Chapel Street
Chapel Street
4
About
As an iconic shopping strip in Melbourne, Australia, the Chapel Street Precinct is famous for fashion, food, coffee, bars, vintage stores, Prahran market, art galleries and street art as well as creative culture, history and architecture. The neighbourhood spans across the three suburbs of South Yarra, Prahran and Windsor each with their own distinct personalities. Our community is easy to reach via three train stations or trams.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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4.0
299 reviews
Excellent
92
Very good
113
Average
67
Poor
17
Terrible
10
Bren
London, UK1 contribution
Nov 2022 • Solo
I spent a lot of time on Chapel St in the late 90s, when the majority of stores were fashion boutiques, with many of them featuring independent designers. Unfortunately, the street is not what is was. Cafes, bars, nail salons and phone repair shops seem to dominate the street, and there are many empty shopfronts. The Jam Factory is near empty, with a Cotton On in place of the excellent Borders bookstore. There is some of the old Chapel Street vibe in the section closest to Toorak Rd. Clearly, Covid, internet shopping, and the nearby Chadstone mall have taken a toll on the street. I’m not sure if the local council can start some initiatives to bring back some more interesting shops to distinguish it as a destination. Hopefully it will get its life back.
Written 24 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia13,707 contributions
Oct 2022
Chapel Street is the fashion hub of Melbourne. Chapel St begins in trendy South Yarra and progresses in a straight line to middle-class Windsor. Chapel St is famous for fashion, but it is also over-supplied with bars and restaurants. Chapel St has lots of creative fashionable businesses. It's a good place for body piercings, for example. Chapel Street lights up after dark t with intoxicating night life.
Written 14 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris S
6 contributions
Dec 2021
We came to chapel street many years ago. We spent a great night at the jam factory, which seemed to be the area’s entertainment hub. This is now vacant and the crowd I feel has changed. We felt a bit intimidated after dark.
Written 23 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neil
2 contributions
Feb 2023
Chapel Street used to be one of Melbourne's top shopping, dining and entertainment destinations. It was the place to see and be seen at, and was always busy right into the early hours. Unfortunately, heavy competition with indoor shopping malls and online shopping, coupled with excessive (overvalued) real estate costs has caused many business to pack up and leave. What is left are miles of empty or run down shopfronts and drab apartment developments. It's really sad how property owners hold on to the real estate and demand such high prices, yet the place has long lost its glamour. If only Stonnington city council could take a look at how other parts of Melbourne are gentrifying. These days, Footscray and even Frankston have far more buzz and activity than Chapel Street.
That said, the Prahran and Windsor end of the street is still worth a stop over for a casual lunch or coffee. There are quite a few cool bars and cafes that remain, the Prahran market (although extremely overpriced) is interesting enough and there are beautiful historic buildings (mostly empty) that are nice to gawk at, along with some cool street art. But, I wouldn't go out of my way to come here as I just feel so depressed when I think of what it used to be.
That said, the Prahran and Windsor end of the street is still worth a stop over for a casual lunch or coffee. There are quite a few cool bars and cafes that remain, the Prahran market (although extremely overpriced) is interesting enough and there are beautiful historic buildings (mostly empty) that are nice to gawk at, along with some cool street art. But, I wouldn't go out of my way to come here as I just feel so depressed when I think of what it used to be.
Written 23 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raquel O
Sydney, Australia136 contributions
Jan 2023 • Family
I used to visit Chapel Street whenever in Melbourne for its fashion and ambience but today it was drab and unsophisticated. Not sure what happened to what I remember was an iconic street with something for everyone. It’s now a busy street with very little life attached to it, there are many beggars and I left after an hour with no reason to return.
Written 8 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Slow traveler
Singapore, Singapore222 contributions
Jan 2020
If it is late and you are looking for a cafe to be open this is the street. A number of cafe/restaurants stay open all night (24 hours)
A good variety of places to hang out for a drink or bite. For me it never seems to close.
Naturally parking a problem but still a great street to go to.
A good variety of places to hang out for a drink or bite. For me it never seems to close.
Naturally parking a problem but still a great street to go to.
Written 19 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dimitris L
Sydney, Australia53,555 contributions
Apr 2021
Chapel Street is one of Melbourne's more interesting streets. Or perhaps it used to be, depending on one's point of view. It is full of all types of shops, especially cafes and restaurants where you can sit and enjoy a coffee or whatever. When we visited a few years ago it was quite nice and lively. This time around the atmosphere seems to have changed. Perhaps the pandemic is to blame. Still, it's worth a visit if you are in the vicinity.
Written 22 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melissa P
Goulburn, Australia44 contributions
May 2015 • Friends
So the thing that I took away from Chapel Street is that shop assistants believe anyone over a size 12 has no intelligence, is not worth talking to, doesn't want to spend any money, couldn't possibly look nice in designer clothes and could not possibly be looking to purchase anything in any designer store in Chapel St (or Brunswick Street for that matter!!) yet if you were a size 6-10 the staff were like seagulls to chips! Designers pay attention! when your business begins to fail, look at how your staff are treating the public. My husband, on the other hand, was thrilled that I had such a terrible experience here because the dearest thing I bought was a $40 scarf. So after being made to feel like crap, I found a lovely patisserie with great coffee - and so now I know why the coffee is so good in Chapel & Brunswick Sts - so all us fatties can take our misery out on food.
Written 8 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JnVSydney
Greater Sydney, Australia25,769 contributions
June 2023
Running through Prahran, this is our fave high st, in Melbourne, there are many cafes and eateries to enjoy, (our fave, Hooked, fish n chips, with it $10 lunch deal) and shopping, there are many op shops to rummage through.
Written 14 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RachaelR17
Wellington, New Zealand257 contributions
Apr 2018 • Friends
After reading reviews here and elsewhere online, it seemed like chapel street was a must see for some different shopping boutiques. It was a bit of a waste of time, there are only a few interesting shops amongst heaps of chain brands. There are however some great food places to choose from. If you're looking for good shopping, you're better to invest your time in the central city.
Written 23 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lauren F
San Antonio, Texas
This is a long shot, but it's worth a shot! I am a scheduler for a mystery shopping company. I am looking for a shopper to complete an assignment at a furniture store on Chapel Street in South Yarra. The assignment will take 30 minutes, and another 15 minutes to complete the questionnaire. I am paying $30, plus a $7 reimbursement. If you are interested, please contact me at lfrisbie at scmcontact. com If you know anyone who may be able to help, please pass my information along. Any help is greatly appreciated!
Written 24 December 2014
Hi, unfortunately it is not something I can help you with as I am not a resident of Melbourne.
Written 25 December 2014
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