Royal Arcade

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

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.

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 décor. 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.