Shop the city: where to shop in Melbourne

Centralised and pedestrianised to the point of easy, breezy walkability, Melbourne is a shopper’s dream. Here, shopping is as much about the experience as the purchase itself, and a day out in town will give you the opportunity to soak up the atmosphere of the city’s history-rich laneways and charming arcades. Spend the day getting pleasantly lost among independent boutiques packed to the rafters with top local designers and vintage finds, making room for plenty of mouth-watering dining stops along the way. Looking for more? Venture slightly farther afield to find cavernous shopping malls in Melbourne packed with everything from bargain buys to luxury labels. 

Emporium Melbourne 

More than 200 retail shops thrive in this luxury shopping centre on Lonsdale Street in Melbourne CBD, the city’s business district. Iconic Australian brands like Aesop and RM Williams are represented alongside high-end Aussie fashion labels, while the architecturally impressive setting encourages you to spend several hours exploring. Emporium handily links to the city’s two classic department stores, Myer and David Jones, meaning you can tick these two big-ticket shopping destinations off your list in one go. It’s also close to Bourke Street Mall, an outdoor thoroughfare where a central network of tramlines can drop you quickly to other parts of the CBD. Hungry? Don’t miss the upscale food court, a popular draw for shoppers and passersby alike.

Queen Victoria Market & South Melbourne Market

For a slice of old-school Aussie charm, don’t miss these two markets, both of which have been showcasing top Aussie produce since the mid-1800s. The two-block Queen Victoria Market is the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere, housinges more than 600 stalls, ranging from artisanal bakers and grocers to bargain clothing. Fresh wares and chatty traders make it an experience worth savouring. At South Melbourne Market , chocolate and seafood are as popular as fruit and veg. Fashion stores and beauty services are abundant too, as are restaurants offering everything from burgers and oysters to paella. Order some dim sims – an Australian-Chinese invention not unlike an overgrown siu mai dumpling – to munch on as you explore. 

Chadstone

About half an hour’s drive from the CBD, Chadstone is well worth the extra kilometres. Australia’s biggest shopping centre very much lives up to its designation as “The Fashion Capital” with more than 500 shops running the gamut from bargain to luxury. International visitors are consistently drawn to Chadstone’s high-end fashion, but the sheer variety here – and the focus on Aussie design – means that anyone can find something to take home. Tourists can grab a free shuttle bus from Federation Square, Melbourne’s central hub.  

Chapel Street

Strolling down Chapel Street is a quintessential Melbourne experience. This historic road runs through the inner suburbs of Prahran, Windsor and South Yarra and teems with vintage and second-hand shopping. With Insta-worthy murals and enticing brunch spots, you’ll quickly learn how seriously this city takes its coffee. Among the highlights are the labyrinthine Chapel Street Bazaar, packed with vintage treasures just waiting to be discovered, and the South Yarra location of beloved jewellery and homewares studio Dinosaur Designs.

DFO South Wharf  

Right on the bank of the winding Yarra River, DFO South Wharf is a bargain lover’s dream. It’s home to domestic and international factory outlet stores offering steeply discounted items from big brands. Fashion and footwear lead the charge (including the likes of Nike and Adidas), but the selection of homewares is robust too. The riverside promenade’s lively bars and restaurants are extra lovely when lit up at night. DFO is about a 15-minute drive from the CBD, or an easy tram ride. 

Laneways & Arcades  

Laneways thrive in Melbourne, which eschews heavy motor traffic in favour of foot-friendly stretches of fashionable dining, drinking and shopping. The best is Degraves Street, long a people-watching paradise bursting with outdoor seating and top cafés. Boutiques flourish among the crowded fray, and other smaller laneways invite shoppers on a scavenger hunt for cool new discoveries. Equally essential are the city’s fabled arcades, where vaulted ceilings and attractive architecture offer relaxed boutique shopping. The Block, The Royal and The Walk rank as the most famous, but many other intriguing options dot the city.