13 Incredible Secret Alleys Around The World

In the past, 19th-century bullock carts would unload goods in Melbourne's cobblestone laneways. Those same alleys are now famous for their wide-ranging commercial offerings, from tiny trattorias to quirky galleries. The edgiest alley in town is the graffiti-jammed ACDC Lane, dedicated to the Australian hard rockers. There, youll find Cherry Bar, an after-party favorite for touring bands; Oasis Noel Gallagher appreciated the place so much he once offered to buy it.

In Cartagenas atmospheric Gestheman neighborhood, the Callejn Angosto (or Narrow Alley") offers a glimpse at Colombian daily life.The passage near Trinidad Square is too tight for cars, but vendor carts come through selling mangoes, tropical juices, and arepas.

This once-rough Midtown alleyway in Detroit, reclaimed with porous paving and herb plantings, hosts eco-business incubator the Detroit Green Garage and brewpub Motor City Brewing Works. The citys mounted police have been known to stop in and park their horses along the green alley, too. And its incredibly picturesque: the setting is now so lush that wedding photos are regularly taken there.

Chinatown's Ross Alley was once a notorious hub for gamblers and prostitutes. These days its done up in colorful murals and is home to the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. The food vendors in alleys of San Franciscos Chinatown are so varied, there are walking tours dedicated exclusively to them.

Glassy skyscrapers surround this six-alley pocket of old Tokyo, where two-story wooden shanties hold around 100 of the tiniest bars anywheretheyll only fit five or six people elbow to elbow. Look closely once youre in, since these bars are favorites for Japanese celebrities.

Even among Montreals more than 250 official Ruelles Vertes, or green alleyways, Ruelle Champtre Henri-Julien/Drolet stands out as a secret garden. In 2007 it was closed it to traffic and covered with plants. Now the alley is famous for its block parties and get-togethers.

In the wider alleyways in Stockholm's old town, diners can duck into dungeon-like bars in colder months or enjoy lush meals al fresco when its warm out. And although it doesnt hold enough space for outdoor tables, passages like the steep Mrten Trotzig's Grnd are unique are worth a visitit tapers to just under three feet.

Miamis Design District has quickly become known for luxury retail, with storefronts from brands like Prada and Herms. Concrete Alley remains a work in progress, with boutiques and an outdoor restaurant poised to move in within months. Its existing elegant archways make it striking.

Beijings old walled alleyways, or hutongs, are now home to cutting-edge architectural offices and modernist treasures like Tea Caf, where visitors can duck out of the dark, narrow Dongsi Shiyitiao Alley and into an airy courtyard surrounded by bamboo and glass. The cafes exceptionally delicate tea is worth seeking out, too.

Once grungy alleys like Canton, Post, and the newly christened Nord have taken off in Seattle, hosting special events like string concerts, book readings, and World Cup screenings. In 2011, the city officially dubbed Nord Alley, in the Pioneer Square neighborhood, a festival street.

In Kyotos geiko district, Pontocho offers beautiful restaurants that spill onto the Kamo River, with temporary wooden terraces jutting off the back of the buildings in summer.

L.A.s Fashion District encompasses some 100 blocks, but Santee Alleywith 150 shops in two blocksis considered its retail heart. There, youll find a dream bazaar of $99 suits, six-inch stilettos, and baby princess dresses, all under a rainbow of umbrellas.

Istanbuls streets feel like medieval warrens in the best sense, with strong Turkish coffee served everywhere (and coffee fortune tellers ready to predict your future by gazing at your leftover grounds). Passages like Gnelibahe Sokak in Kadiky are particularly snug, often canopied by trellises woven with grapevines and globe lights. Its the alley of choice for Kadiky Markets produce vendors, who often set up their wares there.