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Hidden Melbourne
The Best of Melbourne of the Beaten Path
Melbourne is full of hidden areas - it is a labyrinth of winding laneways in which to get delightfully lost and, in the process, discover some real gems. Australia's cultural capital shies away from grandstanding landmarks, preferring to make both its citizens and its tourists work at finding the best it has to offer - and they are all the better for coming across them unexpectedly. The best coffee shops, bars, bistros, boutiques, galleries, arcades and even hotels in Melbourne can often be found down hidden streets so we've taken some of the hard work out of it for you and picked our top hidden gems in the city. And best of all, none of them will require you to fork out too many of your precious dollars!
Hidden heritage - The Nicholas Building
This wonderful 1920s Beaux-Arts style building not far from Flinders Street Station, listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, could have been transported straight from New York. Walk through the ground floor Cathedral Arcade, which retains all of its original features including leadlights, a stained glass barrel-vaulted ceiling, ceramic floor tiles and shopfronts with intricately detailed wood panels, and then take the city's only remaining operator-controlled lift to the first floor. Here, you'll find studio after studio occupied by artists and fashion designers.
Hidden restaurant - GigiBaba
Lacking a sign, you could easily pass this nondescript looking modern Turkish restaurant on Smith Street in Collingwood without realising what wonders lie within. The quirky interior features a marble-topped bar, one wall entirely covered by a beautiful Turkish rug, black-and-white photos of old Turkey, lighting in the form of a tangle of huge, low-voltage bulbs, and zebra-patterned chairs. The food is inspired, with top dishes including sea salt and oregano-spiced baby lamb cutlets, skinny wild asparagus with zatar-dressed egg, and zucchini stuffed with rice and lamb mince. Take fellow backpackers with you as the food is best shared in order to sample as much as possible.
Hidden Shop - Design a Space
To nab yourself a unique outfit at a great price that you can be sure no-one else will have, head to this innovative 'retail gallery' developed to promote emerging young Australian designers. This Manchester Lane store allows up to 70 designers at a time to rent a space in which to showcase their range. With an eclectic mix of both womenswear and menswear, jewellery and accessories, by designers who rotate, you'll be spoilt for choice!
Hidden Bar - 1806
Named for the year in which the the term 'cocktail' was coined, 1806 is a cocktail bar taken straight from the 19th century. Once a cabaret theatre, the bar retains the glamour from those days with plush red velvet curtains, antique display cabinets, and twinkling chandeliers and candles providing mood-enhancing low lighting. The menu follows a timeline, taking drinkers through the history of the cocktail over the past 200 years, complete with interesting anecdotes about each one. Never has a history lesson been so fun!
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