Carlisle Seafood sits in this unlikely location, a train station, surrounded by some of the finest restaurants in Melbourne.
The oldest fish and chip shop in Melbourne operates beneath Balaclava train station.
The humble takeaway holds remarkable historical significance alongside its underground setting.
At 103 years old, Carlisle Seafood stakes its claim as the longest-running fish and chip shop in Melbourne, the Herald Sun reports. The Melbourne institution has weathered over a century of changes in the busy train station precinct. Its underground train station location makes it one of Australia’s most unusually situated takeaway establishments.
Melbourne train station icon – Carlisle Seafood
- Where: Balaclava, beneath train station
- Established: 1922 by Laertis Kostopoulos from Ithaca, Greece
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The Melbourne train station shop’s origins trace back to 1922 when Greek immigrant Laertis Kostopoulos opened the doors. His family operated the business for 10 years, establishing the foundation for what would become a Melbourne institution.
Multiple Greek families took ownership throughout the 20th century. The Anagnostatos, Lekatsas and Megas families each contributed to the shop’s enduring legacy. Their stewardship maintained the traditional fish and chip service across decades of social change.
The shop predates many Melbourne landmarks by considerable margins. Toto’s Pizza House, widely recognised as Melbourne’s first pizzeria, opened nearly 40 years after. Carlisle Seafood was already serving customers when Hawthorn, Geelong and North Melbourne claimed their first V/AFL premierships.
The location beneath Balaclava station creates a unique dining atmosphere that defines the business. This hidden gem operates in stark contrast to the area’s upmarket dining establishments above ground.
Traditional methods remain central to operations. Staff prepare potato cakes by hand, maintaining authenticity in an increasingly automated food industry. The ice-filled window displays continue the decades-old practice of showcasing daily fresh catches.
Melbourne’s dining landscape has evolved dramatically since 1922. Yet Carlisle Seafood, hidden beneath the Melbourne train station, maintains its original purpose and character. The shop serves as a living museum of takeaway culture and Greek-Australian heritage.
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