When seeking a first bricks-and-mortar location for his homewares label, Hommey, Justin Kestelman didn’t need to look far. By that stage, he’d been living in the Prahran and South Yarra area for six years, and it felt like a no-brainer to keep operations south of the river. And where better to put down roots than in the heart of South Yarra, just metres from the buzzing Chapel Street dining and shopping precinct?

“It was the best decision we ever made to open up a store in that area,” says Kestelman. “The local community and familiarity that we see by way of regular customers is amazing, and the precinct is such a loyal one. Our life is really within a five-kilometre radius.”

With some of the best coffee and pastries in the city, beautiful walking tracks, dining options for all budgets, and proximity to a true Melbourne institution, the Prahran Market, it’s no wonder Kestelman doesn’t stray far from his Chapel Street store.

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We got the lowdown on all his favourite haunts – from where he grabs his caffeine fix in the morning to the wine bars he stops at on the weekend, and everything in between.

Eat

Down on the Windsor end, the pizza from laid-back trattoria Freddy’s is one of Kestelman’s staples. With its roaring woodfire oven, vintage prints on the wall and outdoor tables covered in red and white gingham tablecloths, it’s a nod to Italy right in the heart of Chapel Street.

If he and his wife are feeling like something “a bit more sophisticated and bougie”, Omnia, Stephen Nairn’s European-style bistro, offers an elegant dining experience in the heart of South Yarra. Kestelman’s highlights are the smoked-ocean-trout cigars or the whole flounder, full of lemony, buttery goodness (he recommends asking for it filleted).

Another institution on rotation is, of course, Entrecote, an elegant Parisian-style diner just off Chapel on Greville Street in Prahran. Kestelman says you can’t go wrong with the signature steak frites with herb sauce, and he occasionally goes for the freshly shucked oysters. Paired with a tangy white burgundy mignonette, it goes down well with a glass of bubbly on a Friday night.

As for morning-after recovery, Oscar Cooper’s hefty breakfast burrito is Kestelman’s sustenance of choice after a big night. Packed with bacon, fried cheese, avocado, jalapeno salsa and lashings of hot sauce, it’s easy to see why.

Drink

Kestelman is a creature of habit, which for him means most mornings are spent on a run down to the Yarra River and around the Tan, before finishing up at Campos Coffee on Chapel for his morning brew. “I go there every morning without fail,” he says. “I’m one of the first people there.”

On a leisurely weekend arvo, you might find Kestelman at Don’s – a tiny wine bar (one of the area’s best-kept secrets) conveniently positioned just a couple of doors down from the market.

Don’s impressive (but approachable) selection of pét-nats, Italian varietals and chilled reds go hand-in-hand with its relaxed, communal vibe. But the wide selection of small plates is also key to the allure. For Kestelman, a plate of pasta, maybe a rich ragu, pairs perfectly with a glass of shiraz. Don’s secret-recipe spicy fried-chicken burger is also hard to pass up. And in summer? A Negroni.

Before his recent foray into parenthood, a night out on the town often involved a visit to Onesixone, an intimate three-storey nightclub and rooftop bar with a regular rotation of live music and DJs playing through ‘til morning.

And Kestelman wouldn’t be a true local without having spent some time at Revolver. But he actually recommends its Tuesday trivia nights over late night and early morning club sessions. Every Tuesday, join host and DJ Mikey Cahill for vibey tunes, spicy pub quizzes and fragrant Thai food from in-house diner Colonel Tan’s (yes, Revs has a restaurant).

Do

When he’s not running the Tan before the day starts at Hommey, Kestelman likes to take a walk, or laze around on a sunny weekend morning, at Fawkner Park with his wife and their baby. Nearby Rockley Gardens is another great kid-friendly option for a bit of time outdoors.

On date nights, they like to catch the occasional film. Kestelman’s cinema of choice is, of course, within that five-klick radius of his store: the luxe Palace Como.

Shop

Arguably the best part of the Chapel Street precinct, alongside its many dining options, is the shopping. Midweek, Kestelman might be running around managing Hommey and chatting with his own customers, but on weekends does some shopping of his own.

Visits to Prahran Market have become a bit of a ritual for the young family – Cleo’s Deli, in particular, is a favourite.

“We normally get a slow-roast lamb shoulder, but we also get all our meats, cheeses and delicacies there,” Kestelman explains. “Also pastas, olives, dips, things like that.”

G McBean Family Butcher (aka Gary’s Meats), is a hotspot for fresh cuts of meat, sausages and more. And if they’re feeling “a bit cheeky”’, a borek pastry from Anatolia Gozleme Kitchen is a must.

Victoria Whitelaw is Kestelman’s preferred florist for blooms and bouquets to freshen up the Hommey space, or his own home nearby.

As a small-business owner, it’s important to Kestelman to contribute to the local community, just as that community gives back to him.

“We’ve got such a great, loyal customer base now, and people are really starting to know we’re there,” he says. “It’s an amazing precinct.”

This article was produced by Broadsheet in partnership with the Chapel Street Precinct Association.