The Best Restaurants in St Kilda

Updated 1 month ago

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Fitzroy Street, Acland Street and surrounds aren’t thriving quite as much as they were in the early 2000s, but St Kilda is still home to two Melbourne’s best restaurants, Stokehouse and Cafe Di Stasio. Beyond that, there’s a long tail of locally treasured institutions such as Cicciolina and Donovans, and fresh, exciting players such as Rufio and the reinvigorated Prince Hotel. These are the best restaurants to dine at in St Kilda.

  • This personable institution has been around since 1995 and retains a huge base of regular customers who love its classic, consistent menu.

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  • Seafood and stunning ocean views – it's no surprise this is such an institution.

  • White-jacketed waiters delivering discreet, attentive service and a consistently excellent menu have made Rinaldo Di Stasio's intimate dining room a pilgrimage for lovers of fine Italian food. The seasonal set menu is an excellent way to dive in.

  • A stylish Indian diner from the family behind the acclaimed Bombay by Night.

  • Enjoy an authentic Cantonese banquet with a view, set above Melbourne’s iconic Esplanade Hotel. Pair duck pancakes, spicy pork chilli wontons and sesame prawn toast with a fusion cocktail. Yum Cha Sundays here are a highlight.

  • This downstairs iteration of the St Kilda institution serves up European-inspired dishes in a laid-back setting. Go for family-sized bowls of pasta and tiramisu masquerading as bombe alaska, all next to a seaside view.

  • You might need a map to navigate this iconic seaside pub. Across its six floors, you’ll find no fewer than 12 bars, from the pint-friendly Public Bar to a table-service cocktail spot upstairs. Not to mention two restaurants and three stages for live music, including the legendary Gershwin Room.

  • The chef behind the pans at this all-day diner worked in some of London's top restaurants for over two decades. And you can taste that experience across even the most casual dishes.

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  • This iconic pub has three distinct venues across multiple levels of a 1915 building. Get your aperitivo hour fix at the Studio 54-inspired bar upstairs, with lo-fi wines and snack plates. Then head downstairs to the moody, flame-focused restaurant for charcoaled seafood and steaks. Or straight to the gastropub for oysters, chargrilled burgers and a 200-strong wine list.

  • There’s only one rule at this Spanish eatery: no cutting corners.

  • Enjoy fresh sashimi and sake at this southside izakaya. Here, you can dine at the open kitchen and sushi bar, slide into a booth, or feast at a long banquet table. The best part? The sweeping views out over Port Phillip Bay. Its sister restaurant in Fitzroy is also worth your time.

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  • Stay up late with pintxos and wine.

  • Gluten-free naan? Indian nachos? You can find them here.

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  • This spot just off St Kilda Beach is one of Melbourne's original Mexican restaurants, and it's still one of its best. That's thanks to an uncompromising commitment to quality ingredients. The drinks list, which includes a handful of Margaritas, complements the fun, shareable food.

  • With an impressive collection of art covering the walls, Cicciolina feels like a dinner party in an eccentric painter's home – and it’s almost always full. Diners young and old are drawn back for its simple Italian cuisine and lengthy wine list. Enjoy drops from Italy, France and beyond from the bar out the back while you wait for a table.

  • Meaning ‘community’ in Japanese, Machi is inspired by its St Kilda location and eclectic culture. Come here for excellent gyoza, Wagyu beef and Kyoto-inspired dishes.

  • This striking, forest-themed dining room has been a destination for pizza and other Italian classics since 2004.

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  • The name says it all.

  • Californian flavours are the focus at this gastropub in St Kilda.

  • Fresh and varied fare to rival that of any Southeast Asian island.

  • Artisanal 12-inch pizza bliss south of the Yarra.

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  • Fast food without the mystery-meat aspect on Barkly Street.

  • Settle into the minimalist dining room, or take a seat on the rooftop, at this lively Latin-inspired eatery. Go for smoky bite-sized arepas, slow-cooked chargrilled seafood and three kinds of tostadas. Plus, more than 50 types of tequila and mezcal.

  • A Euro-inspired wine bar, wine shop and deli set beneath The Prince Hotel. Enjoy classic Australian and European wines; cheese, charcuterie and small snacking plates from the deli; and descend to one of Melbourne’s most impressive wine cellars.

  • The ground-floor bar at the iconic Prince of Wales Hotel was revitalised a few years back. Today, it’s the best version of itself, with a beautiful island bar and plenty of seating on the footpath for pints and people-watching in the sun. The bistro turns out refined pub grub from breakfast right through till dinner.

  • Mediterranean-skewed dining and a space full of modern flourishes.