The Stonnington lifestyle is defined as much by generosity as it is style. A realm laden with plenteous food stores, high-end boutiques, critically acclaimed restaurants and luxury wellness retreats; residences of Sydney Street couldn’t be more spoilt for choice.
Beatty Avenue
Quaint, almost village-like, Beatty Avenue is lined by towering, established trees and elegant yet unassuming heritage facades, that within hide a collation of now iconic emblems of the community’s epicurean tendencies. This little pocket of foodie heaven, plays host to classic breakfast spots, sunny-spots for long lunching and spots for grabbing a tipple after a long day at the office; strategically positioned right by the train station.
TOORAK CELLARS
18 Beatty Avenue, Armadale
There’s still something so incredibly romantic about opening a bottle of wine. Toorak Cellars inject that same sense of romanticism into the art of buying a bottle of wine. Red, white, orange and fizz, from all corners of the globe, if it’s a drop worth knowing about, you can expect to find it on the shelves.
CHEZ BOB
22 Beatty Avenue, Armadale
A quaint bistro and exemplar of French fine dining, Chez Bob’s strength is its authenticity - in décor, in food, and in service. A genuine taste of Paris in the heart of Armadale.
MAMMOTH
736 Malvern Road, Armadale
From the brains behind Touchwood, Barry and Pillar of Salt, Mammoth is an amalgamation of creative dishes, dreamy interiors and good coffee.
THE BEATT
24 Beatty Avenue, Toorak
At The Beatt, follow an invigorating yoga class with a bite of something nourishing at their adjoining café - an uplifting space with a quaint, summery atmosphere.
Hawksburn
Village
Harmoniously blending new and old, Hawksburn Village is a homage to the effortless way in which the local community melds the classic emblems of the past, with the sleek elegance of today. Fluent in the art of convenience, the village is home to a plethora of what would typically be the mundane necessities of our day-to-day, yet what you will find lining the walls of these exclusive retailers will have your pantry and fridge brimming with produce gleaming with freshness.
BISTRO THIERRY
511 Malvern Road, Toorak
A percussion of heritage and subtle modernity, without fuss and just a sprinkling of pomp, Bistro Thierry unfolds as a modern-day love affair with the tradition of the French bistro. Brash in its annunciation of the motifs of the classic bistro, the menu is a homage to the decadence of its roots. The mise-en-scène, transportive; like you’ve awoken in the midst of a bustling 1950’s Parisian dinner party.
DONNINI'S
525 Malvern Road, Toorak
Donnini’s is an emporium of gourmet pastas and fresh sauces, made daily by renowned in-house chef Mario Messina. No matter the purchase, there’s the sense it’s been made the Italian way – with scrupulous care and the utmost love.
TOSCANO'S
547 Malvern Road, Toorak
Since 1950, Toscano’s has been Malvern Road’s premier purveyor of fresh fruit and vegetables. Exotic ingredients, delicatessen goods and exquisite flowers are also stocked along their plentiful shelves.
GRACE
595 Malvern Road, Toorak
Grace your wardrobe with Alexander Wang, Balmain, Christopher Kane, Jonathon Simkhai and a profusion of other high-end names. Taking cues from international and local paradigms, this boutique presents a curated collection of exemplary pieces.
Armadale
Armadale has long exuded an intoxicating sense of innate prestige. As the city continues to emerge as a leader on the global cultural scene, Armadale remains at the helm of this evolution of prominence. An authority on the luxury space, the precinct continues to be the ‘go-to’ for High-Street inspired style, this inclination seeping into the fabric of every-day life, with gastronomy being the latest iteration of excellence for the community to have embraced.
COMMUNITY STYLE
A precinct on your doorstep.
A retail epicentre where tensions between cult, boutique and exclusive play out within streetscapes that host year long symphonies of designerly excellence. Here new-world edge is tempered by an entrenched reverence to the classics and a lazy day spent window shopping becomes as much a lesson in what is happening locally, as what is emerging internationally.
AESOP
1057 High Street, Armadale
Aesop is Australia’s most beloved skincare brand and an undeniable part of Melbourne’s cultural fabric. With no two stores the same, their Armadale store was designed to mesh with the high-end aesthetic of its neighbours, a sensory feast gifted to anyone who visits.
WILLOW URBAN RETREAT
1203 High Street, Armadale
Escape the urban mayhem at Willow; an oasis of wellness, retreat and indulgence housed within two High St heritage buildings.
FENTON & FENTON
471 High Street, Prahran
Equal parts interiors boutique and gallery, Fenton & Fenton was born of Lucy Fenton’s desire to bring beautiful homewares, furniture pieces and art works to Melbourne homes. Their forte is their rugs, intricately designed and procured from one of India’s oldest dhurrie manufacturers.
Prahran
Though finding inference from the air of sophistication deeply-rooted in its neighbouring suburbs, what distinguishes Prahran is a genuine sense of raw edginess. A community that has long celebrated the eccentric and the alternative, this thread of progression is today inter-woven within the very fabric of society, creating a diverse culture that is equal parts gritty and refined.
MOUNT ERICA HOTEL
420 High Street, Prahran
Don’t be fooled by Mount Erica Hotel’s new, deliciously chic fit-out. Established in 1853, the venue is Prahran’s oldest, and is as much a part of the suburb’s history as the century old trees found down the road in the Victoria Gardens. And, with the wisdom of the old, it does ‘pub’ right. It’s all about balance; balancing the old-school feel with a touch of modern elegance, the menu crowd pleasers with exotic, middle-eastern infused dishes and the expansive, open spaces with the cosy little nooks.
Tip:
Head in for happy hour from 4-6pm weekdays, where you can score half-a-dozen oysters for the price of a glass of fizz, amongst other goodies.
NEPTUNE
212 High Street, Prahran
With a tendency towards seafood of the Mediterranean variety, the aptly named Neptune wholeheartedly embraces the wine bar trend, delivering delectable food amid moody interiors.
TIPICO
242 High Street, Prahran
Italian for ‘typical’, Tipico is anything but. The modern Italian restaurant unfolds within industrial interiors and atop terrazzo floors, where traditional dishes are infused with innovative flare – a dream come true for pizza, pasta and antipasti aficionados.
PRAHRAN MARKET
163 Commercial Road, South Yarra
Established in 1840, Prahran’s ever-thriving market plays host to everything your kitchen cupboard could ever desire, from fresh produce and grocery essentials to specialty ingredients and artisan coffee beans.
