Degraves Street, Melbourne

Slip off Flinders Street and onto Degraves, and suddenly Melbourne feels like it’s trying on a little Parisian flair. This narrow cobbled lane is strictly for pedestrians—no cars, just the steady hum of coffee machines, clinking glasses, and people debating which café has the best flat white. If you’re hunting for a sunny table to enjoy lunch outdoors, Degraves practically waves you over. Just don’t mix it up with Centre Place, its equally charming but often confused neighbour.

Look up, and you’ll spot the taller buildings that have been reborn as loft-style apartments, adding residents—and energy—to the laneway below. Down at street level, the soundtrack is classic Melbourne: buskers setting the mood, street art bursting from every corner, and the occasional splash of graffiti reminding you that creativity here comes in all forms.

The name “Degraves” goes back to Charles and William Degraves, merchants from Hobart who arrived here with flour-mill ambitions in 1849. William later dabbled in local politics, proving that even back then, Degraves attracted people who liked to stay busy...

Today, the lane acts as a lively connector between Flinders Street Station and the shopping streets to the north. If you need a shortcut underground, Campbell Arcade—better known to locals as the Degraves Underpass—whisks you beneath the traffic. Keep an eye out for the Platform Artists Group, who regularly turn the space into an ever-changing mini-gallery.

Step in, slow down, and enjoy the show—Degraves is Melbourne’s laneway culture at its most irresistible.