Hardware Lane
Hardware Lane
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Hardware Lane and nearby attractions
The area
Neighbourhood: Central Business District
Full of discovery and delight, Melbourne’s laneways tease the imagination long after you’ve put your weary feet up to rest. They weave through the heart of the city: cafes, bars, restaurants and boutiques, throbbing with conversation and espresso coffee. You never quite know what you’ll find around the next corner: cobblestone alleys, old beer barrel hoists and even vats of simmering organic soup. There is the air of Berlin in the street art, a touch of Paris in the umbrella-shaded cafes and, reminiscent of Rome, eateries tucked away in the most unlikely of places. Perhaps you might want a break and cross the Yarra River to Southbank - walk along the promenade, bask in the sun at a waterside bar and decide whether to go to the nearby casino or book a ticket at the Melbourne theatre company.
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
5,989 within 5 kms
Attractions
1,644 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
522 reviews
Excellent
270
Very good
182
Average
48
Poor
17
Terrible
5
mauiwolf
Las Vegas, NV1,528 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
This Lane is very busy for one block. There are tons of restaurants that are packed. It has a great atmosphere. One thing I don’t like is the way the restaurant hosts are out there trying to get you into their restaurants like they’re pitching a time share in Mexico. I said something to one guy and he got pretty snarky with me. They shouldn’t have to wrangle you in. The food and reputation should speak for itself.
Written 23 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gina D
Melbourne, Australia182 contributions
Dec 2019
Melbourne City is such a vibrant place, filled with a plethora of Cafe's, Bars and Restaurants.
Gorgeous Hardware Lane is an excellent example of why Melbournian's and it's visitors just love our unique lifestyle.
you cannot miss coming here if you come into our beautiful city. It is filled with numerous and delightful Bar's and Restaurants. Musicians also often performing in the Lane entertaining you too.
Fabulous.
Gorgeous Hardware Lane is an excellent example of why Melbournian's and it's visitors just love our unique lifestyle.
you cannot miss coming here if you come into our beautiful city. It is filled with numerous and delightful Bar's and Restaurants. Musicians also often performing in the Lane entertaining you too.
Fabulous.
Written 1 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bourne on vacay
Ile-de-France, France8 contributions
Jan 2023
Hardware Lane in Melbourne is a bustling and lively laneway that offers a great dining and shopping experience. The laneway is filled with an array of restaurants, cafes, and shops, all with a unique and inviting atmosphere. The food is delicious and reasonably priced, with a variety of cuisines available to suit all tastes. The only minor critique is that the area can be quite busy and crowded, especially during peak hours. Despite this, the vibe of the lane is energetic and lively, and I highly recommend it as a must-visit destination in Melbourne.
Written 2 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia13,741 contributions
Mar 2020
Hardware Lane is more upmarket than the usual Melbourne lanes. It's full of restaurants and retailers. Hardware Lane runs between Bourke St and Lonsdale St.. Its paving is a distinctive red brick style. The lane is wider than most lanes. Traffic is banned between 11:00 am nd 11:00 pm. Hardware Lane is different to the more usual gritty Melbourne lanes, splattered with grafitti. It certainly adds a civilising touch to Melbourne's laneway culture.
Written 22 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelleDD
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia44 contributions
Apr 2022
Hardware Lane is one of those quirky Melbourne laneways that offer quite a few very good restaurants. They are popular so it pays to book but I have noticed that they try their hardest to service walk in customers, even if you may have to wait 20 mins.
There is usually live music outside to listen while dining and the food and service is great no matter where you choose to dine.
There is usually live music outside to listen while dining and the food and service is great no matter where you choose to dine.
Written 20 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jeffryb
Keysborough, Australia366 contributions
Oct 2020
Hardware Lane is Degraves Street's up-market cousin. Graffiti is lacking. There are several restaurants; visitors can dine alfresco at Max's but other restaurants are equally rewarding. Hardware Lane is best when it's warm outside, but diners can retreat inside during inclement weather
Written 8 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia13,741 contributions
Jan 2022
The best time of year to dine at Hardware Lane is late summer, as it fades into the long, warm autumn. You can site outside on the pavement, and take your choice of many cuisines. Everyone has their favourite eatery, whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner, Hardware Lane is Degraves St, with some class.
Written 25 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia13,741 contributions
Sept 2022
Hardware Lane is one of Melbourne's top restaurant streets. You can eat inside or out, depending on the weather. The eateries came in a pleasing variety. my favorite is Max's, which has good food at a reasonable price. Menus tend to have an Italian bent. By the way, the easiest way to access Hardware Lane is from Bourke St, near Queen St.
Written 7 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveller
Melbourne, Australia17,563 contributions
Jan 2022
My wife and I visited this place to have lunch at one of the many dining places located along this lane, which stretches perpendicularly from Bourke Street through to Lonsdale Street.
Pre Covid-19, this place would be very busy during lunchtime. During the pandemic, there are very people here and some of the shops are shuttered.
Pre Covid-19, this place would be very busy during lunchtime. During the pandemic, there are very people here and some of the shops are shuttered.
Written 6 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia13,741 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
Hardware Lane is one of Melbourne best-known "food streets." You can buy almost everything. Eat inside, or outside if it's warm. Hardware Lne runs between and Lonsdale St, it can be a bit hard to find.
Written 21 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are these restaurants open on Monday &/or Tuesday nights?
Written 17 December 2016
It really depends on where you're staying 😊 we were staying nearby so we walked. We were never sure what we wanted to eat so we found ourselves walking the lane then retracing our steps to see what interested us. Cool fun atmosphere.
Written 8 November 2015
Jeffry B
Melbourne, Australia
4 contributions
Cobb and Co parking station is about 50 metres beyond the entrance to Hardware Lane, running off Little Lonsdale Street, on the right hand. Please note, Little Lonsdale Street is one way traffic only.. It is best to enter Little Lonsdale Street from Queen Street. Little Lonsdale Street is between Lonsdale Street and La Trobe Street. You may want to try your luck and find street parking.
Written 22 June 2015
Showing results 1-5 of 5
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing