Hotels near Melbourne Laneways

Melbourne's CBD laneways are the city's most distinctive feature - a network of approximately 200 narrow pedestrian alleys cutting through the central grid, packed with cafes, bars, restaurants, and famous street art. The most-photographed are Hosier Lane (the city's most famous street art alley - constantly changing graffiti), Degraves Street (1900s cafe culture), AC/DC Lane (named for the band, with rock memorabilia), and Centre Place (covered cafe alley).

The laneway cafe culture is the foundation of Melbourne's coffee obsession - the city has more cafes per capita than any other city in the world. Standout cafes: Patricia Coffee Brewers (no seats, just standing room - the local minimalist coffee benchmark), Brother Baba Budan (the original Melbourne speciality coffee, since 2007), and Higher Ground (in a converted power station). Free street art walks daily from Federation Square at 11:00; private tours 50-80 AUD.

Pro Tip: Visit Hosier Lane in the morning before 10:00 - the street art changes weekly and you'll catch it before tour groups arrive. Patricia Coffee Brewers is a 5-minute walk and is the must-visit Melbourne cafe (no seating, just stand and drink - the local coffee culture in pure form).