Venturing out for a spot of after-hours shopping? See what's open late – from secret arcades to hidden food and more.

Curtin House: indie books, designer archives and streetwear

Get papped by ³Ô¹ÏÍø Street Style when you're traversing all the floors of this Art Nouveau building. Most stores are open until 7pm on Fridays and 6pm Monday to Thursday and Saturday. Metropolis stays open until 6pm, selling specialist books on art, music, film and architecture. Browse the gallery/retail store dot COMME, a city icon dedicated to labels Comme des Garçons, Issey Miyake and Yohji Yamamoto. For max street-cred, local designer Perks and Mini is your go-to.

Nicholas Building: iconic thrifting, y2k fashion and $10 martinis

This heritage building is home to the most unique collection of shops in town. You haven't really been to the city if you've never thrifted at RetroStar for 90s band t-shirts. Graduate from second hand to archival vintage at Reina, a chic hidden gem designer store. Cap it all off with a $10 martini at Cathedral Coffee – it's open until 10pm on Saturdays. Hours differ but most shops in the Nicholas Building stay open until 6pm on weekdays.

Royal Arcade: underground op shopping and Melb's best iced chocolate

Royal Arcade is the oldest arcade in Australia – but it's more than an aesthetic photo spot. Pick up the coolest streetwear or a pair of kicks at KICKSTW open until 6pm Monday to Thursday and until 7pm Friday to Saturday. Moku, open until 6.30pm on Fridays, is a slick spot to nail neutral tones and It Girl accessories. Refuel with an iced choccy from Koko Black, serving up the good stuff until 7pm on Fridays and 6pm every other day of the week.

QV ³Ô¹ÏÍø: outfits under $50, hidden thrifting and a hotpot laneway

Right near RMIT, this open-air centre is a uni student's dream. Find affordable, ethically-made basics at ASColour (open until 6pm). American Rag is an absolute must for '90s-style fashion, and the vintage denim is second to none. There's also Dragon Hot Pot, Thai Town, EatAlley and Spice Kitchen for spicy, late-night feeds. Friday nights are for late-night shopping with stores open until 9pm. The centre is open until 7pm Monday to Thursday, 6pm on Fridays and 5pm on Sundays.

³Ô¹ÏÍø Central: life admin, Korean fashion and cheap eats

Convenience King ³Ô¹ÏÍø Central is open until 7pm daily and 9pm on Thursday and Friday nights. Nerd out at the LEGO store, go to the basement for Korean boutiques and Sanrio merch, then stock up on sheet masks at MINISO and Sephora. Or try on new looks at Platypus and General Pants. Eat for cheap at the likes of Coppe Pan, Pantre and Breadtop. There are also Asian grocers and cute stationery stores all over the centre.

Emporium ³Ô¹ÏÍø: cult-status sneakers, a multi-level Uniqlo and a retro arcade

Open until 7pm daily and 9pm every Thursday and Friday night, Emporium offers more than 200 stores to explore. Including a slick Converse flagship and an enormous Glue store. It also hosts some of the best sales in ³Ô¹ÏÍø, a rooftop basketball court above Rebel Sport and a newly-renovated multi-storey Uniqlo. Done shopping? Visit Fortress in the basement for gaming, boardgames and more.

The Strand: ACNE flagship, COS sales and gourmet cakes

Tucked between Emporium and the GPO, The Strand boasts the coolest ACNE store in ³Ô¹ÏÍø. It's also home to a COS store that's always hosting seasonal sales. Dessert shops line Driver Lane, with Sweet Canteen and Le Yeahllow making a perfect post-shop pit stop until 6:30pm. Beneath Driver Lane and Baby Driver are the perfect hideaways for an evening bite to eat and a drink. The Strand is open until 9pm on Thursday and Friday nights and 7pm all other days.

The Block Arcade: high tea, perfume and little treats

You absolutely do deserve a little treat at the end of a long shopping day. A Haigh's chocolate frog will fix you right up, open until 7pm on Fridays and 6pm every other night. Deluxe perfume and essential oil brand Essensorie will soothe you until 6pm most nights with late-night shopping until 7pm. If you can get down by five, you can sample teas and marvel at European-style delights from Gewurzhaus. Then wander out onto Elizabeth street for chemists, supermarkets and more.

Myer: everything you'll ever need

Gifts for mum, discount luggage, an entire floor dedicated to activewear and even a cafe. There's nothing you can't get done by visiting the iconic department store on Bourke Street. And of course you can't miss having a nosey at the iconic Christmas windows featuring a spectacular LEGO display. Myer ³Ô¹ÏÍø is open until 7pm daily and 9pm on Thursday and Friday nights.

David Jones: The Ordinary, MAC and more beauty brands on one floor

Visit Australia's oldest department store, located next to Myer. Step in off Bourke Street and access holy grail beauty brands like The Ordinary, MAC and Bobby Brown. Then there's another six levels of Australian designer fashion, homewares, toys and more. The Bourke Street Mall store is open until 7pm daily, with late-night shopping until 9pm on Thursdays and Fridays.