These Are The Cosiest Chapel Street Spots For A Solo Date This Winter
If prioritising time with little old you is on the cards this winter, the inner south-east is a great place to start. Instead of becoming one with the couch under a heated blanket until spring, consider this your sign to rug up, head out and spend a day doing your own thing.
We've rounded up seven ideas for a solo date on and around Chapel Street, where you can embrace the luxury of having absolutely no agenda and move entirely at your own pace. Browse, wander, linger a little longer, no compromises required. And guess what? Your heated blanket will still be there waiting when you get home.
Dive Into Culture With A Side Of Brunch
Wandering through an art space is a classic solo date move, so why not treat yourself with a trip to MARS? The gallery (not the planet) plays host to all sorts of contemporary Australian and international artists, with a new exhibition rolling into town on 23 June. Inspired by Andy Warhol's love of the Polaroid camera, Polaroid Polaroid Polaroid is the latest group exhibition to hit the gallery and it's well worth a visit. Once you’ve wrapped up your wander through the incredible works on display, hot-foot it to OPPEN around the corner for a coffee and brunch. It doesn't get much better.
Get Up, Get Sweaty
If you’re an early bird who prefers to get up and get moving while the rest of the city hits snooze for the third time, this one's for you. Bodhi & Ride in South Yarra are offering $10 early morning rides from Monday to Thursday during the winter months, so you can enjoy that smug satisfaction of finishing a class before people are even out of bed.
If yoga is more your speed, the Australian Yoga Academy is also offering $10 6am classes from Monday to Thursday throughout winter. Roll out your mat, stretch out the stiffness of the cold Melbourne morning and enjoy your solo time and self-care wrapped into one.
Mid-Week Self Care
Speaking of self-care, why not add a little maintenance appointment to your solo date itinerary? If your solo time lands mid-week, BeautyMate in South Yarra are generously offering $10 off any service from Tuesday to Thursday throughout winter, so it’s a no-brainer.
Whether your nails are overdue for some attention, your brows need a freshen up, or you simply need an hour where nobody expects anything from you, consider this your sign to book it in.
Peruse The Stalls At Prahran Market
No trip to the Chapel Street precinct is complete without a wander through the iconic Prahran Market. Start with some top-tier caffeination from Market Lane Coffee, then spend some time weaving between the stalls, shamelessly accepting every sample that comes your way. An agenda? Never heard of her.
When lunchtime rolls around, make a beeline for Maker & Monger and order our pick of the bunch, the fondue special toastie. The perfect combination of Comté, Swiss Gruyère, shallots, wine, garlic, Dijon mustard and ham off the bone—the kind of sandwich that justifies the trip on its own.
Dine Solo
There's nothing more chic than dinner for one—and Studio Amaro is the perfect place to do it in style. Pull up a seat at the bar and order your tipple of choice—the dirty martini goes down a treat. Chase that with a rotation of antipasti: Sicilian olives, eggplant caponata, cucumber and dill on a bed of stracciatella and tuna carpaccio. If there's still room, a plate of arrabiata or linguine with crab vongole, bisque and tomato wouldn't go astray.
Rifle Through Racks In Windsor
Shopping with your friends is cool and all, but sometimes a solo mission through a stack of vintage stores is exactly what the doctor ordered. No waiting around outside change rooms, no unsolicited opinions in sight.
Lock in and prepare to spend a few hours rifling through the racks at spots like Vintage Sole, Shag and Stupid Vintage. The beauty of second-hand shopping is that the thrill is in the hunt, and when you’ve got the day to yourself, time is on your side. Whether you walk away with a designer score, the perfect pair of jeans or absolutely nothing at all, it’s the kind of activity where getting lost in the process is kind of the whole point.
Kick Back At The Theatre
Round out your day of solo adventuring by taking a load off at the theatre. Chapel off Chapel is the church-turned-theatre venue nestled in the heart of Prahran, playing host to great local performances spanning comedy, live music and musical theatre. Browse the upcoming program and book yourself a ticket to something unexpected. After all, solo dates are the perfect excuse to say yes to things you may not usually go for.
Keep an eye out for more winter warmer deals kicking off around the Chapel Street precinct this winter.
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Chapel Street and proudly endorsed by The Urban List. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.
Images: supplied