Welcome to The Wanderbug, a travel blog written for humans, by a human. I’m Genevieve, and every guide is personally written by me and based on my firsthand travel experiences.

Prahran (pronoucned pran) is one of Melbourne‘s most lively neighbourhoods on the southside, home to cool wine bars, friendly neighbourhood pubs and great shopping. The best things to do in Prahran include the Prahran Market, Greville Street shopping, the classic backstreet pub College Lawn Hotel, and restaurants such as Entrecote and Borscht, Vodka & Tears.

You’ll find the heart of the neighbourhood around the intersection between Melbourne’s famous Chapel Street, the recently developed Greville Street precinct and the Prahran Market. It’s a busy area, and is relatively tourist-free, compared to neighbourhoods like St Kilda. I lived near Prahran for two years, and have so many favourite spots in the neighbourhood.

Planning a trip to Melbourne? Check out the best neighbourhoods to visit in Melbourne, or my neighbourhood guides for Fitzroy, Carlton & St Kilda to help plan your trip.

The Best Things to Do in Prahran

Prahran Market

The Prahran Market is one of Melbourne’s three major markets, and it’s open several days a week with stallholders selling fresh produce, meat and fish, gourmet food and homewares, along with several hot food stalls & coffee shops. I love the spinach & cheese gozleme from Anatolia Gozleme Kitchen and the decadent grilled cheese toastie from Maker & Monger.

Greville Street Shopping

Greville Street’s shopping precinct has been recently redeveloped, and has seen an influx of boutiques, bars and cafes as a result. There’s a small garden here, which was one of my favourite spots in the area to relax with a book or a coffee.

The Best Bars in Prahran

Gigi

Gigi is the most beautiful bar in Prahran, tucked away just off Greville Street. The interior dining room is gorgeous, but on a sunny day, the balcony is the perfect spot to sink into the banquette seating and enjoy some gentle sunshine. They’re currently offering a $12 snack menu of French inspired bites, and are walk-in only.

College Lawn

College Lawn is the best pub in Prahran, and has one of the best beer gardens in Melbourne. A classic local hangout on leafy Greville Street, College Lawn is the perfect spot for a pub meal in the sunshine. The pub food here is excellent, and the dog-friendly beer garden is always pumping on the weekends.

The Alps

Wine bar slash wine shop The Alps is a cute and cosy spot for catching up with friends over a bold red on a dreary winter’s day.

The Best Restaurants in Prahran

Entrecote

Entrecote is one of Melbourne’s most glamorous French restaurants. Everything is a little bit extra, including the interiors, and the clientele. However, Entrecote has style and substance, making it the perfect place for a girls night out, a date or a celebratory dinner.

Osteria Renata

Osteria Renata is one of the very best restaurants in Prahran, and one of the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne – no small feat, in this city! Small, warm and inviting, Osteria Renata is chic and yet unpretentious, and the food is superb.

Borscht, Vodka & Tears

Opened by a trio of Polish expats, Borscht, Vodka & Tears serves homestyle Polish cuisine and more than 100 kinds of vodka. It’s a mainstay in Melbourne’s dining scene, and the cosy, well-loved restaurant is a refreshing break from

L’Hotel Gitan

Renowned chef Jacques Reymond runs this charming bar & restaurant with his wife and three of his four children. L’Hotel Gitan is a more relaxed sibling to their other restaurant, Bistro Gitan in South Yarra, and is the perfect spot to catch up with friends over a glass of wine and a few French bites.

Cafes & Brunch in Prahran

Tall Timber

Tall Timber is the best cafe in Prahran. It’s small and unpretentious, with a permanently busy dining room and a small, charming courtyard. The menu is vegetable-forward and perfectly balances meeting your classic brunch cravings and offering a little bit of creativity and novelty.

Hotels in Prahran

There aren’t many hotels in Prahran, but a good option is The Olsen, part of Art Series Hotels, just up the road in South Yarra.

Have you been to Melbourne? What are your favourite things to do in Prahran?

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