There’s so much more to St Kilda than backpackers and beachside vibes—this iconic Melbourne neighbourhood is making a serious comeback in 2025, with its food scene leading the charge.
When it comes to St Kilda restaurants, you’ll find a mix of legendary dining spots and hot new places serving up some of the freshest seafood around. But if you’re not into oysters, don’t stress—there’s an array of cuisines on offer, from Italian and Mexican to Sri Lankan and classic pub fare.
The Best St Kilda Restaurants At A Glance
- Jump To The Best New Restaurants In St Kilda
- Jump To The Best Casual Dining In St Kilda
- Jump To Our Fave Classic St Kilda Restaurants
- Jump To The Best Pubs In St Kilda
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Without further ado, here's your guide to the best restaurants St Kilda has to offer in 2025 according to Urban List:
Best New Restaurants In St Kilda
The restaurant scene in St Kilda is dynamic and ever-changing—which is true of most suburbs, but especially so here. Recently there've been some much-loved additions that have been welcomed with open arms. Here are the new restaurants you need to check out:
The Walrus
9 Inkerman Street, St Kilda
Simply put, The Walrus is a vibe. The innocuous shopfront reveals a cosy vinyl-spinning bar against a backdrop of mustard yellow and green pub tiles. Oysters and wine are the co-stars of the show here.
There’s a varying selection of freshly shucked oysters each day, all of which are served on ice with lemon and mignonette. Other bar snacks and pintxos are on offer, as well as more substantial dishes like sea urchin pasta. The wine list is approachable and leans towards the white and sparkling varieties. They offer a rotation of 20 wines by the glass, along with cocktails that are original and unpretentious.
Dawn And Mabel’s
83 Acland Street, St Kilda
Dawn And Mabel’s is the new Acland Street wine and tapas bar you knew you needed. The menu is fresh and flavourful with a mix of classics and unique creations. The Burrata Salad is a delicate yet rich combination of burrata, strawberries, cherry tomatoes, pomegranate molasses and mint. The fish cakes are refreshing and fiery, layered atop green yoghurt and green herbs. And you’re spoilt for choice with a wine list that spans five pages (cue decision paralysis here). Thankfully the staff are knowledgeable and will help you make all the right choices.
This joint also hosts a monthly art series featuring local artists, with an opening night at the start of each month (make sure you add the next one to your calendar). You can’t go past their impressive happy hour: $8 wine and tap beer from 3pm to 6pm every day they're open.
Lucien Bar
1/157 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Image: Lucien St Kilda | Supplied
Mediterranean-inspired cocktail bar and tapas joint, Lucien, is one of St Kilda’s newest additions, and a welcome one at that. From the same team behind Bistro Voliere, we're not surprised this place has been a hit. On the menu think little pizzas, cheese platters, cheese fondue and antipasti like patatas bravas, grilled chorizo, babaganoush and burrata.
But it’s the cocktails where Lucien truly shines, and with a cocktail menu that reads like a love letter it’s not surprising why. It's clear that a lot of thought and skill went into crafting it. Cheese in a cocktail (and blue cheese at that) is possibly a combination we never dreamed we’d see, but the Cheezoni just works: house made blue cheese gin or vodka along with Cocchi Americano, Suze, Verjus and grapes. Or the Autumn Apple Sour with rich rum, spiced apple, walnut bitters and lemon is another favourite.
Best Casual Dining In St Kilda
Casual diners are in no short supply in St Kilda. Whether it's a wholesome family dinner, a chill date night or a rowdy meal with mates, here are the best casual dining spots in St Kilda:
The Lady Of St Kilda
204 Barkly Street, St Kilda
Image: The Lady Of St Kilda | Supplied
It’s modern Mediterranean cuisine at its finest at The Lady Of St Kilda. From the vibrant spices to the housemade bread, the hot sambousek to the stone-baked pizza, there’s nothing not to love. In The Name Of The Queen is a pita topped with prawns cooked in garlic, tomato, mushrooms, white wine and parsley—a dish you won’t be forgetting any time soon. Take your pick from the variety of sambousek, a Middle Eastern cross between a pie and a dumpling, because they’re all delicious. Brekkie and brunch are also on the cards, so come here whenever your heart desires wholesome, hearty, punchy dishes.
Rufio
188 Carlisle Street, St Kilda
Calling all those with dietaries and the folk who love impeccable Latin food (that should cover everyone, right?). Rufio is a Latin fusion joint that is completely gluten-free with stacks of vegan options on the menu. The vegan grill consists of four courses for $65 per person, plus an optional wine pairing. There’s no shortage for the meat-inclined, with delicacies like sticky glazed chicken ribs, wood fired duck sausage, and potato cake ragu. The open-air rooftop bar is the place to be for a drink before and/or after your meal. There are no less than six margarita varieties, and a spirits list that spans pages and continents. Friday drink specials include beers, house wines and frozen margaritas for $10.
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Three Elephants & Co
97 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Image: Three Elephants & Co | Supplied
Three Elephants is a casual Sri-Lankan inspired eatery in the St Kilda dining hub of Fitzroy Street. Take a seat in the side courtyard on a balmy summer evening while enjoying a traditional Sri Lankan feast — from classic rice and curry combos (go for the spicy Negombo fish curry or Ceylon crab curry) to popular street food specialties like crispy egg hoppers or kotthu roti. Three Elephants was founded by chef Laki Wijethilake who previously worked in the regional town of Birchip and served authentic Sri Lankan cuisine to the local farming community, which inspired him to bring the same Lankan flare to Melbourne.
Hungry for more Sri Lankan? Check out our full rundown of Melbourne’s best Sri Lankan restaurants.
Flour Child
77 Acland Street, St Kilda
Image credit: Flour Child | Arianna Leggerio
Flour Child is equal parts fun as it is delicious. Go for a casual dinner with the fam, or a riotous time with mates. The cocktail bar and pizzeria has been kicking around St Kilda for over five years, perched high on Acland Street with sweeping views of the iconic St Kilda palm trees and directly opposite Luna Park.
Back when it opened, it was Melbourne’s first dedicated burrata bar, so you know the offering on the cheese front is next level—have it with bresaola, caponata tartare, beetroot or pumpkin, have one delicious blob or three nicely lined up on a plate. Don’t miss the flame-fired dishes and experimental cocktails. And if you’re looking for things to do in Melbourne, definitely check out one of their many masterclasses. This might just be the best Italian restaurant St Kilda has to offer.
Mya Tiger
11 The Esplanade, St Kilda
Image credit: Mya Tiger | Supplied
Atop the grand staircase at The Espy, you'll find Mya Tiger. At the forefront of this restaurant is their iconic menu. The menu is broken down into snacks (go for the sesame prawn toast, or cumin lamb spring rolls), dumplings and baos, vegetables, mains, rice and noodles, and of course, sweets. Yum Cha on Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm to 3pm is also definitely worth checking out. And if you’re jonesing for some cocktails, sink into the velvety green banquettes at the gorgeous Mya Tyger cocktail bar—you won’t regret it.
Cicciolina
130 Acland Street, St Kilda
With its casual vibe and contemporary decor, Cicciolina is an obvious choice if you’re looking for one of the best St Kilda restaurants. With chef Virginia Redmond at the helm since its inception in 1993, the Cicciolina menu focuses on using the best of Melbourne's seasonal produce to make inspiring modern Italian dishes. From rich mushroom risotto to chargrilled wagyu scotch fillet, there’s something for every palate at Cicciolina’s.
Bistro Voliere
129 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
It’s cosy, sophisticated and delicious at Bistro Voliere. With traditional French food on the menu and a touch of historic glam decor, this isn’t your average St Kilda restaurant. They know how to celebrate, with specialities most days of the week. There’s steak night on Thursday featuring a 280 gram MB4+ black angus porterhouse steak. Oyster and champagne is the go-to on Friday and Saturday afternoons. Or, our personal favourite, local mussels and fries every Sunday afternoon. Hot tip: the Sunday mussels sell out fast, but you can pre-order them to avoid disappointment. And you can order a la carte at any time, so visit this gem at your leisure.
Our Fave Classic St Kilda Restaurants
There are some truly iconic restaurants in St Kilda, some of which happen to be the few stunning beach restaurants Melbourne has to offer. Here are our favourite tried and true restaurants in St Kilda:
Donovans
40 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda
Image: Donovans Restaurant St Kilda | Supplied
Award-winning Donovans in St Kilda is one of Melbourne's most iconic restaurants and one of the best in St Kilda. Famous for its excellent food, relaxed vibe and beachside location, Donovans is best enjoyed via the floor-to-ceiling windows and outdoor terrace. The menu is extensive with a modern mix of dishes like the crispy skin Cone Bay Barramundi, the glazed duck breast with charred mustard greens, or other favourites like the grass-fed Hopkins River eye fillet. There's also an extensive wine list of Australian and imported wines, as well as an eclectic mix of cocktails—perfect for any occasion.
Stokehouse
30 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda
If you’re looking for beach luxe dining, look no further than Stokehouse. The venue has a relaxed fine-dining feel to it, with a 12.5-metre oval bar, a lounge area, and a terrace to sit by the beach. With the entire ground floor buried under a sand dune and a delectably seafood-focused menu, Stokehouse takes its beach luxe aesthetic very seriously. Don’t be afraid to indulge in the seafood here, the calamari and the oysters are among some of the best around. And that’s why it’s one of the best restaurants in St Kilda.
Stokehouse Pasta & Bar
30 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda
Image credit: Stokehouse Pasta & Bar | Arianna Leggerio
Stokehoue Pasta & Bar is the beachfront little sibling of Melbourne institution Stokehouse, and a stellar option if you're looking at St Kilda beach restaurants. A few years back, the space got a major facelift, a name change and a whole new menu—ushering in a new era, Stokehouse Pasta & Bar. Open Tuesday to Sunday from midday 'til late, the venue is focused on fresh Mediterranean flavours, highlighting the beautiful simplicity that makes coastal dining so appealing.
For the seafood lovers out there, $2 oysters are on the menu everyday from 3pm to 6pm. Head there on a weekday for their Express Lunch: antipasti, pasta and wine for just $45. Bookings this way.
Best Pubs In St Kilda
Home to some of the oldest pubs in Melbourne, St Kilda has some serious pub cred. But they're still hitting it out of the park with the new kids on the block as well. Here are the best pubs St Kilda is home to:
The Espy
11 The Esplanade, St Kilda
Image credit: Hotel Espalande | Supplied
Simply put, there is no other pub like the Espy, more formally known as Hotel Esplanade. This St Kilda venue has been an iconic establishment of the area since its inception in 1878. But just because it's been around for awhile, doesn't mean it's been neglected. Regular revamps mean the Espy is looking fresh and fine. The most recent addition is the Espy Sunroom which opened in December last year and is the ultimate summer hangout with epic views, live music, trivia nights and Sunday sessions.
The Espy is also home to a range of other restaurants (think Louey's Bar & Kitchen for Italian American fun or Mya Tiger for epic Cantonese cuisine) and bars spread out over its five levels, all of which are worth checking out. With an insane range of handpicked wines, signature cocktails, craft beers, it’s hard to argue its position as one of the best pubs in Melbourne.
P.S. Head over here for more of Melbourne's finest pubs.
The Lion & Wombat
107 Grey Street, St Kilda
Image: The Lion & Wombat | Supplied
Vibes? Check. Aesthetic? ‘Gram worthy. Quintessential British pub fare? Oh yeah. The Lion And Wombat is the type of neighbourhood pub you wish you could call your local. But it’s not just a cosy, intimate spot to down a beer or three. The food here is next-level.
Some menu favourites are the scotch egg, cheddar and leek croquettes, rockling fish finger sandwich, chicken kiev and a Sunday roast to end all Sunday roasts. Served with roasted potatoes, carrots, peas, gravy and a Yorkshire pudding, this roast ticks all the boxes. The team here doesn't want anyone to miss out, so there’s a vegan roast option as well. The house cocktail creations are also worth investigating.
The Prince Hotel
2 Acland Street, St Kilda
A real old charmer and true Melbourne icon, The Prince Hotel has been up and running since 1856. And plenty is still happening at this St Kilda pub. The multi-level venue is one of the most storied spots in Melbourne and the public bar is an absolute gem—one of the best pubs going around.
Also home to the Prince Bandroom where you can catch live music and Little Prince Wine, a cute wine bar that offers up an impressive array of wines and hosts 'Meet The Maker' wine nights. The menu is off chops with some of the finest pub food you'll find in Melbourne. Think elevated classics like wagyu burger and wood grilled market fish. This place has it all.
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Leading image credit: Louey's Bar & Kitchen at The Espy | Supplied
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