Destinations
City laneways
Hosier Lane, Melbourne
There's always something new to discover in Melbourne's hive of bustling, creative laneways, with their covert boutiques, famed restaurants and hole-in-the-wall cafes and bars.
Bar finds
Give 'Mainstreet' a miss and head down alleyways to find walls covered with stencil work, lightboxes and sculptures that point you to the door of quirky bars. Check out Bar Americano in Presgrave Place, Section 8 in Tattersalls Lane and Croft Institute in Croft Alley. Find addresses that reveal themselves to be velvety jazz clubs and flashy wine bars, or bare-bone student hangouts and dimly-lit hideaways.
Old favourites
Tried and true laneway Meyers Place still hosts the old-school, no-fuss Italian amico Waiters Restaurant, while the Pellegrini's welcome to Crossley Street is an institution.
Hardware Lane, Degraves Street and Centre Place are vying to feed you and ensure you look the part.
Visual arts
On the off chance that a tiny laneway isn't hiding boozy dens or caffeine lairs, you're likely to find an ever-changing outdoor gallery of street art. Check out the murals, paste-ups and stencils in the laneways off Flinders Lane between Russell Street and Swanston Street. Don't miss Hosier Lane.
Somerset preening
Menfolk who care about the cut of their jib should make their way to Somerset Place for a tidy haircut, beard grooming or close shave at Captains of Industry.
Explore
Streets
ACDC Lane
Named after the Australian musical heroes, ACDC Lane is the physical embodiment of Melbourne's love affair with down and dirty rock 'n' roll.
Streets
Centre Place
Despite being Melbourne's quintessential laneway, Centre Place still surprises and delights with its wild street art, boutiques and buzzing cafes.
Streets
Degraves Street
Join the happy throng filling up the cafes, boutiques and eateries on this walkway linking the city's fashion precinct with Flinders Street Station.
Streets
Duckboard Place
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.
Destinations
Flinders Lane
Melbourne's laneway HQ, Flinders Lane is a mecca for award-winning fine diners and boutique bars, contemporary galleries and local fashion labels.
Public art
Hosier Lane
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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Laneway coffee spots
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Dining out
Restaurants
Becco
Enjoy an evening of understated Italian elegance at this hatted restaurant on Crossley Street. Delight in the beef carpaccio or almond praline gelato.
Restaurants
Pastuso
Pay homage to Paddington's heritage and taste Peruvian flavours from the Andes and the Amazon at this Peruvian grill, cevicheria and pisco bar.
Restaurants
CUMULUS INC.
This loft-inspired restaurant, hatted by the Good Food Guide boasts a drinking bar, an eating bar and regular tables for serious eating.
Restaurants
Chin Chin
Pick your favourite friends and settle in for a fun group date over sharing plates of fresh, spicy Thai food and plentiful wine.
Restaurants
San Telmo
Tastefully decorated to create an authentic, old-world bodega atmosphere, San Telmo is famous for its imported 2.5-metre parilla (charcoal grill).
Restaurants
Coda
From Movida's Mykal Batholomew and Longrain chef Adam D'Sylva, this hatted eatery ticks all the right boxes without taking itself too seriously.
Restaurants
Syracuse
Enjoy old-world glamour and contemporary cuisine at this stalwart wine bar where people come to dine as much as sample the vast wine collection.
Restaurants
Shoya
It's worth learning the Japanese for 'throw another shrimp on the barbie' because you'll want more from the BBQ before belting out a karaoke classic.
Restaurants
Gingerboy
Modelled on the street kitchens of South-East Asia, Teage Ezard's hip restaurant is less rustic authenticity and more opulent interpretation.
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48-hour itinerary: Laneways
48 hours: Laneways
Lose yourself among bars and boutiques, galleries and street art, and high-end restaurants and hole-in-the-wall cafes in Melbourne's famous laneways.
Destinations
Arcades
Do a modern version of "the block", a century-old form of cruising Melbourne's arcades that takes in cutting-edge artwork, fashion, music and design.
Food & wine
Laneway dining
Dine like a local and find some of the city's favourite eateries tucked away upstairs, downstairs and behind bustling queues in Melbourne's laneways.
Precinct
Curtin House
Climb the stairs to seven levels of merriment in this art nouveau building. Stop for food and fashion along the way and finish with a rooftop tipple.