The historic network of laneways and arcades in Melbourne is as close as you will get to Italy in the southern hemisphere- and not just for Melbourne shopping. They embody a life style, café culture, and an interesting mix between Armani suits and graffiti, boutiques and foccacias.
While Melbourne is known as fashion capital, it is cherished for its atmosphere of its lanes and arcades. They are filled with cafes, intimate boutiques, designer fashion, and exotic shops selling anything from chocolates to games.
A typical image is that of a dimly lit lane with people sitting under marquees sipping coffee with a Vespa (Italian scooter) parked on the corner.
- Degraves Lane & Centre Place are some of the narrow laneways in the heart of the city that run off Flinders Lane between Elizabeth and Swanston Streets - and that are lined with cafes.
I think of them as the heart of Melbourne's intimate city life - places that nurture the soul, a hang out for locals and a feast for the senses.
- On the other side of Collins Street, the Block Arcade, built in the 1890s, takes you back to the money, style and abundance of the gold rush heydays. It connects to Elizabeth and Little Collins Streets with iron-lace walkways elaborate Italian mosaic floors and impressive glass dome ceilings.
It bears its name from the tradition of "doing the block" and parading ones fashion around the most fashionable Melbourne block. It has some of the most exclusive specialty shops in Melbourne.
- The Royal Arcade, built in 1869, is even older than the Block Arcade. It connects Little Collins and Elizabeth Streets with the Bourke Street Mall. It is a distinctive Victorian Arcade with high glass roof and windowed stores filled with fashion and specialty shops
These two are only the most famous intimate Melbourne shopping spots. The city block between Collins, Swanston and Elizabeth Streets and Bourke Street Mall is permeated with lanes and arcades.
- Between Collins and Little Collins Streets is Australia on Collins and Collins two3four connecting to Howey Place, all lined with small designer and fashion shops.
- Between Little Collins Street and Bourke Street Mall, you will find the Walk Arcade and Centrepoint Mall. On the other side of Elizabeth Street is the Galleria Shopping Plaza.
- Cathedral Arcade is in the historic Nicholas Building in Swanston Street opposite the St Pauls Cathedral. The Nicholas Building is home to many Melbourne designers and artists and it is residence to many eclectic and unique shops.
- Hardware Lane is the place for romantic laneway dining, live jazz and Mediterranean food - all under the canopy of marquees and umbrellas. It runs parallel to Elizabeth Street, between Bourke and Little Lonsdale Streets, on the Queen Street side.
- Market, Crossley and Liverpool Streets, in the upper city end, are small streets between Bourke and Little Bourke Streets. They are insider tips for fine wining and dining with a number of chic restaurants and some of the finest specialty boutiques.
It is easy to miss the intimate lanes and arcades if you are on a quick Melbourne shopping trip - but without exploring these, you have only just scratched the surface of this fascinating city.
Warm regards, Brigitte Seum
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Brigitte Seum provides insider information about Melbourne. She is a Melburnian by choice and is continuing building an information-rich Melbourne resource. Find out more about Melbourne Shopping here.
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