🛍️ [Melbourne Vintage Photo Spot] Royal Arcade: Walking in is like traveling to the 19th century!

If you love photography, retro architecture, and shopping, then you must visit the Royal Arcade! Not only is it the oldest shopping arcade in Melbourne, it’s also the first arcade to open in Australia, with a sense of history since 1870!

📍Where?
Royal Arcade is located at the busiest Bourke Street Mall in the city centre, between Elizabeth Street and Little Collins Street.

🏛️ What's so special?
Once inside you will be drawn to its architecture—
• The tall glass ceiling with natural light splashing down is beautiful and comfortable.
• Black and white grid floor tiles, super European, great for photography.
• Arched windows and classical store design, like walking down an old European street.
The most iconic thing is that there are two mythological statues at the south end - Gog and Magog. They will ring the bell to tell the time every hour.

🛍️ What shops are there?
Although it is not a large shopping mall, the shops inside are very characteristic:
• KoKo Black: Melbourne’s super popular chocolate shop with hot chocolate!
• Spellbox: Mystery-style little shop for divination, buying crystals.
• The Little Royal: Selling macarons and desserts, colorful and great for photos.
• There are also perfumes, crafts, and boutique shops for those of you who like to walk slowly and watch slowly.

☕ Coffee time
When you are tired of walking, you can go to the café in the arcade and sit down for a cup of coffee. Caffe E Torta is one of the popular shops with European decor and good desserts!

🕰️ Opening hours
• Monday to Thursday: 7am – 7pm
• Friday: 7am – 8:30pm
• Saturday: 8am – 7pm
• Sunday: 9am – 7pm
• ✅ Free admission, no charge for photography!

📸 Tips
• For beautiful photos, it is recommended to go in the morning when there are fewer people.
• Be sure to take pictures of Gog & Magog and Gaunt’s Clock, representatives of Royal Arcade!
• After the walk, you can also stop by the Block Arcade next door, the two arcades have different styles, but they are both beautiful!

📝 Summary
Royal Arcade is not just a shopping street, it is a piece of history, a piece of art, a space to slowly appreciate. Whether you’re a tourist or a local, there’s a “wow – it’s beautiful!” feeling when you walk in.
Next time you visit Melbourne, remember to reserve time to slowly walk this arcade and feel the elegance and romance of the 19th century～✨

#September Good Places 2025