Chapel Street in Melbourne - Photo courtesy of PictureNinja.com
Chapel Street is the Melbourne street that shopping-obsessed Sydneysiders flock to on weekends – and with good reason. But even if shopping’s not entirely your thing, Chapel St is perfect for an idle afternoon of wandering.
Chapel St sprawls across four suburbs (St Kilda, Windsor, Prahran, South Yarra) before turning into the equally religious Church St. As it passes through suburbs, the atmosphere changes, from residential to tattooed hipster to designer. Here are a few Chapel St favorites to get you started:
The Astor Theatre – Located on a busy corner of Chapel St and Dandenong Rd, this famous old Deco picture palace screens new releases and old classics, has legendary choctop ice creams and an elderly resident cat called Marzipan.
Tyranny of Distance – Down a sidestreet (Union St) in the Windsor section of Chapel St, you’ll find this ramshackle cafe in an old garage. Stop in for a drink, some house-made flatbread and a view of the lawn bowls across the street.
Chapel St Bazaar – Carry on for another block, cross High St and you’ll find an epic treasure trove of vintage wonders at this bazaar. If you’re looking for a 1950s vinyl couch, a pretty ring from the ’20s or the Welcome Back Kotter boardgame, this is where you go.
Prahran Market – Okay, technically not on Chapel St, but too good to miss. Just need to take a quick left down Commercial Rd (home to many gay clubs) and wander into Prahran Market’s produce wonderland. Delis, bakeries, fresh seafood, and an amazing coffee house (Market Lane Coffee).
Designer Central – After your super quick detour, get back on Chapel St and give your credit card fair warning of the storm that’s brewing. Chapel St between Commercial Rd and Toorak Rd is where serious shoppers do their hardest work. This block gleams with beguiling boutiques.
Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Melbourne tours & things to do, especially Melbourne Helicopter tour of the city center and St Kilda beach and Melbourne cruises and water tours.
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