Melbourne Laneways

Overview

Melbourne's laneways are the city's defining feature — a network of narrow alleys and passages threading through the CBD, filled with street art, hidden bars, specialty coffee shops, and boutique retailers.

Highlights

• Hosier Lane: The most famous street-art laneway, covered in constantly changing murals and paste-ups.
• Degraves Street: A bustling European-style café lane beneath an iron canopy, the birthplace of Melbourne's coffee culture.
• Hardware Lane: A dining laneway lined with open-air restaurant tables, transformed into an alfresco corridor on warm evenings.

History

The laneways originated from Melbourne's Hoddle Grid, laid out in 1837. Originally service passages, they were neglected for decades until the 1990s when pioneering bar owners and café operators began occupying them, sparking a cultural revolution.

Visitor Tips

• Self-Guided Walk: A 2-hour walking loop from Flinders Lane to Little Bourke Street covers the best lanes.
• Hidden Bars: Look for unmarked doors — many of Melbourne's best bars lie behind anonymous facades.
• Duration: 1–2 hours.