Spend the afternoon along Degraves Street and Centre Place, and become part of a Melbourne postcard scene.
Colourful times in Centre Place
Centre Place may be the stereotypical image of Melbourne's laneways, but that's why we love it. Changing stencil art and graffiti provide a popular sensory overload. Take a snap, then squeeze into Jungle Juice for a freshly squeezed juice or a well-brewed coffee. The bagels here are delish, as are dumplings at ShanDong MaMa Mini. Head upstairs to long-time resident bar Hell's Kitchen, or save room for the delights on Degraves Street, just across Flinders Lane.
Dining on Degraves
Take your friends from out-of-town to Degraves Espresso, a quintessentially Melbourne cafe experience. Despite the Parisian vibe cast by the cafe umbrellas in the shadow of the impressive Majorca House, the dining on Degraves veers towards Italian, with Andiamo feeding many. Prop yourself in the centre at The Quarter, splurge on gelato at Pidapipo, savour the sugar at Little Cupcakes, and pick up Euro treats at Waffle On.
Getting arty and smarty
Make the most of the air of creativity on Degraves Street. Choose leather-bound journals, stationery and artisan notebooks at Il Papiro, and stock up on all the pigment, brushes and paper you could need at Senior Art Supplies. Smarten up with a short course at the Centre for Adult Education campus.
Laneway shopping
Along Degraves Street, celebrate all things Victorian with local gourmet fare and wares at Clementine's. Choose some distinctive kicks from John Fluevog Shoes on the corner. Back on Centre Place, browse threads and accessories at Kinki Gerlinki. From there, slip up the stairs to Centreway Arcade for more treats and boutiques.
