Ultimate Melbourne laneway experience with the best Melbourne cafe on the corner

One-of-a-kind warehouse conversion in an unbeatable city location for shoppers, foodies and culture lovers.

See a video of this apartment on the Sydney Weekender website when it was featured by AirBnB. Search for AirBnB and Melbourne and it should come up.

My apartment is located seconds from the official centre of Melbourne, yet it's in a quiet lane with excellent natural light. The centre of Melbourne is known for its many laneways which are full of smart bars, cool cafes, art galleries and some world class graffiti art. One of the nations' premier coffee houses, Brother Baba Budan (aka the cafe with the chairs hanging from the ceiling) is located on the corner of the laneway. Gourmet Travellers pick for the nations' best new restaurant is Tipo 00 on the other corner.

The apartment is the top level which is level 2 (Ground, 1 then 2) and is the only residential floor in this building dating back to 1887. It's an open plan with a spacious mezzanine bedroom, separate toilet and over the top bathroom with a large sunken bath. The main space measures about 7 metres by 14 metres. There's no lift and quite a few stairs so it isn't suitable for anyone with compromised mobility.

The apartment has a King size bed, TV, DVD, wi-fi, hair dryer, hair straightener, full laundry facilities and a swing in the middle of the living space. Access is by stairs only. No parking included but plenty of car parks nearby. If 'no parking' is a deal breaker then let me know as I might have a solution.

Melbourne's public transport system operates as a hub with all trains, trams and buses radiating from the centre so getting around is easy. We have Uber, Taxify and Ola taxi alternatives.

The apartment has no window coverings however, it isn't really an issue. The city lights aren't very bright or close to the apartment even though it is right in the centre of town. The bedroom is higher than the top of the windows so in the mornings the bedroom is light but not bright as there is no direct sunlight into the bedroom at any time

NOTE: A remote part of the rooftop is now home to a beehive as part of the Rooftop Honey project. The bees don't come in or near the apartment, however, Matt and Vanessa, the beekeepers may need occasional access to tend to the hive.

The apartment appears in the film Predestination starring Ethan Hawke for whom the apartment served as his NYC loft home in the 1970s.

"For a narrow brick laneway, smack bang in the middle of Melbourne's CBD, Rankins Lane sure does manage to feel breezy and welcoming. From the lush, green window boxes outside Manchester Press cafe to the balcony flowerpots and lemon trees poking through the wire fencing, there's plenty to make a visitor feel at home. Wander down the end of the laneway, past local hipsters and art-school kids, in search of that perfect Melbourne coffee or settle in for a cruisy lunch. Pop into the clean white interiors of Bassike for men and women's fashion, beautiful trinkets and design-store goodness."

Content: Visit Victoria
Rankins Lane, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000