One thing that I really love about Melbourne is that you do not need to be in the CBD to get a…read moretaste of bustling nightlife. In virtually every suburb, you have a miniature "CBD" - busy, loads of shop, and architecturally beautiful. Acland Street in St Kilda. Bridge Road in Richmond. High Street in Northcote. But out of all the iconic busy streets that Melbourne has to offer, I do have to say that Chapel Street is high up the list for me. No matter what time of day or night it is, there will always be somewhere to eat, somewhere to party, and something to do. There's nothing better than a walk along Chapel Street with no real idea of where you're going but a faith that you'll stumble upon a place you end up really enjoying. Visiting Melbourne? Put this spot on your list for sure. Seriously - check out Chapel Street's very own website to see upcoming events as well as nightlife favourites. A must-go.

Bizarre Bazaar! This cramped flea market is in the heart of…read morethe shopping district of Chapel Street in Melbourne. It's tucked into a strip shopping center, but this store goes on and on and on! The store is made up of various vendors' booths, each independently run, each with different themes or types of vintage and collectible items. The shops run from antique records, to vintage clothing to old posters. There's some strange stuff in here, but a lot of what you'd expect to find at a flea market. If you're getting dressed up for a costume party, or are just a hipster, this is a good place to go. When you enter, you are required to leave any bags at the door, and then allowed to wander the store. Many of the items weren't priced properly, leaving you to guess at the prices. Most of the booths were unmanned, so if you need to get a closer look at something behind glass, or inquire on the price, you're outta luck. One booth had a very overzealous merchant who kept trying to haggle with me over items that I had zero interest in. The bazaar is rather cramped, as you'd expect a bazaar to be. I felt nervous that I was going to break some priceless artifact the entire time!

Where can you have a retail experience and history lesson at the same time? You guessed it. Right…read morehere at Chapel Street Bazaar. This large second hand shop on Chapel Street is the site of many lost hours. Hours spent rummaging through countless area's filled with all manner of things. The space is segregated into over 70 market type stalls for you to get your forage on! You can expect retro furnishings, toys from your childhood, huge cult classic movie posters, funky retro fashions and vintage home ware and jewelery but you will mostly find what you don't expect. For a second hand goods Chapel Street Bazaar is over priced, but it needs to be or the stock would rush out the door and the huge space would be empty, and we can't have that. Don't worry though, its still good value! This place defines the term treasure trove. Get there and see what you can find!

A bit more up-market than the average suburban shopping centre, but given the area, that is not…read moresurprising. The major tenants are Woolworths and the recently opened David Jones, with lots of smaller specialty shops such as: Bakers Delight, Bed Bath & Table, kikki.k, Terry White Chemists, Feathers, The Athletes Foot, OPSM, to name a few. Plenty of underground car parking, though it can be tough to get a park at peak times. There is a hand car wash service if your car needs a shine while you shop. Lots of wide aisles and escalators make this a favorite for parents with pushers. There is free WiFi in the food court on the top level so you can add your Yelp reviews while having a coffee. And if the centre does not have what you want, the Glenferrie Road shopping strip is right outside.

Malvern Central is like a training course for prams and strollers…read more Usually filled with mummies and babies, it has a ton of parking and so I suppose it's a pretty easy option for most new parents to duck into the supermarket. The big anchor stores here are Woolworths and Target, with a few bedding, clothing and other fresh produce stores. They offer free wifi near the cafe areas, and there's a car wash service in the carpark.

Great place for a bargain and they have all the great stores for everything for the the family from…read morehats to shoes and everything in between

Lots of great outlet stores at the DFO! Adidas, Nike, Cotton On, a few shoe stores.. I can't name…read morethem all but I've always enjoyed coming here. The layout downstairs confuses me a bit and I get a little turned around when trying to find a store I've been to countless times. They have a food court downstairs has a really good selection of cuisines and are all reasonably priced.

Honestly, I probably shouldn't do tram stops because in many ways they are like bus stops - there…read moreare just way too many of them, and they are generally pretty boring. This one isn't though because it is the terminus of the tram that heads to St Kilda, and they have really done the stop up quite well. They even has a nice plaza next to it. They have plenty of shade, and of course it is also surrounded by shops, but it's St Kilda, so that shouldn't be all that surprising.

It's not a street...it's iconic, atmospheric, it's a destination. It's the playground of St Kilda!…read more Acland st is one of the most well known streets in Melbourne, due to its close proximity to the beach, the vast amount of cafes, bars, bakeries and restaurants, and great mix of high end, high street and unique fashion stores. It's more than what businesses are here though. The very heart and culture of St Kilda exists more in Acland and Fitzroy streets than anywhere else. Acland pays homage to the cultural, avante guarde quirkiness that makes St Kilda one of the greatest places in the world. Whenever I plan on going for a walk along the beach, Acland street is included in that. Actors, models, sportstars all congregate here, so you never know what you might find or who you may meet! Food, beauty, fashion, atmosphere. Oh yeah - there's a Coles and Woolies along here too, just in case you need them!

A little store with a big heart is how I would describe Jolie & Deen on Chapel Street. It's not…read morehigh fashion or designer chic -just a store full of gorgeous fashion and accessories. I love the wide collection of necklaces- from chunky to sweet to sassy and cute. Check out the animal inspired pieces with cheeky birds in birdcages, owls in trees and other furry friends - in sleek silver and other metals. Fashion wise, Jolie & Deen offer a wide range of feminine dresses, short cropped jackets, versatile neutrals and mix this up with cheeky prints so it's never boring. Edgy and a little bit quirky, the feminine pieces encourage you to mix and match and not fall into just one style of fashion. Perfect for the experimental fashion lover. The only thing I don't like is that some pieces are made a little smaller than the average Australian store so I sometimes find something I love but can't wear!

Its all about the Jewellery here! They have the most elegant small gold and silver necklaces and…read morebrackets that are just perfect for everyday wear. A great place to go for a cute thoughtful present. None of the pieces are over the top statement jewellery but they still make everyone say OMG where did you get that? Im a big fan!

Pran Central on the corner of Chapel Street and Commercial Road is a central shopping district,…read morehoused in one of Prahran's older style two storey buildings. Having trendy clothing stores up one end and a food court down the other there is pretty much everything you need for a good day out. Downstairs you will find the likes of Sportsgirl, Wittner The Body Shop, over the far end near the exit to Coles is a small food court with a good range if different cuisines, anything from Asian, Indian or even Bakers Delight. There is public seating in the middle of the centre so you can sit down, relax and enjoy a bite to eat mid shop. Upstairs there is a Medicare clinic, Vodaphone outlet and a few other local services. Pran Central is convenient for a variety of services weather it be lunch, coffee or a window shop.

My local go to for services such as Medicare.. There's a doctors surgery upstairs, a few fashion…read moreshops (sportsgirl, sussan, wittner, French connection) and other local services. Melbourne Pathology opening upstairs soon too. There's a cafe & food court, nice and clean... Lots of cute little local oldies gather here, it's their cool place to hang out! x

We were traveling and my friend outgrew the small suitcase she bought. We stopped here and I ended…read moreup buying a beautiful dress and shirt. They have a really nice selection of items that is well taken care of. There was a suitcase there but my friend didn't end up getting the one they had as it was as small as the one she brought. The ladies that work there were friendly and helpful.

Just behind Toorak Village is a little secret those hoity toity women like to keep hushed…read more The Toorak Op shop is a narrow little store brimming with labels where the stock reflects the location. Dresses, suits, shirts, shoes are all neatly arranged making browsing convenient, no real hunting here. The store is too small to even consider less than perfect garments and they have a consistently high turnover of stock. Think 80's Country Road, Feathers, Basque, Perri Cutten, Anthea Crawford, Regatta, costume jewellery, hats, party heels, etc. The staff all know their labels and price accordingly, the prices are still a bargain for the quality of stock but be prepared to pay between $20-$50 for a mens suit/evening dress. There are still some cheap fun things to be found, books, cds and records for $1

Friends of Couture is definitely a friend of mine. In fact, this is one of my favourite places to…read moreshop. From great quality cardigans that won't lose their shape, to quirky dresses to fashion-forward tops and bottoms with the cutest prints. This is one store that doesn't shy away from prints. In fact, Friends of Couture seems to thrive on prints. If you're serious about dots, stripes, hearts, bows, checks, horses, owls, bears, moose, deer and cats, you'll love the stuff here. If you hate these prints - go elsewhere! Serious, monochromatic-addicts will hate it here. I love the quirky patterns, vintage inspired buys and spin-offs on classic prints that this shop does so well. Plus, it carries a good selection of handbags and accessories to complete your outfit with. Always make sure to check the back racks for sale products. Very often you'll find that perfect dress, scarf or cardi just waiting to be brought home by you.

My inner hipster weeps for joy when I come here. There's cute jewelery, lambs wool mittens in…read morebright colours (I got watermelon pink), nanna cardigans and other assorted nic-nacs that make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It's not especially cheap, but everything is of a high quality and a lot of it is locally made which in my opinion is always worth shelling out a few extra dollars for. A great spot to pick up a gift for your quirky girlfriend, with staff who will help you make a decision on the most appropriate purchase. Love. Big time.

I am so lucky that I live this close to one of the coolest gift shops in Melbourne! If you need a…read moregift for anybody male or female I challenge you not to find it at Lulu. Full of funky designer goods, many from local artists and designers. The products change regularly providing new things to explore every time you pop in. Very helpful staff that will endeavor to help you find the perfect gift. There is every chance that you will leave with the gift you need and a little something for yourself too!