Local’s guide to the best street art in Melbourne (with map)
This guide will tell you where to head to for the best street art in Melbourne. This city is in itself, one giant work of art.
Melbourne is very much an arty destination, dripping with culture. The city is essentially a living, breathing canvas, with constantly changing art lining its streets, laneways and walls.
This is certainly a draw-card for visitors, as exploring Melbourne’s street art is a cheap and easy way to get a feel for the city.
Even as a local, the ever-changing art scene means that you’ll constantly be delighted.
You can walk down streets you’ve never stepped foot in before and be pleasantly surprised.
Laneways you may enter frequently hold just as much chance of offering something new.
I particularly love exploring street art in Melbourne during winter, when photography conditions are ideal. However, it’s fun in summer too.
Where is the best street art in Melbourne?
I personally think some of the city’s best art lies in its outer suburbs, but that’s a different post altogether.
Melbourne’s CBD (Central Business District) is kinda covered with it, so if you’re not in the city for long, it’s pretty easy to
This neighbourhood guide to Melbourne highlights some places outside the city centre, which you can head to for fantastic and colourful murals.
For now, let’s focus on the street art in Melbourne’s , which is both interesting and varied.
Here are some of the best known laneways, and some others that are worth taking a gander at, if you’re in the vicinity.
I’ve named the artists of specific works where possible (i.e., if I actually know who they are) and have included some options to stop for a coffee break, or a tipple.
Walking around, looking at art is thirsty work, after all!
The most interesting street art in Melbourne city
What are the best locations for street art in Melbourne? Some of the best laneways and roads for art are clustered together, others are more of a hike.
We’ll start at the city’s west and work our way across it.
Little Bourke Street
Right down the end of Little Bourke Street, directly opposite Southern Cross Station, is a collection of murals by some renowned street artists.
Unlike much of the other Melbourne street art we’ll cover in this post, these are standalone works that make you feel like you’re walking through a gallery, not a random laneway in a big, thriving city.
Smug, Adnate, Sofles, Fintan Magee, Rone, Dvat, Kaffe-eine and many Melbourne street artists all have works in this part of the city and it’s well worth coming to check it out.
I particularly like the works painted on an old substation – it really brightens up what is generally a rather drab end of town.
Grab a coffee at: Nearby Higher Ground. Getting a table can be difficult on the weekend, but they do have an outdoor coffee cart.
Blender Lane
Blender Lane is a stone’s throw from Queen Victoria Market, so you can go check out this laneway after grabbing a bite to eat there.
This little laneway was once home to Blender Studios, an institution firmly entrenched in the Melbourne street art scene, helping to produce some of Australia’s finest artists.
The studios may be located in West Melbourne now, but their legacy lives on. There’s stencils, tags, murals and even (bizarre) sculpture to be found here.
Gallagher Place
On a small laneway off Bourke Street, artists Mike Makatron and Conrad Bizjak have painted a Melbourne, reclaimed by nature.
Green vines sweep over recognisable urban structures, such as Town Hall and a tram.
It’s highly reminiscent of the scene in Jumanji (1995, not the crap new one) where the jungle erupts within the old Parrish residence.
I like it.
Grab a coffee at: Kinship & Co.
Coromandel Place
Coromandel Place is another favourite of mine and one that few others seem to make the journey to.
It was only recently revitalised in the last couple of years, with works by Al Stark and Ghostpatrol.
Local’s tip: Fancy checking out some secret street art in Melbourne? There’s a really cool alleyway near this laneway, featuring works by renowned street artist Rone. Have a little explore of the area and see if you can find it!
Grab a coffee or drink: At the brightly coloured Oli & Levi.
Meyers Place
This laneway was a pilot place for the city’s ‘Green Your Laneways’ project, which I would say is a roaring success.
Standing under Mike Makatron’s bright mural ‘Jungle Funk’ will certainly make you feel like you’re right in the thick of it… and it sure is a jungle out there.
This laneway is right up in the theatre end of town, so it’s easy to check out after seeing a play – particularly at the Princess Theatre, which is currently showing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child!
Don’t miss the art on nearby Mcilwraith Place, either!
Grab a coffee or drink: At Lane’s Edge or Loop Roof.
Mornane Place
You’ll find some truly obscure street art in this little laneway, with a few pieces of brightly coloured artwork.
It’s well worth popping into if you’re in the area.
Presgrave Place
This laneway’s art deviates slightly from the norm, but this is not an unusual case in Melbourne.
Rather than painted murals, the street is lined with kitschy, framed murals, with some weird rat sculptures hanging from the ceiling.
This is the ideal laneway for those who like to take a slower approach to their art. It’s like taking in the walls of a museum… a grimy, outdoor museum that smells ever so slightly of urine.
The laneway leading into Presgrave, Howey Place, is also a piece of Melbourne history.
Formerly known as “Coles Walk”, the glass archway is all that remains of famed bookshop Coles Book Arcade.
Grab a coffee or drink: At Bar Americano… if you can get in. It seats only 10 patrons at a time, making it one of Melbourne’s smallest bars.
Tattersalls Lane
Acting as a transition zone between the north of the CBD and Chinatown, this is one of Melbourne’s oldest laneways.
It’s the kind of alleyway you can wander down, take in some art and spend some time bumming around in, with its proliferation of eateries and bars.
Make sure you look up, so you don’t miss the work of Melbourne street artist Adnate.
Grab a drink: At Section 8 Bar or Ferdydurke (so much fun to say out loud). Alternatively, grab some dumplings from Shanghai Dumpling House.
Rankins Lane
Rankins Lane is off Little Bourke Street and features a few nice murals.
It’s best known for being home to two of the best cafes in Melbourne, but definitely consider checking out the art, while you’re there.
Grab a coffee: Brother Baba Budan and Manchester Press.
Strachan Lane
There are still some cool pieces of work in Strachan Lane, but the fun police swooped in and removed the most daring of all.
In 2017, Archibald artist Vincent Fantauzzo painted a 3D checkerboard mural on the floor of this lane, to promote quality street art.
Unfortunately, it was quickly removed by the council when it was deemed to be unsafe.
A pity, indeed.
Drewery Lane
This laneway features some of the most original street art in Melbourne.
Drewery Lane is covered in a mosaic of handmade tiles, honouring the nearby Legacy House, who look after the loved ones of those who have lost their lives in protecting the country.
The ‘Mosaic Man’ Sankar Nadeson holds workshops helping families, friends and widows of war veterans to make tiles that are then attached to the wall in the lane.
The project started in 2015 and now boasts over 1000 tiles.
Healing through art. It’s a powerful thing.
Grab a coffee: at Little Rogue.
Sniders Lane
Up from Drewery Lane is Sniders Lane, which features some cool murals of its own.
It’s famously the location of the two topless Kardashians, a 9-metre tall mural painted by Lushsux.
Union Lane
Union Lane is another alleyway that feels like an ever-changing canvas, lined with colourful bits of graffiti and the odd mural.
It’s just off Bourke Street, not far at all from the mall.
I highly advise holding your nose while strolling down the street. Judging from the smell, it moonlights as a late night toilet for men, as well as a canvas for street artists.
Beaney Lane
This is one of the smaller laneways featuring street art in Melbourne, but there are some vibrant, colourful murals to check out, including works by Heesco. This street artist hails from Mongolia and has painted a model of the same background.
There’s a few good pieces of professional-grade graffiti (not bored teenager sprawl) in the lane too, by Bailer.
Grab a drink: at the Whiskey Den.
Higson Lane
This laneway runs right alongside popular restaurant Chin Chin and previously featured an impressive mural by Heesco, of some of the world’s top (mostly male) chefs. Ben Shewry, Joan Roca, Massimo Bottura, Daniel Humm and Heston Blumenthal had all made an appearance.
However, now you’ll find a mural of notorious Australian journalist Julian Assange, along with other portraits by artist Lushsux, who paints pop-culture figures.
That’s the thing about Melbourne street art – blink and you’ll miss it. It’s always changing.
Grab a coffee or drink: At Chin Chin, if you can get a table.
AC/DC Lane
Want to see some famous street art in Melbourne? Head right to this little laneway.
Once known by the far more boring title of Corporation Lane, this alleyway was renamed AC/DC Lane by Melbourne’s City Council in 2004. Although the famous Aussie band hail from Perth, they had many strong ties to Melbourne.
So, the entire laneway is a homage to rock band ‘Accadacca’, as we call them in Australia.
It features a pretty funky street sign (which was stolen several times before securely fastened in place) and a statue tribute to the late, enigmatic frontman of the band, Bon Scott.
Duckboard Place
Duckboard is just down from AC/DC Lane and is a bit quieter than many of the other laneways in the area.
It’s got some pretty powerful examples of street art and is home to a towering mural by Fintan Magee, one of the most famous works in the city.
Look out for works by Melbourne artist Tinky while you’re in the area. They’ll be teeny, tiny dioramas.
Croft Alley
Croft Alley is best known as being the entry point to a themed bar in the area, but there’s a lot of colourful and fun murals lining its walls.
You’ll find it in a laneway off Chinatown.
Guildford Lane
Another recipient of the ‘Green Your Laneways’ project, Guildford Lane has been greened up in a very literal sense – filled with plants and lined with cafes.
Mike Makatron has painted a fantastic mural on the door of an old electric substation and there are a few more fascinating works to take in.
Grab a coffee: At Brick Lane or the Cat Cafe!
Caledonian Lane
Caledonian Lane is a tiny, blink and you miss it kind of place.
You probably won’t find a great amount of tourists here, but you may find a few interesting pieces of street art.
Centre Place
This is an easy place to hunt down Melbourne street art, just up from Flinders Street Station.
There’s some great examples of urban art, along with plenty of bars and cafes to choose from.
Look out for social enterprise ‘The Soup Place’. Patrons can pay for a meal, take a post-it and put it in a giant bowl.
Anyone who is hungry and looking for food is able to grab the post-it and take it to the counter, buying themselves a hot dinner without making a scene out of it.
Grab a drink: at Hells Kitchen and people watch the street below.
Degraves Street
Degraves is full of shops and cafes, but does have a few really cool examples of street art, such as this bright mural.
Grab a coffee: Just about anywhere! Degraves is full of yummy eateries and everyone tends to sit on outside tables and pretends they’re in Europe.
Hosier Lane
If you’re new to street art in Melbourne and the city itself, you may still have heard of Hosier Lane.
It’s one of the main tourist attractions in Melbourne, being a laneway that the council have opened to street artists and its close proximity to Flinders Street Station (about 2 minutes).
It’s a “blink and you’ll miss it” type of laneway, with works getting continually painted over, sometimes mere days after they’ve appeared.
Did you know Hosier Lane is also allegedly haunted? Discover other spooky sites in Melbourne.
Unfortunately, in many cases, great works of art are covered with tags, but you will occasionally see stand out pieces there.
At the very least, this has resulted in an ever-changing canvas within the city and is one of the delights of the laneway – you never quite know what you’ll find there.
Plus, don’t forget to look up and take in the powerful mural by Adnate, of an Aboriginal boy.
Grab a coffee: at Good2Go Coffee, one of the smallest coffee shops in Melbourne.
Rutledge Lane
If you’re in Hosier, it’s pretty easy to access Rutledge Lane as well. Make sure you hold your nose, as it’s lined with delightful smelling garbage bins.
Street Art Tours
If you want to learn more about the street art in Melbourne, there are plenty of tours running that will take you through many of the laneways mentioned.
I highly recommend jumping on a Hidden Secrets tour if you’re after a mix of history, art, culture and food. I’ve taken one of their tours and they are excellent.
Of course, you can always just self-tour the street art in Melbourne. Take in as much as you fancy seeing and pop into any cafes or bars that take your fancy along the way!
Quick guide to Melbourne street art
If you’re short on time, but want a taste of the urban art scene, I recommend prioritising the following streets and laneways:
- Hosier Lane
- AC/DC Lane
- Duckboard Place
- Presgrave Place
- Little Bourke Street
I hope this guide to the street art in Melbourne has proved helpful. It truly is one of the most colourful and interesting cities in Australia and surely, the world.
Staying in the city for a few days?
Where to stay in Melbourne on your trip
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Have you seen Melbourne’s street art? What are your thoughts on it?
Looking for more Melbourne content? I’ve got you covered.
Adelaide is another city in Australia with some very cool street art – including the City of Music Laneways project, which pays homage to top Australian musicians who hail from South Australia and a street art dedicated festival in Port Adelaide.
Other posts about art in Australia
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Here are some rather bizarre facts about Melbourne.
Read up about Perth’s best and worst art.
The street art in Adelaide is also next level.
Visit Northampton in WA, which is full of fibre-glass sheep.
Check out the town in Victoria full of world-class street art.
Epic guide!!!! Such awesome pictures. I also have the “jungle in the urban jungle” shot, but I’d stumbled across it then later couldn’t remember exactly where it was. Now I know 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Oh good, I’m glad you can give a name to the place! So much lovely art and interesting history in the “Paris-end of town”. 🙂
Loving the art!