The Little Royal: A Touch of Parisian Elegance in the Royal Arcade

When you wander through the grand, light-filled spaces of Melbourne’s historic Royal Arcade, it’s easy to feel like you’ve been transported back in time. But if you look closely among the heritage architecture, you’ll spot a splash of vibrant colour that brings a distinct taste of Paris to the heart of the CBD: The Little Royal.

As a beloved stop on our signature Foodie Discovery Walking Tour, this boutique kiosk is the ultimate destination for anyone who appreciates the finer things in life—namely, luxury macarons and exceptional coffee.

Born from Melbourne Coffee Royalty

The Little Royal didn't just appear by chance; it comes from serious local hospitality pedigree. The boutique kiosk was founded by the creative minds behind Caffé E Torta, a legendary fixture of Melbourne's laneway dining scene. Bringing that same dedication to premium European quality, they created a dedicated space celebrating the delicate art of the French macaron right here in Victoria.

Luxury, Colour, and Craft

The first thing you’ll notice at the kiosk is the stunning, jewel-like display of colourful macarons. But these treats aren't just beautiful to look at—they are crafted to the highest standards:

• Inclusivity First: Every single macaron at The Little Royal is 100% vegetarian and gluten-free, meaning more of our tour guests can indulge without worry.

• Beyond the Biscuit: While the classic macaron is the star of the show, they also specialise in premium individual desserts, delicate petit fours, and show-stopping macaron cakes and towering displays.

• The Perfect Pairing: Because this is Melbourne, sweet treats demand excellent caffeine. The Little Royal serves premium Genovese coffee, creating the quintessential local pairing of a rich espresso alongside a crisp, chewy macaron.

Why It’s a Foodie Discovery Highlight

On our Foodie Discovery Walking Tour, we love highlighting independent local vendors who do one thing flawlessly. Tucking into a sweet treat in the middle of Australia's oldest surviving retail arcade gives our guests a perfect blend of living history and modern culinary indulgence. It’s a moment to slow down, look up at the arcade's famous architecture, and enjoy a taste of luxury.

Travel Tips for Your Visit

• Look Up while You Sip: The Little Royal is perfectly positioned in the arcade, making it a great spot to grab a coffee and look up at the famous statues of Gog and Magog striking the heritage clock nearby.

• Gift of Luxury: If you are looking for a sophisticated souvenir or a thank-you gift, their beautifully boxed macaron selections are a popular choice.

• Arrive Ready for Sweets: We feature this stop to showcase the sweeter side of the Hoddle Grid, so make sure you save some room alongside the savoury dumplings and fusion bites on the tour.

Join Us in the Laneways

Ready to discover the sweet secrets hidden inside Melbourne's historic shopping precincts? Join us on the Foodie Discovery Walking Tour, where our expert guides will take you behind the scenes to experience local icons like The Little Royal. We handle all the curation and ordering, leaving you free to soak up the history, the coffee, and the flavours of the city.

Discover Melbourne's Timeless Arcades: A Travel Guide

While our laneways are famous for their grit and graffiti, Melbourne’s historic arcades offer a different kind of magic: grand architecture, mosaic floors, and a glimpse into the city's sophisticated past. Originally built to provide shoppers refuge from the weather and the bustle of horse-drawn traffic, these arcades remain the jewel of the Hoddle Grid.

Here are the must-visit stops for your next self-guided stroll.

The Royal Arcade: A Step Back to 1870

As the first arcade built in Melbourne and the longest-standing in Australia, the Royal Arcade is a true heritage icon.

• The Highlight: Look up to see Gog and Magog, the two giant mythical figures flanking Gaunt’s Clock. Since 1892, they have struck the chimes every hour on the hour.

• The Vibe: Designed in a beautiful Italianate style, it’s home to unique boutiques and the famous Koko Black chocolate shop.

• Location: Connects Little Bourke Street to Bourke Street Mall.

The Block Arcade: Golden Era Glamour

If you want to see how Melbourne looked during the gold rush, head to The Block Arcade. Inspired by the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan, it features incredible mosaic tile flooring and a magnificent glass canopy.

• Don't Miss: The Tea Rooms 1892 (formerly Hopetoun Tea Rooms). It’s one of the city's most fashionable spots for high tea, with a window display that has been stopping passers-by for over a century.

• Shopping: You’ll find Haigh’s Chocolates at the Collins Street entrance—an essential Melbourne treat.

• Location: Connects Collins Street to Elizabeth Street.

Cathedral Arcade: Art Deco Elegance

Tucked inside the iconic Nicholas Building, the Cathedral Arcade is a hidden gem for fans of Art Deco.

• The Architecture: Completed in 1925, it features a stunning leadlight archway and central domes that glow with a soft, ethereal light.

• The Experience: The building above is a vertical village for artists and designers. While the arcade is quiet, it’s the gateway to some of the city's most creative independent studios.

• Location: Corner of Flinders Lane and Swanston Street.

Manchester Unity Arcade: A Neo-Gothic Marvel

Located just across from the Town Hall, this arcade is part of the Manchester Unity Building, once the tallest in Melbourne.

• Look Closely: The ground floor arcade features ornate elevators and a black-and-gold marble interior that feels like a scene from a 1930s film.

• Location: Corner of Collins and Swanston Streets.

Travel Tips for Arcade Explorers

• Look Up: The best architectural details, from glass skylights to carved stone faces (and the Greek god Chronos in the Royal Arcade), are often high above the shopfronts.

• Avoid the Rush: These arcades are busiest during lunch hours (12:00 PM – 2:00 PM). Visit mid-morning to appreciate the architecture without the crowds.

• Easy Walking: Like most of the CBD, our historic arcades are on flat ground and are easily accessible for all fitness levels.

• Photography: Most arcades allow photography, but please be mindful of the small, independent retailers who keep these historic spaces alive.

Experience the History for Yourself

The best way to truly appreciate the grandeur of the Block and Royal Arcades is to walk through them with a guide who knows the secrets hidden behind the stone and glass. On our Foodie Discovery Walk, we weave through these historic spaces, sharing the stories of  Melbourne while stopping for some of the city's finest treats.

Our team of local experts are passionate about bringing Melbourne's past to life. Whether you want to know about the 1850s gold rush or the best hidden coffee spot in a quiet corner, our guides have the local knowledge to make your visit unforgettable.

Ready to Explore?

• Book Your Tour: Secure your spot directly through our website for the best value and an intimate group experience.

• Got Questions? Visit our FAQs page to find out more about what to wear, how much we walk, and what to expect on the day.

• Get in Touch: If you have a specific enquiry or are interested in a private tour, feel free to contact us directly.

Melbourne Spring Itinerary - Food Lovers Weekend

Spring foodie Weekend in Melbourne

Friday night

Drop your bags at your hotel and head straight to Chinatown! On a dry evening there will be a buzz of people walking up and down Little Bourke St which is one of the oldest Chinatowns in the world.  If you’d like cheap and cheerful, head to Shanghai Street (the name of the restaurant, not the street) for xiao long bao or Juicy Bao for sheng jian bao. Both are right on Little Bourke St, either side of Russell St. You’ll need to queue at both, but the line typically moves quickly.  If you want to splash out, try the Flower Drum, but make sure you’ve booked weeks in advance. For somewhere in the middle, try Mr. Bo. 

Chinese restaurants are not typically known for their excellent drinks list, but there are some great laneway bars in Chinatown if you’d like to indulge after dinner. Try One or Two or the Union Electric.

China Town  | © Visit Victoria

Saturday 

Melbourne has literally a thousand places to get a morning coffee, so why not explore a few on our Coffee Lovers Walk. You’ll leave with a new found respect for your flat white!

After the tour concludes, jump on a tram and head to the Royal Botanic Gardens for lunch at The Terrace and enjoy a sunny spring afternoon wandering around and relaxing. For those more interested in a bit of culture, spend your time at the NGV. You’ve got two venues to choose from either on St Kilda Road for international art or at Federation Square for Australian Art. 

Speaking of Federation Square, this is your dinner venue. Grab one of the outdoor tables and enjoy flavours from all over the world at the many eateries on offer. After that you might like a wander along the river and have a drink with a view at Ponyfish Island(under the Evan Walker Bridge) or Yarra Botanica (a pontoon floating in the river). Both have lovely night time view of the city lights.  

Royal Botanic Gardens  | © Visit Victoria

Royal Botanic Gardens | © Visit Victoria

Sunday

Head just out of the city to South Melbourne Market (which is an easy walk from Crown) and join the  locals doing their Sunday morning grocery shopping and enjoying breakfast. There’s a lot of options to choose from here from pastries and coffee to freshly shucked oysters and crayfish!  

For your final Spring meal in Melbourne, head to the renowned Hardware Lane for the best Malaysian flavours in the town at Lulu’s, followed by a coffee at Maker and a gelato at Piccolina, all within a few steps of each other. 

South Melbourne Market | © Visit Victoria

South Melbourne Market | © Visit Victoria

Top Things To Do In Melbourne This Winter

The Charm of Winter in Melbourne

Winter in Melbourne is undeniably charming. Sure, it can be a bit cold and windy, but all the more reason to layer up in all your favorite jackets, scarves and boots to explore the city with a hot drink in hand.

There’s also lots of indoor activities that go beyond the shopping malls. We’ve got you covered for culture in June, July and August.

01 Rising Festival

(Until June 08)

Melbourne’s Winter Contemporary Arts Festival celebrates the darkness with light installations and theatre shows of all kinds. Whether you’re a contemporary art lover or just curious, they’ll be something for you in the extensive 2-week program.

More Information

02 CARTIER at the NGV

(Until October 04 )

Running through October 4, 2026, the NGV’s Melbourne Winter Masterpieces® features nearly 400 extraordinary jewels, gems, and rare royal archives

More Information

03 QVM Night Market

(Wednesdays nights from 5pm until Aug 26)

Enjoy incredible street food, specialty shopping and Live entertainment. Free entry! Wed 5pm – 10pm, ends 26 August 2026.

More Information

04 Melb International Film Festival (MIFF)

(August 6–23, cinemas across the CBD)

Snuggle into warm cinemas across the CBD for one of the world's most highly regarded film festivals (August 6–23, 2026)

A great afternoon would be attending the Foodie Discovery Walk, followed by an early session at MIFF.‍ ‍

More Information

05 Lightscape:

(From June 12 to August 2, 2026)

The Royal Botanic Gardens transforms into an illuminated night trail featuring twenty new light installations.

06 Firelight Festival:

Head to the Docklands waterfront (July 4–6) to warm up with glowing art, roaming performers, and spectacular fire displays. [1]

07 Laneway Cafes:

Hide away from the chill in CBD staples like Degraves Street or Centre Place, grabbing a world-class latte and a pastry. [1, 2]

08 Sports & Indoor Escapes:

AFL Games: Experience Melbourne's obsession by catching an Australian Rules Football match live at the nearby MCG or Marvel Stadium.

ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image): Escape the rain at Fed Square to explore interactive, state-of-the-art screen culture and film exhibitions.

Heritage Arcades: Stay dry while admiring the 19th-century architecture and boutique shops of the Block Arcade and Royal Arcade.

Winter in Melbourne is a great time to get involved in the cinema, art and theatre that makes Melbourne Australia's cultural capital. Once you step out of the galleries and cinemas, spend 3 hours with us exploring the laneways and eating delicious food…. including some warm drinks! Join any of our winter delight walking tours.

Exploring the Best of Melbourne City Tours: A Local’s Guide

Laneways and arcades: Why a walking tour is better than a coach tour

People who live in Melbourne - Melburnians - have a few favorite topics of conversation. We’re sports mad, we love to discuss the ever-changing weather and we’re obsessed with food and drink, especially coffee. Everyone will have a favorite coffee shop or lunch spot and the more obscure and tucked away down an alleyway, the better!

The problem for visitors is that it is hard to find these local places.

You can probably find the iconic sports venues (such the Melbourne Cricket Ground or Melbourne Park) yourself using the tram, but when booking a Melbourne city tour you should be looking for a local who can show you the small places that really make you feel like you’ve discovered something! These places can only be found on a walking tour that takes you places the coaches simply cannot go.

Upgrade your sightseeing to a delicious adventure

Why limit yourself to just a Melbourne city tour walking through the laneways? Melbourne is well known for its multicultural and diverse food scene. This doesn’t just apply to fine dining but also to street food style snacks and the best venues are often found in the laneways. Your Melbourne city tour is so much better if it includes modern Australian eating, such as Chinese dumplings, specialty coffee, sweet treats in unexpected places … and lots more.

Melbourne's History & Culture

A city tour of Melbourne should be designed to allow you time to reflect upon the city's rich past and its transformation into the present-day cosmopolitan hub. Our walking city tours will leave with an appreciation of the history of the city from the 1850’s and an explanation of how we got the modern and very liveable city we are today. Best of all, we’ll open your eyes to the way the city developed by talking about the laneways and buildings as we walk through them.

Expert Guides Provide an Insider's Perspective

All our local guides are passionate about sharing their favorite stories of the city with you. Having an expert guide with you allows you to have your personal questions answered and share a laugh along the way! We’ve dug up the best and most unique stories in Melbourne’s history to share with you. All our walking tours are small groups so that you can interact with the guide and also with the other participants. Your experience of exploring the city will be so much richer for joining our hosted groups.

But don’t believe us! Tara visited in May 2023 and gave us 5 stars. She said “What a wonderful way to spend a day in Melbourne! Our guide was great at sharing stories and the inside scoop on where to find fabulous food. We finished with new knowledge, good memories and satisfied bellies.”

Visit our tours page to pick the Melbourne city tour that is best for you!

FAQs

How do I spend a day in Melbourne?

Melbourne has so many wonderful things to see and do, but the city is renowned for fantastic eating and drinking and it’s myriad of alleyways, or ‘laneways’ as the locals call them. So why not combine the two of those things and join a foodie walking tour of the laneways of Melbourne. Our Foodie Discovery Walk is a perfect introduction to the city, it includes a lunch composed of 6-7 generous tastings and your local guide will give lots of ideas of ways to spend the rest of your trip.

What are the best tours in Melbourne?

At Walk Melbourne Tours we combine history and delicious tastings while exploring Melbourne’s famous laneways and arcades. All our guides are locals with a passion for sharing their favorite parts of Melbourne. So naturally we think our tours are the best in town!

Where can I see the Melbourne skyline?

• Take a walk along the southern bank of the Yarra River, known as Southgate.

• Stand on the Batman Bridge (near the Melb Convention Centre) or the Princes Bridge (near Federation Square).

• Stand on the balcony at The Shrine of Remembrance.

• Head up 88 floors to Melbourne Skydeck at Eureka Tower

• Treat yourself to a 5-star meal at Vue du Monde on level 55 of the Rialto Tower (bookings essential).

• ….or for a really great view (a few kilometers from town), head to the southern point of Albert Park Lake. This is also part of the Australian F1 Grand Prix track. The closest tram stop is Middle Park Station on the 96 tram.

What should I wear on the tour?

Please wear comfortable clothing suitable for walking and the weather. We will spend time outside, so if it’s cold, please wear a jacket. If it’s raining, please bring a jacket or umbrella. If it’s hot, please bring a hat and some water. None of the venues we visit are formal, so casual clothing is great.

How long do the tours last?

The tours typically last 2.5-3 hours, but it’s not all walking! We stop several times to eat and drink on every tour (tastings are included in your ticket price) and typically don’t walk more than 2km/1.2mi.

Are the tours suitable for children?

Our tours aren’t really suitable for kids under 10 years old, unless they’re adventurous eaters. If you think they will have all the tastings, they are charged at full price. If you’d like to bring them along, but you don’t think they’ll eat, they are welcome to attend free of charge. But please let us know in advance so we can accommodate seating for them (our venues are small). You are welcome to buy them extra tastings along the way. All kids over 10 years old are charged at full price. If you have any questions, please get in contact.

What is the maximum group size for the tours?

We never have more than 10 people per tour guide.

Do I need to book the tour in advance?

Bookings are essential. Please visit the Melbourne Tours section of our website.

Best Photo Spots in Melbourne's Laneways

Melbourne's laneways are not only a popular destination for their cafes, bars, and shops, but also for their stunning street art and unique architecture. Whether you're an Instagram influencer or just looking for some ‘happy snaps’ these laneways offer some of the best photo spots in Melbourne. Here are some of our favorites:

Hosier Lane

Hosier Lane is one of Melbourne's most famous and iconic laneways. Its walls are covered with colorful and intricate street art, making it the perfect backdrop for photos. The laneway is often crowded with tourists and locals, so we recommend visiting early in the morning or later in the evening for the best photo opportunities.

Hardware Lane

Hardware Lane is a food photographers’ delight! If you like to take photos of the latte art on your coffee, the steam rising off your Malaysian noodles or the sun beaming through your glass of wine, this is the place! Of course, this is equally as appealing of those that don’t have a camera and just prefer to eat and drink!

Centre Place

Centre Place is a charming laneway filled with cafes and restaurants, and it's also one of the best spots in Melbourne for street photography. The laneway's narrow walls and vibrant street art create a unique and dynamic backdrop for photos. Top tip: Stand at the top of the stairs at the Collins St end and take your photo looking back towards Flinders Lane. All that photography is thirsty work! Stop for a drink and a bite to eat as well.

The Block Arcade

Melbourne‘s laneways aren’t all about grunge and graffiti. Head into the The Block Arcade – built in 1892 – to photograph the original mosaic floors, the luscious desserts in the window at the tea rooms or the domed ceiling in the centre of the walkway. Top tip: while you’re there, look up and check out the photo of Melbourne’s socialites ‘doing the block’ taken in 1905.   

Melbourne's laneways offer some of the best photo spots in the city, with their stunning street art, unique architecture, and vibrant atmosphere. Whether you're an amateur photographer or a seasoned pro, you're sure to find something that inspires you in these laneways.

If you're interested in exploring Melbourne's laneways, check out Walk Melbourne Tours. Our knowledgeable and friendly tour guides will take you to some of the best photo spots in the city, and help you capture the perfect shot.