Fresh Flavour on Toorak Road: Boost Juice Como, South Yarra

On the busy corner of Toorak Road and Chapel Street, the Como Centre is one of South Yarra’s most convenient landmarks — a mix of shops, bakeries, cinema, gyms and everyday errands. Tucked on the ground floor is Boost Juice Como, the local outpost of Australia’s best-known juice and smoothie chain. It is the kind of stop people make without thinking twice: a Mango Magic on the way to work, an All Berry Bang after the gym, a crush for the kids after a film at Palace Cinemas.

The store sits at Shop 1, 299 Toorak Road, inside the Como Centre. It previously operated on Chapel Street (near the Jam Factory) before moving into this brighter, more central position. That shift makes sense. The Como Centre is a daily thoroughfare for South Yarra, Prahran and Toorak locals, office workers, shoppers and visitors staying nearby. You can collect a drink, duck into Laurent Bakery or Koko Black, or head upstairs to the cinema without leaving the building.

 

An Australian idea that travelled the world

Boost Juice began in 2000, when Melbourne-born entrepreneur Janine Allis opened the first bar in Adelaide while on maternity leave. She had seen juice bars thriving in the United States and wanted something similar at home: fast, colourful drinks made with real fruit, served with energy rather than solemn health-food piety. The first store worked. Franchising followed. Within a few years Boost had become a national fixture; today it operates hundreds of stores in Australia and many more overseas.

The brand’s line has stayed consistent. Every person who walks in should leave feeling a little better. That is why the cups are bright, the staff are trained to move quickly, and the menu still leans on recognisable fruit rather than mystery powders. Customisation is part of the offer: dairy-free or vegan bases, extra fruit, protein, fibre or functional “boosters”, and kids’ sizes for family visits.

The Como store is a franchise outlet of that system, not a one-off café. That matters for consistency. A Mango Magic here should taste like a Mango Magic in another suburb. Regulars on Uber Eats and in-store reviews tend to praise exactly that — reliable flavour at a price that undercuts many nearby café smoothies — along with friendly, efficient service.

What to order

The menu is organised into familiar families: tropical smoothies, berry blends, protein and energy drinks, crushes (icier, lighter), and freshly squeezed juices. Favourites that keep coming up at this store and nationally include:

• Mango Magic — mango, banana, mango nectar, vanilla yoghurt and ice. Often the default order. Boost has recently promoted a medium size at a sharper price point.
• All Berry Bang — strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, apple juice, strawberry yoghurt and ice. Tangy, filling and a long-standing regular.
• Banana Buzz — banana, honey, low-fat milk (or alternative), vanilla yoghurt and ice. A breakfast-style smoothie.
• Choc Muscle Hustle and other protein options — for post-training visits, with whey or plant protein, oats or coconut.
• Crushes such as Watermelon Crush or Mango Tango Crush — lighter and colder on hot days.
• Juices including green and “two-and-five” style blends, plus vegan lines such as Pure Eden and Caribbean Green.

You can add boosters (protein, energy, immunity, fibre and so on), swap yoghurt for frozen coconut cream, or go dairy-free. Nutritional information and allergen details are available in store and via the Boost app. Prices sit in the everyday takeaway range rather than specialty-café territory, which is one reason the store draws such a mix of gym-goers, parents and lunchtime regulars.

Recent national additions have included functional “Blends with Benefits” and a Banana Mocha smoothie (banana, cold-brew coffee and chocolate). Availability can vary by store, so it is worth asking at the counter or checking the app.

 

The VIBE programme and the app

Boost runs VIBE Rewards through a free app and in-store cards. Buy a full-price drink, scan, earn a point; ten points redeem for a free original-size Boost (standard conditions apply — extras and discounted drinks usually do not count). Members also get a birthday drink and can order ahead to skip the queue. Occasional double-points periods speed the free drink along. For anyone who is already in the Como Centre two or three times a week, it is an easy habit.

A neighbourhood stop, not just a chain

South Yarra does not lack places to buy a juice. What Boost Como offers is speed, a wide menu and a price that makes a smoothie an ordinary purchase rather than a treat. Reviews on delivery platforms sit around 4.7 from a large sample, with comments on generous portions, consistent fruit flavour and staff who will adjust a drink without fuss.

The setting helps. The Como Centre combines practical shops (pharmacy, post, alterations) with food (Schnitz, Meat & Wine Co, Maker Coffee, Splash Café & Juice Bar) and leisure. Barry’s Bootcamp is upstairs. Palace Cinemas is in the same complex. A Boost is an easy add-on to a gym session, a film or a Saturday wander along Chapel Street.

Chapel Street itself remains one of Melbourne’s best-known shopping strips, running from South Yarra through Prahran. The Como corner is the more polished, mixed-use end — offices, hotel, retail and dining rather than late-night bars. Boost fits that daytime rhythm: open from mid-morning through late afternoon, catching commuters, shoppers and families.

 

Practical details

Boost Juice Como
Shop 1, The Como Centre
299 Toorak Road
South Yarra VIC 3141

Phone: (03) 9827 0857
Website: boostjuice.com.au
App: Boost Juice (iOS and Android) — order ahead, VIBE points, store locator

Typical hours (confirm in the app or by phone, as they can change):
Monday–Friday 8:30am–6:00pm
Saturday–Sunday 8:30am–5:30pm

Payments: cards and contactless accepted. Wheelchair-accessible entrance reported. Delivery and pickup are listed on major platforms when the store is participating.

Head office customer line for the brand (not the store): (03) 9070 5370 (business hours) or boost@boostjuice.com.au.

Why it earns a place on a local list

Boost Juice is not a hidden gem. It is a national brand that has lasted because the formula is simple: real fruit, a cheerful cup, and a drink you can finish while walking down Toorak Road. The Como store puts that formula on one of the busiest corners in the inner south-east. If you live or work nearby, it is the reliable option when you want something cold, fruity and quicker than a sit-down café. If you are visiting Chapel Street, it is an easy, inexpensive pause between shops.

Order the Mango Magic if you are undecided. Join VIBE if you will be back. And check the boards — seasonal crushes and limited flavours appear often enough to keep regulars from falling into a rut.