From South Yarra all the way to Windsor, here are the best Chapel Street shops to explore
Local designers, international brands and vintage treasures: you'll find all that and more on Chapel Street, a famous Melbourne shopping strip that spans from Windsor to Prahran towards the more upscale South Yarra. The street may have changed a bit over the years, but these days it's had a resurgence of young Australian designers as well as some top-notch bars and restaurants. The list starts at the tail end of Chapel Street nearest to St Kilda and takes you up near the river to ensure you take in everything this shopping hub has to offer.
This upbeat boutique is the place to go if you’re looking to expand the vintage section of your wardrobe. With a huge range of new and used items, Shag boasts a collection of local and international pieces at reasonable prices. And if you have any pre-loved goodies that are no longer bringing you joy, Shag might be able to take them off your hands for a bit of cash.
The ultimate in vintage shopping, Chapel St Bazaar has anything and everything you could think of. Make your way through the maze of nooks crammed full of goodies. Prices will vary depending on whether you purchase a vintage shirt, a couch, or a garden gnome, but there’s a hidden caves worth of clothing, china, ceramics, memorabilia, furniture, paintings, jewellery and more to keep you digging for an entire afternoon.
Handworks is a craft lover's dream. For more than 20 years, this family-owned business has been selling a huge range of paper, journals, cards, posters, ribbons, boxes, bags, organisers, travel accessories, candles and all the pens and pencils you could possibly imagine. The shop also stocks other odds and ends, like cocktail mixers and bath soaks.
You might be wondering what Dan Murphy's is doing on this list, but hear us out. This is the original store opened in 1954 by Daniel Francis Murphy, who had just realised his dream of running his own liquor store. More than 60 years later, Dan Murphy’s reclaimed its original stomping ground in the heritage-listed Prahran Arcade building with the upmarket Dan Murphy’s Cellar. Returning to the brand’s original location means the retail offering is a little more cellar door than bottle-o – think rare spirits, back vintages and hard-to-find Australian and international wines, with a focus on boutique local producers.
FinerRings began as an online shop and founder Taiba Ash would occasionally sell her wares at local craft markets. The brand took off soon after, and some of the jewellery was featured in fashion magazines or could be seen on celebrities. The first brick-and-mortar shop opened in 2018 on Chapel Street, and Ash and her team continue to make high-quality, affordable and tarnish-free jewellery for you to shop. You'll find minimalist necklaces, earrings, bracelets and more made from yellow gold, sterling silver and rose gold.
When Charles Hincfkuss founded MCM House back in 2005, his goal was to make luxurious home furnishings more attainable and affordable for the general public. After launching stores in Paddington and Byron Bay, Hinckfuss set his sights on Melbourne, and now this airy, light-filled space has opened its doors on Chapel Street. New and bestselling products like handcrafted rattan tables, naturally reclaimed rustic timber products and curvy, sculptured dining chairs will be on display, in addition to the brand's popular outdoor collection. Additionally, you'll also find MCM's newly expanded range of in-house homewares that includes lamps, beddings, mirrors and curated artworks.
Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy of Dinosaur Designs make distinctively chunky and colourful resin jewellery. Head along to their bespoke boutique and scoop up one of their signature bangles in a sea-glass shade, a chunky ring, cobalt-hued dinner plate or a pair of tangerine serving spoons.
Looking for luxe? Modern elegance is at the heart of this independent Australian women's label. For the past few decades, Scanlan Theodore has cultivated a reputation for creating pieces with understated European class, with a touch of the unexpected. This store on Chapel Street is intimate, quietly luxurious and showcases the brand's unstintingly elegant collections.
Gorman’s bright, print-heavy wares are a signature part of the Australian fashion scene. Whether it’s a pair of groovy socks, a slick leather jacket or a flamboyant jumpsuit, Gorman brings some much-needed colour to Melbourne’s all-black-everything stereotype.
Loosen your purse strings and wander Melbourne's streets for a spot of retail therapy. From vintage treasures and sale outlets, to artisan goods and gourmet pantry goods, there's plenty of great shops to throw a credit card at.
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