Melbourne’s Laneway Experiences: Where to stay, eat and drink

Melbourne has a slew of new upscale hotels and restaurants located in its iconic laneways. Many of these establishments offer one-of-a-kind experiences infused with Melbourne’s vibrant culture. The best way to burn off those calories after all the feasting is to explore the grid-like streets on foot. Here’s our recommendations for noteworthy places to eat, drink and stay on your next trip.

Where to eat

Grill Americano at 112 Flinders Lane was launched in 2022 by respected restaurateur Chris Lucas, known for his modern Asian-inspired joint Chin Chin and other brands. The Italian steakhouse concept is reminiscent of brasseries and grill restaurants common in Melbourne throughout the 1960s to 1990s. The plush setting is decked with silver table lamps, royal blue leather chairs and banquettes. Service staff, dressed in smart white jackets and black ties, are warm, professional and efficient.

Here, you won’t find miniscule portions assembled with tweezers. Instead, the menu features substantial grilled steaks like a hefty 1.2kg bistecca alla Fiorentina T-bone seasoned with sea salt and rosemary. Of course there are more manageable cuts of 300g sirloin or Scotch fillet. Accompany them with a range of condiments like mushroom and cognac sauce or red wine and shallot sauce. And order a bunch of sides like cauliflower and prosciutto gratin or brussels sprouts with pancetta. The chefs suss out produce from Australia’s finest growers as well as select Italian artisans. The 2,000 bottle cellar features mostly Australian wines and cult favourites from around the world.

For your carb fix, go for the pastas ranging from pappardelle with wagyu beef and porcini ragu to spanner crab linguine aglio e olio and lobster tortellini with saffron. Your evening is made even more decadent with classic Italian desserts like creamy tiramisu scooped straight from onto your plate, or bombolini dusted with cinnamon sugar. This sophisticated spot is ideal for special occasion dining or a convivial meal with friends. Opened daily, it’s perfect for a pre-theatre dinner before catching a show at the nearby theatres.

Walk down Racing Club Lane off Little Bourke to get to Serai Kitchen, another popular laneway joint. The restaurant focusing on grilled or wood-fired Filipino cooking was opened in 2022 by Chef Ross Magnaye and co-founder Shane Stafford. The convivial and casual setting is crammed with locals and tourists hankering for the generously portioned, shareable dishes. Start with a light sinuglaw of hiramasa kingfish partnered with smoked pork jam, cucumber and pinakurat (spiced coconut vinegar) before moving on to the meats. The chef’s take on lechon is a platter of pork belly – crisp on the outside, juicy within – glazed with banana hot sauce and rum jus. Instead of the typical pork adobo, expect Gippsland lamb ribs coated in the sticky salty and sour sauce.

A whole Daintree barramundi with smoked ‘palabok sauce (made with shrimp and pork stock) is brought to the table along with rice. Wash this down with your fill of natural wine, before rounding off the satisfying meal with cassava cake partnered with smoked brown butter ice cream.

Where to drink

Like a typical Melbourne laneway bar, Mill Place Merchants is hidden behind a door sans any signage. Located at the end of Mill Place off Flinders Lane, this venue is housed in a heritage-listed 19th-century building. Push open the heavy red door, and you will find yourself in an old dressing room with rolls of fabric, and a vintage sewing machine. The grand gilt-framed mirror at the end of the passageway serves as the secret entrance to the bar.

Step into the dimly-lit opulent room adorned with large Victorian wingback chairs and leather chesterfields. At the heart of Mill Place Merchants stands a gleaming copper-top bar. Here, expertly crafted original cocktails are served against a backdrop of vintage bottles, glasses, and silver trays. When Paawan Engineer, Mill Place Merchant’s director opened this CBD bar and eatery in April, he envisioned creating a space with a residential vibe.

The cocktail list is curated by award-winning Italian mixologist Giancarlo Mancino. Some highlights include the Pink Lady with gin, applejack, lime, and grenadine; Treacle with dark rum, orange bitters, Angostura Bitters and apple juice; and the Millionaire, a concoction of bourbon, dry curacao, absinthe, lemon and raspberry syrup.

Mill Place Merchants’ accompanying food menu, created by Chef Deepak Mishra, offers a selection of small bites and larger items to share. Classic dishes are given a modern twist with the inclusion of native Australian ingredients. For instance, Devilled Eggs served with Yarra Valley salmon roe, salt and vinegar crisps, or Jamon de Serrano Coquettes with lemon and green garlic aioli, and saltbush crisps. Just as notable are the Classic Bikini Sandwich with mortadella, mozzarella, and bush tomato relish, and the Mini Steak Onion & Ale Pies. You can also pair these with wine labels from iconic local Victorian producers and a selection of champagnes.

Where to stay

Conveniently located at the end of Little Collins Street, Next Hotel Melbourne is within shouting distance from numerous cafes, bars and restaurants. The 255 stylish rooms and suites offer comfortable linen bedding and thoughtful amenities including Dyson hairdryers, Melbourne-based Hunter Lab care products, plus a curated mini bar featuring in-house cocktails and local artisan snacks.

The Club is a sophisticated guest-only lounge for refuelling and winding down from a day of sightseeing. It’s also an exclusive space for catching up on emails (if you must), holding private meetings or enjoying quiet gatherings. Next Hotel’s Club guests can savour a continental breakfast, and sweet and savoury refreshments around the clock. Aperitivo is hosted every evening from 5 to 7pm, featuring favourite Victorian wines alongside a rotating array of antipasto and nibbles.

Food wise, the hotel’s main restaurant La Madonna Restaurant & Bar features an Italian-Asian inspired menu. Melbourne chef Paul Turner incorporates the season’s best produce as well as sustainable, no-waste ingredients into his dishes. He also focuses on techniques like dry ageing and pickling. The mainstay for dinner is the signature dry aged duck crown which is great for sharing. Other hearty options include lamb rigatoni ragu with pecorino or pork cotoletta with preserved quince and prosciutto. For lighter fare, tuck into starters such as hiramasa kingfish with spring onion, ginger and sour apple, or wagyu bresaola with romesco, pickled zucchini and a sprinkle of togarashi.

At the adjacent bar, you can sip cocktails while munching on small plates and a lineup of elegant bijoux-sized desserts. What’s unique here is the in-house barrel-ageing programme for cocktails, spirits and herbal liqueurs. Settle into a seat surrounded by wooden barrels for the maturation of cocktails, tinctures and spirits. The bartenders regularly check their progress and decant them when they have reached their prime. Seasonal cocktail creations might include Lazy Bear, comprising barrel-aged gin with green chartreuse, crème de peche, lemon and soda. For a nightcap, sip the creative concoction of Plantation original dark and Pedro Ximenez with milo, roasted rice milk and condensed milk.

For a morning pick-me-up, the streetside Ingresso Café on the ground floor offers coffees and on-the-go pastries. Those who are heading to a musical can enjoy a quick pre-theatre menu available before 6pm. At just $50 per person, you can have prosecco, choice of two starters and choice of one main. At the nearby Regent Theatre, check out Sister Act The Musical (until 26 Jan 2025) or walk over to The Princess Theatre to catch Tina – The Tina Turner Musical (until 9 Feb 2025).

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By Amy Van
Main photos courtesy of: Visit Victoria