Royal Arcade

This is a very cool little shopping space in Melbourne. I highly recommend checking it out! We stopped and had coffee in one of the cafe’s and purchased some souvenir gifts for family. It was a nice escape from the rain!

Royal Arcade in Melbourne is an absolute gem! Nestled in a charming, ancient building, it exudes timeless elegance with its beautifully preserved architecture. The variety of specialized shops is delightful, offering unique finds and treasures that cater to all tastes. It’s a strikingly close resemblance to Queens Arcade in Tāmaki Makaurau, which makes it feel like a home away from home. Despite the bustling foot traffic and curious visitors, it maintains a serene atmosphere, free from overwhelming tourist crowds. The real magic happens when you grab a seat, enjoy a warm cup of tea or coffee, and soak in the ambiance. It’s the perfect spot to pause and embrace the start of a brand-new day in vibrant Melbourne. Highly recommend visiting this treasure trove of history and charm!

I've been visiting Block Arcade a lot lately. It's a really cool and impressive place. Be sure to visit~ :)

This arcade is a little more demure than the more popular Block Arcade but is nonetheless a worthy arcade to visit. This arcade bears similar hallmarks of posh historical arcades where well dressed ladies and gents might come to find a delicate gift for a certain someone.

royal arcade is such a famous spot in town and having one good bakery insides, but we found another arcade called Block Arcade having even better decoration out there haaa, luckily we found a new spot with better photographing background haaa rating of mine: 4.2

A beautiful arcade with historic features. Gorgeous to wander and enjoy window shopping (or real shopping!)

The Royal Arcade in Melbourne's Central Business District (CBD) is a stunning piece of Victorian-era architecture and one of the most iconic landmarks in the city. Established in 1870, it is Melbourne’s oldest surviving arcade and offers a glimpse into the city's rich heritage. The arcade is beautifully designed with a high glass roof, intricate details, and mosaic flooring, evoking the charm and elegance of 19th-century shopping precincts. One of the arcade’s standout features is the pair of giant mythological statues, Gog and Magog, who stand guard over the Gaunt’s clock, striking on the hour. These figures are a point of fascination for visitors, adding a quirky, timeless character to the space. The arcade’s high arches and natural lighting create an inviting atmosphere that feels both grand and intimate. Shoppers and visitors alike are drawn to its eclectic mix of boutique stores, offering everything from high-end fashion and jewellery to specialty goods like chocolates, teas, and handcrafted gifts It’s the kind of place where time seems to slow down, making it perfect for a leisurely stroll or window-shopping. What sets Royal Arcade apart is its seamless blend of history and modern-day commerce. While the building itself is a well-preserved heritage site, the stores inside offer contemporary wares, making it a perfect destination for both tourists and locals. In addition, it connects to other key shopping areas like the Bourke Street Mall and Elizabeth Street, making it a central hub in the city’s retail landscape. Whether you are interested in Melbourne’s history, architecture, or simply in search of a unique shopping experience, the Royal Arcade is a must-visit. It encapsulates the blend of old-world charm and modern vibrancy that makes Melbourne a captivating city.

Beautiful and the architecture and flooring are amazing

I was so surprised at how small this place is! But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in charm. It's beautiful in here and full of natural light. You would never know that from the outside. It's fairly easy to enter this arcade, as there are openings on three sides. It's also marked very well so there's no way you could miss it. There are quite a few interesting shops, mostly targeted towards knick-knacks and jewelry for tourists. There are also some coffee/café spots. My partner always finds the adult toy/card shops and immediately went downstairs to purchase some Magic the Gathering cards. This is a nice, quick attraction that is well worth the visit.

The Royal Arcade was proudly the 1st shopping arcade in Melbourne & is the longest-standing arcade in Australia. The Victorian building is pristine all of the shops were beautifully decorated & very invisible . The shopping center opened in 1870, connecting the Bourke Street Mall to Little Collins Street, with a side offshoot to Elizabeth St. It is known for its elegant light-filled interior, and the large carved mythic figures of Gog and Magog flanking the clock at the southern entry.

Every Australian city has one of these arcades, namely one that happens to be incredibly fancy, and rather charming as well. As it turns out this is Melbourne's offering, though in fact it isn't the only one that Melbourne has to offer. It isn't all that large, but there are certainly some interesting shops inside, as well as some rather nice statues, including Gog and Magog, a pair that I have always enjoyed looking at since I first discovered it.

Beautiful architecture, royal interiors. Can easily be missed though as the street it's located at has huge shopping buildings and Royal Arcade is not as big. They have several shops inside - chocolate and pastries that I intend to check out skme other time. I was amazed by the clock at the far end of the building.

The Royal Arcade is a beautiful old shopping arcade right off bourke st mall, that houses small specialty shops and gorgeous architecture. Its actually hard to describe the Royal Arcade. It sits in the centre of the Bourke st mall, little collins st, Elizabeth st and Swanston st, and its indoor laneways hold the charm of a different era of architecture, high skylight roofs, and gorgeous storefronts. 2 old statues and a clock look over the main thoroughfare. Gog and Magog are over 200 years old, and have been brought over from Europe as a gift to the city of Melbourne. There is a little plaque which gives the history of the statues for those interested in history. As for the stores, you wil find an array of small eateries, gift stores, and specialty product shops. Each store is quaint and suits the surrounding decor. Highlights for me include the Babushka store selling little russian dolls, Koko Black with their delectable chocolates, and the hightoun tea room serving high tea to ladies who lunch everywhere. If you are in the area, be sure to take a stroll through.

Royal is the word for this place. Nice, old, and amazing architecture describes this shopping center that carries some expensive merchandise. I like the little boutiques and eatery that are situated in this place, especially the rich history it has. Also, there are 2 gigantic clocks that are located at the top of the building, which you got to check out on the hour, since it tells a story. Great place to take pictures at.

Shopping or passing through Royal Arcade is for those days when you want to take life at a slower pace. Normally, I attempt to charge through the strip mall and catch myself sighing loudly as every second person wants to stop in front of me or block foot traffic. Because lets face it, it's a place for tourists. But it doesn't hurt to stop and look up every once in a while. It's a gorgeous old building and there really is quite a cute collection of shops here - particularly the weird and wonderful hobby shops like the babushka dolls and games shops. I think particularly now that the beautiful old GPO has been turned into the fast food equivalent of fashion shopping, I've grown to appreciate that Royal Arcade has managed to keep its charm and avoid being filled to the brim with the same shops that crowd every shopping centre. - Gift shopping cheat sheet - Come here if you're looking to purchase gifts along the lines of: - Cute and quirky socks - Jewellery (both cheap and high end) - Babushka dolls - Board games - Silk scarves - Pearls - Shoes - Spirituality / "magic happens" kinda stuff