St. Kilda Guide
Located on a sandy stretch of beach along Port Phillip Bay between Elwood and Albert Park, St. Kilda is Melbourne's inner southern suburb. Originally a sleepy seaside resort then later the racier, raunchier side of the city, St. Kilda is now a trendy urban Melbourne hot spot with restaurants, cafes, bars and more.
This famous suburb features restaurants and bars ideal for casual dining. The main drag, Acland Street, is wall-to-wall bistros and bars, including Malaysian hawker food at Chinta Ria Soul and the Big Mouth for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant strip extends around the corner into Barkly Street. Claypots Seafood Bar is here, well known to Melbournians for many years and which Australian Masterchef judge and The Age food critic Matt Preston finally discovered to his delight in 2004, saying it was "undoubtedly somewhere I should have told you about earlier!"
Back towards the city along The Esplanade you can stop in at the iconic The Esplanade Hotel - The Espy - to have a beer, catch a band or even watch Australian SBS TV rock music quiz show Rockwiz being filmed. There are more restaurants and bars around the corner in and around Fitzroy Street including art deco The Prince of Wales hotel and Lau's Family Kitchen.
The annual St. Kilda Festival is one of Melbourne's most loved traditions. The event features comedians; live music, extreme sports demonstrations, dancing and performances, activities and entertainment for the kids, food, market stalls and much, much more.
Go Kite offers exciting kite board instruction facilitated by qualified teachers on the very latest equipment. You will find Go Kite on St. Kilda's West Beach.
Melbourne Fishing Charters depart daily from St. Kilda pier, providing fishing experiences for individuals, families and large groups, aboard speedy and spacious vessels.
St. Kilda is a cyclist's paradise; boasting an extensive network of safe bike paths that wind through parkland and along major roadways for easy access to the areas best attractions. You can hire a bike and accessories if you don't have your own.
The Jewish Museum of Australia, a national centre that celebrates Jewish culture through interactive exhibits and the arts, is located in the St. Kilda neighbourhood.
For a new way to take in a film, check out St. Kilda Openair in January and February. This unique venue shows new releases and movie classics - with live music before each screening - from the rooftop deck above the St. Kilda Sea Baths.
St. Kilda offers a wide variety of accommodation for all kinds of travellers. Whether you are a backpacker looking for an overnight room (Base backpackers or Habitat HQ), a business traveller in search of long-term accommodation (Redan Apartments or Medina Executive), or a family on holiday in need of spacious, affordable rooms (Crest on Barkly or Cosmopolitan Boutique Hotel), you are sure to find something to suit in St. Kilda.