Overview
Well and truly over tired, dry CBD sandwiches for lunch? The business folk of Melbourne are getting a host of new lunch options, with the imminent arrival of a newly minted food precinct at the west end of Flinders Lane. Nestled on the corner of Flinders and Katherine Place, just a couple of minutes walk from Southern Cross, The Archway is the latest addition to the city's bustling laneway culture. With three tasty operators already up and cooking, and another three expected to open by the end of next month, The Archway is set to dominate CBD lunch breaks for the foreseeable future.
Located in Melbourne's so-called New York end, it's only fitting that The Archway includes a selection of NYC style bagels, baked fresh daily by the team at 5 & Dime. Variations include poppy, rye, cinnamon and raisin, along with spreads like maple bacon chipotle, lemon curd and hazelnut chocolate cream cheese. Just in case that wasn't decadent enough, they’re also running a rotating sweets menu, from homemade smores (!) to snickers chocolate tarts.
That said, when it comes to tarts, your best option is T by Luxbite. The latest venture by pastry chefs Yen Yee and Bernard Chu, the dessert options here are almost beyond belief. Slices include jackfruit, chilli salt, vanilla and kaffir lime sherbet; salted caramel, marshmallow, chocolate, orange and gold, and the particularly delicious-sounding lemon peel, meringue, vanilla and bamboo charcoal. Seriously, just go and look at their website. It's insane.
If you're search for a caffeine hit to go along with your tooth decay, you can head to Altius Coffee Brewers. Run by Hannah Alderton and Jarrod Pageot, formerly of Market Lane, it's one of the few good coffee options west of William Street.
In addition to the vendors already in operation, The Archway will soon be welcoming a pair of Asian lunch joints. Delhi Streets promises old school Indian street food, while Mr Huang Jin specialises in Taiwanese dumplings. Rounding out the precinct with a healthier option will be Hunters Roots, an organic cafe serving salads and freshly squeezed juices.
The Archway is located at 517 Flinders Lane. For more information visit The Archway's website.