Little Bourke Street, Melbourne

Little Bourke Street may sound modest, but don’t be fooled by its name—this is one of Melbourne’s original east-to-west thoroughfares and the heartbeat of the city’s Chinatown. Heading toward its eastern end, the street suddenly turns into a maze of neon signs, narrow laneways, and arcades that have been buzzing with life since the 1850s, when Chinese immigrants first made this neighbourhood their Australian home.

Today, Chinatown still delivers the classics—dumplings, herbal shops, and sizzling woks—but the menu has expanded far beyond China’s borders. Within a few steps, you can wander from Thai curries to Japanese noodles, Malaysian sweets, Vietnamese grills, Indian spices, and Korean barbecue. Add in annual celebrations like Lunar New Year, and you’ll understand why the area feels like a festival even on a slow afternoon. And if the aromas don’t catch your attention, the architecture will: Victorian-era buildings dressed up with colourful Chinese motifs create a quirky fusion that’s unmistakably Melbourne.

For anyone curious about how Chinese communities shaped the city, pop into the Museum of Chinese Australian History on Cohen Place. It’s compact, engaging, and full of stories that bring the neighbourhood to life. Nearby, the MidCity Arcade offers its own sheltered world of fusion eateries, quirky shops, and splashes of street art—perfect for a wander when the weather can’t make up its mind.

And before you leave, look for the Facing Heaven Archway on Cohen Street. With imperial lions guarding its base and a design inspired by a Ming-dynasty gateway, it’s the kind of landmark that practically insists on being photographed.

Melbourne’s Chinatown may sit on Little Bourke Street—but there’s nothing little about its personality.