Smith Street
Smith Street
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
92 reviews
Excellent
39
Very good
40
Average
10
Poor
3
Terrible
0
Paul H
Melbourne, Australia181 contributions
Jun 2022 • Friends
A depth of flavour that stated the meal was Grandmas Squid. Then the Tepenyaki Seaford arrived and delivered the next level of yum. Others on the table had the Pork Ramen and everything simply delivered. It’s easy to get to either via car, foot or the 86 tram.
Written 9 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia13,528 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
Smith Street runs from Victoria Parade to Alexander Parade in Collingwood. You can walk, it's the easiest way to see the shops. Smith Street is one of Collingwood's main streets; it's the heart of Melbourne's best-known inner-city suburb. There are lots of interesting shops to see. If you want to pick up some groceries, there's a Woolies supermarket on hand.
Written 25 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Wandering Reviewer
Melbourne, Australia12,179 contributions
Mar 2017 • Friends
Smith Street is one of Melbourne’s oldest thoroughfares dating back to the first suburban land subdivision in Melbourne in 1838. Smith Street originally formed part of a winding dirt track that went to Heidelberg. It was later straightened when the area was surveyed.
In Victorian times it was one of the busiest and most important shopping centres in all the Australian colonies and in Melbourne it was only rivalled by Chapel Street in Prahran. Between 1837 and 1865 Smith Street underwent a transition from a thoroughfare to a manufacturing, service and shopping centre. There is still a pedestrian tunnel under Smith Street (today this tunnel is not publicly accessible).
By the 1970s Smith Street was pretty much in decline and there was much demolition in Smith Street and the Collingwood and Fitzroy areas. There was the replacement of what was seen as ‘slum housing’ with high rise apartments and then there has been the recent gentrification of the street.
Today, Smith Street is an eclectic mix of retro and vintage shops, wholesale outlets, funky eateries, art galleries and more. There is often an edgy kinda sleezy feel to the place with various homeless, drunk or drug people around but I've never found them to be a bother and in fact, often stop and chat to them.
From one end of Smith Street to another is very different. At the Alexandra Parade end it's full of wholesale stores and outlets. From Johnston Street to Gertrude Street it's a mixture of eateries and discount stores. From Gertrude Street to Victoria Street it's galleries and eclectic homeware shops.
The street is wheelchair friendly. Kid friendly. Toilets are sprinkled up and down the street and if all else fails - go to the McDonalds at the Victoria Street end.
Parking can be fickle but stick with it.
Enjoy.
In Victorian times it was one of the busiest and most important shopping centres in all the Australian colonies and in Melbourne it was only rivalled by Chapel Street in Prahran. Between 1837 and 1865 Smith Street underwent a transition from a thoroughfare to a manufacturing, service and shopping centre. There is still a pedestrian tunnel under Smith Street (today this tunnel is not publicly accessible).
By the 1970s Smith Street was pretty much in decline and there was much demolition in Smith Street and the Collingwood and Fitzroy areas. There was the replacement of what was seen as ‘slum housing’ with high rise apartments and then there has been the recent gentrification of the street.
Today, Smith Street is an eclectic mix of retro and vintage shops, wholesale outlets, funky eateries, art galleries and more. There is often an edgy kinda sleezy feel to the place with various homeless, drunk or drug people around but I've never found them to be a bother and in fact, often stop and chat to them.
From one end of Smith Street to another is very different. At the Alexandra Parade end it's full of wholesale stores and outlets. From Johnston Street to Gertrude Street it's a mixture of eateries and discount stores. From Gertrude Street to Victoria Street it's galleries and eclectic homeware shops.
The street is wheelchair friendly. Kid friendly. Toilets are sprinkled up and down the street and if all else fails - go to the McDonalds at the Victoria Street end.
Parking can be fickle but stick with it.
Enjoy.
Written 1 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
damienhawthorn
Melbourne, Australia5 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
I avoid the area for the simple fact the council have got greedy with its parking charges. The street is up and coming and there are some great places but why go when you cannot park anywhere without at least 5 bucks in the meter, in both Smith St and all the side streets! Its Smith St, not Collins St!
Talk about chasing away customers who might just want to pop into a shop for some take away lunch or a coffee or just to quickly fetch something from one of the many small independent stores that thrive on this strip.
Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn is a prime example of a successful street with free 2 hour parking all down the main street and in most side streets. The result? Lots of people parking and using the stores for everyday items.
Shame on the greedy council, as in the end the poor shopkeepers are the ones who are suffering.
Talk about chasing away customers who might just want to pop into a shop for some take away lunch or a coffee or just to quickly fetch something from one of the many small independent stores that thrive on this strip.
Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn is a prime example of a successful street with free 2 hour parking all down the main street and in most side streets. The result? Lots of people parking and using the stores for everyday items.
Shame on the greedy council, as in the end the poor shopkeepers are the ones who are suffering.
Written 13 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bukko_Canukko
Kangaroo Flat, Australia109 contributions
May 2019 • Solo
Lygon Street gets the hype, Elizabeth Street (along with others in the CBD) get the traffic and The Esplanade in St. Kilda gets the seaside scenery cameras popping. But Smith Street shows off the hipster, culture-cool vibe of Melbourne. If you're a tourist or new in town, this wouldn't be the FIRST place to go, but it's worth a squizz to get a feel for the totality of the town. I prefer it to Collingwood's OTHER hipster avenue, Brunswick Street, because Smith has a higher concentration of worthy stores/restos. (Every out-of-towner should also visit Sydney Road in Brunswick/Coburg for the exotic foreign feel of the place.)
Smith is heavy on dining choices, mostly low or mid-range in price, great ethnic variety. It has some fine places to buy ingredients to cook your own, especially if you're a hippie/vegan/spice fanatic (Friends of the Earth, Organic Wholefoods and The Source). There are funky fashion shops scattered throughout, with a couple blocks of factory discount stores down at the Alexandra Parade end. Strolling the street gives you a look at Melbourne's human variety, from trendoids to down-and-outers hustling spare change. It's one of the few places in Melbourne (aside from art galleries and Koori cultural centres) where you'll reliably run into members of Victoria's Aboriginal community.
I reckon Smith Street is worth an hour's walkabout; even more if you want to wander (or bicycle) the side streets in search of street art. You never know what's been tossed up new! If you're into live music, "The Gaso" (Gasometer Hotel) is on Smith Street proper, but there are bangin' rock venues such as the legendary Tote just a short stroll off it. Should your feet get tired (or you're pie-faced from some pub) the 86 tram shoots straight down Smith to the CBD, so it's EZ-PZ for tourists to navigate. You can DO Melbourne without seeing Smith if you've only got a day or two in town, but if you're around for more than that, missing this place would be like assembling a jigsaw puzzle and leaving a half-dozen pieces in the box.
Smith is heavy on dining choices, mostly low or mid-range in price, great ethnic variety. It has some fine places to buy ingredients to cook your own, especially if you're a hippie/vegan/spice fanatic (Friends of the Earth, Organic Wholefoods and The Source). There are funky fashion shops scattered throughout, with a couple blocks of factory discount stores down at the Alexandra Parade end. Strolling the street gives you a look at Melbourne's human variety, from trendoids to down-and-outers hustling spare change. It's one of the few places in Melbourne (aside from art galleries and Koori cultural centres) where you'll reliably run into members of Victoria's Aboriginal community.
I reckon Smith Street is worth an hour's walkabout; even more if you want to wander (or bicycle) the side streets in search of street art. You never know what's been tossed up new! If you're into live music, "The Gaso" (Gasometer Hotel) is on Smith Street proper, but there are bangin' rock venues such as the legendary Tote just a short stroll off it. Should your feet get tired (or you're pie-faced from some pub) the 86 tram shoots straight down Smith to the CBD, so it's EZ-PZ for tourists to navigate. You can DO Melbourne without seeing Smith if you've only got a day or two in town, but if you're around for more than that, missing this place would be like assembling a jigsaw puzzle and leaving a half-dozen pieces in the box.
Written 20 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mei Y
Nullagine, Australia1,451 contributions
Oct 2016 • Family
Having outlet stores in expensive real estate is becoming challenging! High rental and growing population! Traditionally housed with Macpac, Kathmandu, Ice Breakers, Paddi Pallen, Adidas, Champion, ..New Balance, basketball ball shoes and balls shops, .. bicycle shops, Mountain Design gas recently disappeared from the strategic corner location!
Written 18 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
adamheety
Liverpool, UK21 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
This place is a bit hit or miss. Some parts have a unique style and some parts just look run down. Same goes for the restaurants. Its a hodge podge of styles and wealth.
Written 10 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ming T
Sydney, Australia52 contributions
Mar 2015 • Friends
such a trendy place! the perfect mix of old and new. something quirky and something classic. there is wonder everywhere, keep your eyes open! the Ramen shop near stop 19 is very interesting! fusion type of Ramen.
Written 22 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mana
Budapest, Hungary30 contributions
Feb 2014 • Solo
loved it! very alternative style, you will see it all! Not the cheapest, but a great variety and a lot of visual stimuli... you can see art wherever you look. Personally would love to live there for a while.
Written 7 April 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elizabeth H
Melbourne, Australia91 contributions
Feb 2013
This is one of my favorite streets in Melbourne. From grot to gorgeous, it always entices. Monsieur Truffe or La Niche - some decisions are impossible. La Niche for lunch and then Monsieur Truffe for coffee, tea or chocolate and perhaps a little sweet wickedness.
Written 23 February 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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