Prahran is an in-demand, inner-city Melbourne suburb, five kilometres south-east of the central business district.
Often described as a complete mini-city in itself, Prahran is a lively and trendy suburb with a cool Melbourne edge. It has an ideal balance of boutiques, bars, restaurants and cafes, all coming together to offer its residents a sought-after Melbourne lifestyle.
It’s also home to the infamous Chapel Street, considered one of the city’s premier shopping destinations.
With a quintessential “Melbourne-ness”, Prahran has a number of architecturally significant commercial buildings, many of which are on the Victorian Heritage Register. In terms of residential property, this suburb has a mix of historic terrace houses and renovated Victorian cottages alongside sleek new apartment complexes.
Top things to do in Prahran
1. See why Prahran is a shopper’s paradise
Pay a visit to the shops along Melbourne’s infamous Chapel Street, search for vintage finds at Chapel Street Bazaar and head to Greville Street for something a bit more edgy.
2. Prahran Market
Stock up on your fresh fruit and veggies for the week at Prahran Market. Shop for gourmet deli items or grab lunch at one of the eateries within Australia’s oldest continually running fresh food market.
Quick stats
- Postcode– 3181
- Vacancy rate– 4.2 per cent in December 2016
- Median house value– $1,434,645
- Median unit value– $528,295
- Price growth – House prices in Prahran have increased by 30.7 per cent in the past three years while unit prices have increased by 3.63 per cent in the same period
- Rental returns– The average house in Prahran has a weekly median rent of $560 and average rental returns of 2.70 per cent, while units have a median weekly rent of $260 and average returns of 4.54 per cent
- Average listing duration– 32 days for houses; 91 days for units
- Average weekly income– $1086
- Dwelling type – The majority of properties are units (46 per cent)
- Occupation– The majority of residents are professionals
- Ownership– The majority of properties are rented (55 per cent) while 21 per cent are fully owned
- Birthplace– 61 per cent of Prahran residents are Australian
- Age – The majority of residents are in the 20-29 years age group, closely followed by those in the 30-39 age group
Places to eat in Prahran
Prahran has a fantastic selection of restaurants and cafes that showcase Melbourne’s foodie reputation. Whether you want burgers, pizza, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Greek, organic produce, fine dining or something a bit experimental, this suburb won’t leave you short of choice.
Styled after a Krakow cellar bar, the charismatic Borsch Vodka & Tears specialises in Polish vodka (try over 100 varieties) and contemporary Polish cuisine. If Asian is more your taste, Colonel Tan’s combines traditional Thai cuisine with a cheeky American diner aesthetic. Be sure to try its signature dish – the Bangkok Bolognaise. Alternatively, David’s is a popular choice for home style Chinese fare using traditional family recipes in a cosy yet stylish setting.
If you want to try something a bit left of field pay a visit to Oscar Cooper or Charlie Dumpling. Oscar Cooper is your typical Melbourne style café but offers brunch with a quirky Australian twist, serving up things like the Vegemite Bloody Mary. If such experimentation takes your fancy, you could then head to Charlie Dumpling for dinner. It offers traditional dumplings alongside some more daring options, including the wagyu cheeseburger dumpling and the lamb massaman and peanut curry dumpling.
Transport in Prahran
Prahran is serviced by tram routes 5, 6, 64, 72, 78 and 79.
There is also a train station in Prahran, located on the Sandringham line.
Hospitals and healthcare in Prahran
There is one private hospital in Prahran – The Victoria Clinic – as well as several medical centres including High Street Medical Clinic and Airlie Women’s Clinic. There are also services for physio, orthopaedic, podiatry, dental and optometry, and several chemists in the area.
Education and childcare in Prahran
Prahran has one primary school, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, and a number of childcare centres. There are also several music schools for children, as well as an adult education centre – Prahran Community Learning Centre.
Shopping in Prahran
Melbourne’s acclaimed Chapel Street has an eclectic collection of retailers, from high end fashion houses to smaller boutique stores and everything in between. Also on this street you’ll find Pran Central Shopping Centre, catering more to your everyday needs and situated in a seven storey heritage listed building.
Alternatively, there are lots of speciality stores along High Street catering to everything from hats and costumes to lighting and pet stores. For groceries, Prahran locals have their pick of a Coles, Woolworths and an Aldi.
Prahran is also known for its collection of independent stores. Licorice Pie Records is a must visit for music buffs, while Mag Nation Prahran stocks every magazine you could ever want.
Sports and recreation in Prahran
There are several parks and gardens in Prahran including Grattan Gardens and the popular Victoria Gardens. Set over two hectares it provides a peaceful respite from city life and maintains some original Victorian elements. This suburb has plenty of options for keeping active including a dance and arts centre, an aquatic centre, a skate park, a tennis centre and several gyms and yoga studios. There is also the Australian Yoga Academy and The National Institute of Circus Arts.
Entertainment in Prahran
Head to Chapel Off Chapel – a revamped chapel entertainment venue – for music, art and theatre performances.
Alternatively you could visit one of many bars or pubs in the area, many of which have live entertainment or just a quirky Melbourne edge worth experiencing.
Try Holy Grail, a ship-themed bar specialising in rum, cocktails and pizza or Jungle Boy, a secret tiki bar that is filled with plants and serves cocktails in tiki mugs. The trick is trying to find it though; the only entrance is through a refrigerator door inside an inconspicuous sandwich shop.
Prahran Hotel has a beer garden, pub, private dining and live entertainment on weekends but is worth a visit for its design alone, which includes seventeen giant concrete pipes leading to cosy, cubby like booths inside.
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