Flinders Street Station, is one of Melbourne’s best kept secrets. It’s packed with unique stores including a zine shop, CD and vinyl emporium, unisex hairdresser and hole-in-the-wall coffee house. This junction is also the perfect place to shop for recycled fashion, handcrafted jewellery and accessories.
WINE & DINE Closed to traffic to accommodate the hoardes of food lovers who visit for lunch and dinner, Hardware Lane is reminiscent of Europe’s culinary capitals, with waiters spruiking their wares on the cobblestoned streets outside their restaurants. There is a veritable smorgasbord to choose from, including Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Italian, Mexican, Modern Australian and American BBQ. Tattersalls Lane is bursting with treats fit for Chinatown, while Degraves Street is renowned for its cafe culture and boutique shopping. Further east, Meyers Place is home to a quirky mix of bars and restaurants, from Argentinian food to a cocktail bar inspired by Prohibition era speakeasys, and a unique arts hub.
ART ATTACK Laneway art starts at street level, with stencils, paste-ups and murals commissioned by the city council. Artworks are hidden in laneways across the city – head to Hosier, Caledonian or Union Lanes and Centre Place for inspired, ever-changing street art, or join a tour for insights from practising street and fine artists. Centre Place is one of Melbourne’s most photographed laneways, with a vibe reminiscent of somewhere like Rome, while Hosier Lane is a quintessential stop on any street art tour, with an ethical cafe and an iconic tapas bar to boot. Music lovers should make a beeline for AC/DC Lane, named for the legendary rockers and boasting its own beloved live music venue, along with restaurants and a wine bar, while Flinders Lane is home to Australia’s largest concentration of commercial art galleries as well as Craft Victoria, which represents craftspeople from across the state (craft.org.au). DV
RETAIL THERAPY Melbourne’s rag trade began in Manchester and Flinders Lanes. These days the sartorially inclined are catered to with a range of contemporary men’s and women’s fashions created by local and international designers. Nearby Campbell Arcade,
92 | 92 destinations | destinations Victoria Victoria
MAIN IMAGE: Street art in Hosier Lane.
TEXT: CASSY POLIMENI AND VISITVICTORIA.COM / IMAGES: Tourism Victoria, Roberto Seba
Melbourne’s laneways are full of surprises, from quirky bars and restaurants to brilliant boutiques and surprising street art