City laneways, Destinations, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

There's always something new to discover in Melbourne's hive of bustling, creative laneways, with their hidden boutiques, famed restaurants and hole-in-the-wall cafes and bars.

Bar finds

Give 'Mainstreet' a miss and head down alleyways instead to find walls covered with stencil work, lightboxes, and sculptures that point you towards the door of quirky bars. Check out Section 8 in Tattersalls Lane, Whisky and Alement on Russell Place and Her Rooftop on Drewery Lane. Find addresses that reveal themselves to be piano bars and wine bars, cocktail dens, or student hangouts and dimly lit hideaways.

Old favourites

Tried and true laneway Meyers Place still hosts the old-school, no-fuss Italian Waiters Restaurant, while Pellegrini's on the corner of Crossley Street is an institution. Hardware Lane, Degraves Street and Centre Place continue to bustle with casual dining.

And modern flavours

Melbourne's evolving restaurant scene comes to life in laneway spaces. Set out for award-winning contemporary Indian from Tonka, flavoursome Mexican at Tres a Cinco, rooftop Thai at BKK and opulent South-East Asian fare at Gingerboy.

Visual arts

For many, laneways signify an ever-changing outdoor gallery of street art. Check out murals, paste-ups and stencils in lanes both gritty and gentrified around the city. Melbourne's Mike Makatron's huge wall of greenery adorns Meyers Place. Rock 'n' roll tributes on ACDC Lane draw keen eyes, and Hosier Lane is ever-popular with its creative display by local and international street art talent

ACDC Lane

Streets

Named after the Australian musical heroes, ACDC Lane is the physical embodiment of Melbourne's love affair with rock 'n' roll.

Centre Place

Streets

Despite being Melbourne's quintessential laneway, Centre Place still surprises and delights with its wild street art, boutiques and buzzing cafes.

Degraves Street

Streets

Join the happy hubbub in thecafes, boutiques and eateries on this iconic laneway between the city's fashion precinct and Flinders Street Station.

Drewery Lane

Streets

Wander Drewery Lane between Lonsdale and Little Lonsdale Streets for street art, Japanese-inspired baked goods, and rooftop cocktails.

Duckboard Place

Streets

Once the place where World War II troops came to let off steam, the lane is now a chic playground for local foodies, wine lovers and artists.

Flinders Lane

Destinations

Melbourne's laneway HQ, Flinders Lane is a hotspot for award-winning fine diners and boutique bars, contemporary galleries and local fashion labels.

Hardware Lane

Streets

A breezier version of Melbourne's gritty hideaways, Hardware Lane is a sociable and popular spot for revellers and foodies.

Hosier Lane

Public art

Wander down the bluestone laneway and take in the dizzying array of colours and characters created by local and international street artists.

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Pellegrini's

Cafes & bakeries

Do your bit to ensure Pellegrini's gets to its centenary as it's a known fact Melbourne would be poorer without its charm and comforting Italian food.

Tres a Cinco

Bars

Frank Camorra of Movida fame lures your tastebuds to Mexico for top-notch tacos, tequila and ceviche. Salud!

Flower Drum

Restaurants

Create a special occasion so you can head to Flower Drum for novel Cantonese fare that has garnered two hats in the Good Food Guide.

Gingerboy

Restaurants

Modelled on the street kitchens of South-East Asia, Teage Ezard's hip restaurant is less rustic authenticity and more opulent interpretation.

Becco

Restaurants

Enjoy an evening of understated Italian elegance at this hatted restaurant on Crossley Street. Delight in the beef carpaccio or almond praline gelato.