Block Arcade, Melbourne: What are the most interesting shops?
The Block Arcade contains some of the most interesting shops in Melbourne. This Victorian shopping arcade is home to Wittner shoes, Adriano Carbone Master Tailor, Haute Horology watches, the French Jewelbox and the Hopetoun Tea Rooms.
Melbourne’s CBD is best known to visitors from the UK for its laneway scene. The bars, restaurants and street art of the laneways have made Melbourne world famous. But these are a relatively new thing. The appeal of central Melbourne once lay in the handsome architecture of Collins Street, and the city’s impressive arcades.
The state capital of Victoria does a nice line in Victorian-era shopping arcades. The Royal Arcade is perhaps the best known of these, but the Block Arcade does a nice line in grandeur too.
14 fantastic experiences that make the most of your free time in Melbourne
- Get the very best views – on a hot air balloon flight over the city.
- See the changing colours of the river – on a sunset kayaking tour – with dinner. (Highly recommended ✅)
- Feast and see the sights at the same time – on a four course dinner cruise along the Yarra River.
- A genuinely excellent street art tour, led by prominent street artists. (Highly recommended ✅)
- The also superb Aboriginal heritage, plants and bush food tour in the Botanic Gardens. (💲 Great value 💲)
- Best of Melbourne bike tour – you can see more on two wheels than walking.
- Hidden laneways bar crawl OR foodie discovery tour OR chocolate and dessert tour.
- Combo ticket for Australian Sports Museum and MCG tour.
- Hassle-dodging advance tickets for the Melbourne Skydeck, Melbourne Zoo, the Ice Bar (with cocktails) and Sea Life Aquarium.
Block Arcade location
The Block Arcade opened in 1892. It is L-shaped, connecting Collins Street and Elizabeth Street. This Victorian shopping arcade is immediately notable for the octagonal glass rotunda at the bend. Another big part of the appeal are the intricate mosaic-tiled floors.
There’s also plenty of carved stone and wrought iron to make the Block Arcade look suitably impressive if nipping inside to escape Melbourne’s notoriously changeable weather.
But what are the most interesting shops in Melbourne’s Block Arcade? Well, the French Jewelbox has been a small family business since 1979, and produces bold, showy jewellery. It should go nicely with some of the stylish women’s shoes on offer at Wittner. Perhaps round it off with a colourful alpaca wool shawl from the Alpaca Collection?
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- Great Ocean Road tour – with koalas 🐨.
- Brighton Beach, Moonlit Sanctuary and Phillip Island tour – with penguins 🐧.
- Yarra Valley wine tour – with gin, cider and cheese 🍷.
- Grampians National Park tour – with bushwalks and LOADS of kangaroos 🦘.
- Mornington Peninsula tour – with hot springs bathing 🛀.
- Wilsons Promontory tour – with all manner of native wildlife 🦘🐨.
- Dandenong Ranges steam train ride – plus wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary and chocolate-tasting in the Yarra Valley.
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Block Arcade shops
For sharp suits and premium quality bespoke menswear, Adriano Carbone Master Tailor on the mezzanine level should be your first choice of Block Arcade shops. And, if you’re splashing the cash, the designer watches of Haute Horology can round off the outfit.
If you’re feeling hungry, Coal River Farm specialises in Tasmanian-made cheese and chocolates, while Haigh’s Chocolates brings over sweet treats from Adelaide. Be warned, though – chocolate is expensive in Australia. There’s also Gewurzhaus, which lets you scoop spices from large containers.
Of course, the alternative is to park yourself in the Hopetoun Tea Rooms for a coffee and a cake.
Another side of Melbourne
The best of Melbourne’s Fitzroy neighbourhood.
Tours of the MCG, Australia’s biggest sports stadium.
Aboriginal walking tours in the Botanic Gardens.
Australian history at the Immigration Museum.
The thoroughly bizarre Cooks’ Cottage in Fitzroy Gardens.
Barefoot bowling in St Kilda.