Melbourne places you've never visited

Whether you’re born-and-bred or it’s your adopted city, you’d be forgiven for missing some of Melbourne’s hidden gems. We’ve wrapped up the top places you might have missed.

Manchester Unity Building

Stepping into the Manchester Unity Building is like a 1930s timewarp. Tours of this stunning art deco building include the (usually off-limits) beautiful wood-panelled boardroom, a masterpiece of 20th century interior design. You’ll also get a rare peak at the rooftop terrace, once the location for a buzzing cafe and tearoom.

Kono coin booth karaoke

Private karaoke rooms and the odd open mic night are pretty well-known in Melbourne. Mini coin-operated singing booths? Not so common. Enter Kono, a secret spot lined with disco-lit nooks perfect for solo or small group singing. Regulars can be heard singing along to BUZZ ballads in perfect Korean, but there’s a bumper book of English tunes to pick from, too.

The Johnston Collection

Multi-award-winning, critically acclaimed and held at an undisclosed East Melbourne location. The Johnston Collection is quite literally a hidden gem. The home’s maze of rooms are filled top to bottom with all that’s gilded and antique. Think chequerboard floors, glittering chandeliers and portraits of ruffle-necked figures. The special house museum hosts exhibitions and events year-round.

Tuft & Touch studio

This tiny sliver of a studio on Victoria Street packs a creative punch. Specialising in the art of 'tufting', Tuft & Touch Tufting Studio runs DIY workshops for the craft inclined. Sketch out your design, load up on rainbow-bright yarn, then master the tufting gun. You'll take home a fluffy mirror, colourful cushions or a giant cartoon wall-hanging. The options are endless.

Brickville

If you’ve got a LEGO nerd on your hands, Brickville needs to be your next port of call. This local Kensington gem deals in hard-to-find, decommissioned and retired LEGO sets. So if there's a particular Simpsons minifig or pre-loved Star Wars set you're after, this brick-loaded wonderland has it all sorted.

Mission to Seafarerers

To get your pirate on, heave ho to the Mission to Seafarers. It's an historic heritage-listed spot that dates back more than 100 years. Test your pipes at a free sea shanty sing-along session. These ever popular sessions are the ultimate way to blow off some steam, pirate-style.

Wunderkammer

There’s a word for everything in German, and Wunderkammer says it all. This gift shop translating to ‘cabinet of curiosities’ is home to everything rare, unusual and unique in Melbourne. A collector’s emporium, products include minerals, fossils, insects, preserved animals and ancient science equipment. You’ll never purchase a boring gift again.

Corky Saint Clair

Hidden away in the art deco Century Building is some of the city’s best locally made jewellery and unique pieces. Corky Saint Clair houses the creations of  Christopher Bril and that of other Melbourne jewellery makers. The unique, quirky and beautiful pieces are displayed in the tiny boutique’s elegant cabinets among antique items. 

Panda BBQ

Who knew there was panda-themed BBQ restaurant hidden beneath a late-night pool parlour? Up on level two of the unassuming 202 Bourke Street building, Panda BBQ is a cheap eats sensation that stays open until 3am. Try crispy and flavourful sticks of lamb, chicken wings or pork ribs with green chilli. Then pose by neon signs, swinging chairs and giant panda plushies.

Elvis Shrine at Melbourne Cemetery

Pay tribute to the King of Rock and Roll at the Elvis Shrine in Melbourne Cemetery. The shrine is believed to be the only authorised Elvis memorial outside the US. This carefully landscaped grotto was commissioned by Elvis’ Victorian fan club, and unveiled by rock legend Johnny O’Keefe.

The MCG library

Sport and literature make an unlikely pair beneath the MCG, where a light-filled ‘members-only’ library is stacked with books. And that includes a 400-year old French dictionary containing the first ever reference to cricket. Turn your back on the stadium for a moment, and one of the best views of the city is revealed beyond its floor to ceiling windows. Book a tour here.