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A day at the Paris End of Collins Street

Discover. Explore. Repeat.

The Paris End of Collins Street may owe its nickname to the café culture of the 1950s, but its charm is unmistakably Melbourne: grand façades, discreet laneways, elegant boutiques, treasured institutions and all the ingredients for a beautifully unhurried day in the city.

Begin with a gentle stroll and remember to look up: church spires, luminous foyers and theatre marquees are all part of the pleasure. From there, let the day unfold à la Melbourne — coffee, a little window-shopping, a pocket of green, perhaps a film or a show, then dinner tucked just beyond the main boulevard.

Long considered one of Melbourne’s most polished precincts, this stretch of Collins Street is known for its heritage architecture, refined fashion houses and flagship luxury boutiques, including Louis Vuitton and Hermès.

Just moments away, the bustle softens into Melbourne’s historic garden network. For a quiet lunch, a reflective pause or a leafy wander, the closest green spaces are Treasury Gardens and the adjoining Fitzroy Gardens.

Highlights of the area include:

High-End Shopping:

Historic Architecture and Green Spaces:

  • 101 Collins Street: Designed by Denton Corker Marshall and completed in 1991, this 260-meter Postmodern skyscraper features a striking grey granite facade, framed glass buttresses, and an opulent foyer modeled after a luxury hotel.
  • 120 Collins Street: This 1991 Postmodern giant was Australia's tallest building for 14 years. Its recent revitalization by Hassell introduced cascading indoor gardens, an atrium roof, and a bookable Sky Deck.
  • Collins Place (35 & 55 Collins St): A defining 1981 complex designed by legendary architect I.M. Pei. The towers are set at 45-degree angles to create a massive triangular, six-storey-high glass atrium dubbed "the Great Space".
  • The Sanctuary Garden (101 Collins St): A hidden, elevated biophilic oasis located directly at 101 Collins Street. This intimate public courtyard features seating amongst lush planting and a Wurundjeri soundscape.
  • Mingary, the Quiet Place. St Michael's Uniting Church (106-120 Collins St): An intimate, non-denominational meditation chapel and sanctuary located right in the "Paris End" of Collins Street (at the corner of Collins and Russell Streets).
  • Treasury Gardens: Access via Spring Street, just steps from Collins Street. Spanning 5.8 hectares, it features ornamental ponds, statues, and tree-lined avenues.
  • Fitzroy Gardens: A short walk further east from the Treasury Gardens. This expansive, 26-hectare Victorian-era park is famous for its majestic elms, the Fairies' Tree, Cooks' Cottage, and a Spanish-mission style Conservatory.

Additionally, just a short walk off Collins Street, you will find other major historic venues anchoring the district, such as the Princess Theatre on Spring Street, the Melbourne Athenaeum on Collins Street (slightly closer to Swanston), and the Comedy Theatre on Exhibition Street.

Food and Café Culture:

  •        Bistrot d'Orsay (184 Collins St): A beloved institution directly opposite the Regent Theatre. It offers provençal Mediterranean-French cuisine and features a moody, vintage Parisian interior.
  •        Frenchie (1/15 Collins St): A moody, Parisian supper club nestled right off Collins Street. Known for its theatrical vibe and accessible pricing, offering roving caviar bumps and French bistro staples.
  •        No. 35 (25 Collins St): Located inside the Sofitel, this high-end restaurant offers creative European cuisine and panoramic views of the city skyline.
  •        Liminal (161 Collins St): It’s an all-day café, produce store, and wine shop perfect for a weekday breakfast or rotisserie lunch.
  •        Siglo Bar ( 2/161 Spring St): this European-style rooftop bar is the ultimate spot for a sunset glass of wine or a late-night cocktail with views of Parliament and St. Patrick's Cathedral.

  • Haigh's Chocolates (26 Collins St): For a sweet treat you can’t beat this beloved Australian family-owned chocolatier offering premium artisanal sweets.

Theatrical & Literary Stops:

  • Regent Theatre (191 Collins St): this lavishly restored 1929 "picture palace" hosts blockbuster, world-class stage productions.
  • The Kino (Collins Place 45 Collins St): this sleek 7-screen underground multiplex specializes in art-house, independent, and documentary films.
  • Kay Craddock Antiquarian Bookseller (156 Collins St): Browsers are always welcome at this longstanding rare and vintage bookstore.