The Special Cake Shop at 207 Chapel Street, Prahran is an institution in the area. SADLY, IT HAS NOW CLOSED.
Over the years Prahran cafes and food outlets have come and gone but not the Special Cake Shop. It just keeps on keeping on. It was opened in the mid 1950s by a Greek Immigrant and then bought in 1976 by its current owner George Seherlis.
The Special Cake shop is in one of these charming old buildings that are fast disappearing from along Chapel Street
The shop has stayed the same. The inside, which hasn’t changed since I have been buying from it, looks a bit retro but I think it is one of those places that fashion has gone the full circle and is back with it.
The inside is divided into two parts with a wide opening between them. As you enter there is seating to the left, the retail counter to your right and the kitchen straight ahead. The windows are full of cakes and biscuits. They are not all Greek cakes. You can get an English sponge roll and lamingtons. There are some wonderful double chocolate biscuits.
I’m told that they are still making coffee in their 1960’s coffee machine. I haven’t checked this out. I have had coffee there. It was good but not the best I have had.
I usually buy and head for home. The Baklava is good – solid hearty Baklava with lots of nuts. Great for desert.
A few years ago they introduced a spinach and feta scone – if you think of ‘scone’ in an English sense you’ll look for the wrong thing. This scone is about the size of a saucer and oozes spinach, onion and feta. They are usually in the window but you can buy them warm from the pie-warmer or if you arrive at the right time – late morning – they are warm from the oven.
This scone is my weakness. Every few weeks I begin to crave one and I need to have my fix.
The Special Cake Shop is a friendly place with family members working there. They are always helpful, pleasant and quick. Many of the customers are regulars and appear to be friends. It would be easy to fit into this companionable vibe. They also serve pies, sausage rolls, filled rolls and gourmet sandwiches.
Where:-
Special Cakes, 207 Chapel Street, Prahran Phone 9510 6789 – This shop has now closed.
Opening hours:-
Open every day from 7.00am to 6.00pm
Getting there:
Tram No 78 runs along Chapel Street to Richmond. Tram 6 to Glen Iris leaves from the CBD, get off at the corner of High Street and Chapel Street and walk North.
Trains the Sandringham Line to either Prahran Station or Windsor Station
I’ve walked past this place many times and never tried, afraid of the solid retro-looking cakes and pastries. Maybe I’ll give the baklava a try next time.
Jetsetting Joyce
Hi Joyce, The lamingtons are good too. Em
I grew up in Prahran and the special cake shop was where we used to “hang out”. George really knows how to treat his customers. I was a regular at this shop till 1986 when I moved interstate. When I go home to visit, I sill pop in and have a cup of the best coffee in Melbourne and a delicious treat. Its nice to know that some places stay the same in this ever changing world.
Dear Glenn, thank you for your comment. I agree with you, we need to find continuity in out lives and discover that some things don’t change. Like you I hope the Special Cake Shop keeps on going on.
I remember this place, the Tulumba from there is heavenly! My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
I bought a birthday cake(black forest)rom this shop which was rediculous…… it was tooooo sweet but no taste at all….. it looked and taste like it was a year older….. please pastry chef do not make the cake like this ever….. do not just take money it should have the value as well…… i just had to chuck in the rubbish bin…..
To Sara
Regarding your post Dec 2011, I would like to comment that I recently purchased a black forest cake from the Special Cake shop and it was amazing, better that ones I had in Vienna! The coffee was amazing and the service very friendly.
I think you should be very cautious in your caustic tone when posting things. This place has been established since 1976 and would not have survived this long if they produced things how you have described.
You should be embarrassed and not only what you have written but your shocking grammer and spelling mistakes.
Stephanie – you mean grammar, right?
I’ve not tried anything from this shop yet, but I’m tempted to, despite Sara’s review – like Stephanie said, it wouldn’t have been i business so long if they didn’t produce yummy pastries and cakes. Looking forward to trying them out!
Melbourne Places – can you please update the telephone number as it’s wrong and the other poor guy from the business with the phone number listed 9510 7689 keeps on getting calls for the Special Cake Shop.
Found the correct number and it is: Phone 9510 6789.
Am going there on Sat to get cupcakes, can’t wait!
The phone number listed above for the Special Cake Shop is WRONG.
It is 95106789.
Thank you both for letting me know. I have up-dated. I still eat their cakes when I get a chance!! Delicious. Em
We recently used a scoopon offer for a mudcacke & 22 speciality cakes for $50.
Sounds like a great deal but was a total waste of money.
The mudcake was dry & went in the bin the day after we got it.
As for the 22 little cakes, they were a joke!
I think they just give the left overs from the day before.
They were soggy & oily or dry & crumbly.
Of the 22 only about 4 were eaten & the rest went in the bin.
Would not return here & would advise others not to waste money on ordering from here as you may just get day old rubbish!!!
Hi Lulu
I have never had a coupon offer from them. However I still buy their cakes and their spinach and feta scones. My favourite cakes are their Greek ones. I wonder if you had any of those in your mix? Em
it’s not there anymore! :~(
Thank you nickipee. I have just noticed that myself. It seemed a very sudden closure to me. All that is there is a boarded up space. I will miss it. Em