St Kilda
St Kilda is a vibrant beachside suburb of Port Phillip, in south-eastern inner Melbourne, Australia. St. Kilda is famous for its beach life and the bar and restaurant scene along Fitzroy Street.
It used to be seedy and run down, but there has been a revival in the 21st century as young professionals and travellers have increased in numbers.
Get in
St Kilda can be reached from the City Centre by public transport; a map of St Kilda and the surrounding area's public transport network is available on the PTV website.
By tram
The best way to reach St Kilda from the city centre is by tram. The journey takes approximately 25 minutes.
- Route 96 from along Bourke Street or Southern Cross Station (towards St Kilda Beach) - the fastest of the three, it functions as a light rail travelling along the former railway, taking about 20 minutes with a 6-10 minute frequency. It operates exclusively with high-capacity, low-floor trams but can be very crowded. Within St Kilda, it travels along Fitzroy Street, the Esplanade and terminates at Acland Street.
- Route 16 (also 3a on weekends) from along Swanston Street or Flinders Street Station (towards Kew) - passes along Fitzroy Street, the Esplanade and Carlisle Street. It then travels into the neighbouring suburbs of Balaclava and St Kilda East, before heading onwards to Kew in Boroondara.
- Route 12 from along Collins Street (towards St Kilda) - passes through the residential streets of the inner south and St Kilda West before terminating at Fitzroy Street.
The eastern periphery of St Kilda, including St Kilda East, can be reached by Route 67 (towards Carnegie), or by Route 3 (towards East Malvern).
By train
St Kilda does not have a railway station: the former railway has been converted to the Route 96 light rail tram. St Kilda East is served by Balaclava Station on the Sandringham Line.
By bus
Buses are useful for accessing the more residential areas of St Kilda and its surrounds that lack tram services. High-frequency Route 246 operates along Punt Road and connects St Kilda East to Melbourne's inner east. Bus routes 600, 606, 922 and 923 run via Mitford St and Broadway in Elwood, south of St Kilda.
By bike
Melbourne's Blue Bike docked bike scheme extends down as far as St Kilda - and the ride between here and the city centre is very pleasant cycling. Of course, Obikes (dockless) are ubiquitous if you care to pick one up and go for a ride along the beach.
By car
From the City Centre, St Kilda is best reached via St Kilda Road, the continuation of Swanston Street in the CBD. At St Kilda Junction, follow the signage for Fitzroy St. The journey takes approximately 25 minutes, depending on traffic.
By Ferry
St Kilda Ferries operates services to and from Williamstown Pier 6 times a day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
See
- 1 Jewish Museum of Australia, 26 Alma Rd (Trams 3 or 67: Stop 32, Alma Rd and walk east along Alma Rd), ☏ +61 3 8534 3600, info@jewishmuseum.com.au. Tu-Th 10AM—4PM, Su 10AM—5PM. An engaging museum that depicts the story of the Jewish community in Melbourne and Australia, in addition to the history of the strong local congregation within St Kilda and Caulfield. Houses a number of artefacts from around the world. Guided tours available on request. Adult $10, child/concession $5.
- 2 St Kilda Beach, 43 Jacka Blvd (Trams 3a, 16 or 96: Stop 136, The Esplanade). One of Melbourne's most famous and popular beaches, it is an enjoyable place to spend an afternoon. Apart from the omnipresent swimming, popular activities include sunbathing, sailing, beach volleyball, sandcastle-building, jetskiing and kitesurfing. The beach is regularly patrolled in the Summer by surf lifesavers.
- 3 St Kilda Botanical Gardens, Cnr Herbert & Blessington St (Tram 96: Stop 140, Barkly St terminus and walk along Blessington St; or tram 67: Stop 36, St Kilda Primary School and walk along Mozart St), ☏ +61 3 9209 6777, ospace@portphillip.vic.gov.au. Gardens: sunrise–sunset, conservatory: M–F 10:30AM–3:30PM, Sa Su sunrise–sunset. St Kilda's own botanical gardens were established in the 1800s and are an oasis of tranquility amongst the area's bustling surrounds. A short five minute walk down a side street from St Kilda's main hub, its features include a large conservatory, glasshouses, a gazebo, playground, a giant chess board and an ornamental lake. Detailed information about the plants and wildlife are available on the council's website.
- 4 St Kilda Pier, Breakwater and Kiosk (Home of St Kilda's Little Penguin colony), Pier Rd (Trams 3a, 16 or 96: Stop 135, Jacka Blvd), ☏ +61 131 963, info@parks.vic.gov.au. The long, wooden pier is a popular spot for walking and fishing. Many of the fishermen along the pier will be happy to show you their catch if politely asked. At the end of the pier sits the historic kiosk, now a restaurant, which was rebuilt to the original plans in 2006 after an earlier arson attack. At the far end of the pier is the St Kilda breakwater, which is home to native water rats and the popular little penguins. The colony has existed since the 1950s, nestled amongst the rocks of the breakwater. As it's not an official tourist development, you could see the penguins for free most days at sunset in the publicly accessible area of the breakwater. Due to Corona the St. Kilda colony got closed in 2020 reopened in April 2021. It is still for free to watch the little blue penguins but guided only. A ticket is mandatory and must be booked in advance. Just three slots are available in the evening 50 people for each tour only. Respect the penguins by not touching them, feeding them or using flash photography. Alternatively, boat tours are available through Parks Victoria via their website.
- 5 Victorian Pride Centre, 79 Fitzroy St (Canterbury Road Tram Stop), ☏ +61 3 7035 3592. M-F 9AM-6PM, Sa-Su 10AM-4PM. Modern building that provides meeting spaces for LGBTQIA+ groups and communities as well as activism. Free.
- 6 Palais Theatre, Lower Esplanade (Luna Park Tram Stop), ☏ +61 3 8537 7677. M-F 9AM-5PM, Closed Weekends. 1920s theatre that frequently hosts live music, comedy and ballet acts.
Do
- 1 Luna Park, 18 Lower Esplanade (Trams 3a, 16 or 96: Stop 138, Luna Park), ☏ +61 3 9525 5033, justforfun@lunapark.com.au. Opening hours vary, although generally open 11AM-6PM weekends and 11AM-8PM weekdays during school holidays; closed weekdays during school term. This St Kilda icon's famous mouth entrance continues to grace Melbourne's postcards and for good reason. Built in 1912, the historic amusement park is free to enter, with a number of rides to keep the young and young at heart entertained. The fabled Scenic Railway is the oldest continually operating wooden-framed rollercoaster in the world, and gives panoramic views over the nearby bay. Other rides include all the usual favourites, such as a Ferris wheel, dodgem cars and a ghost train. A great day out for kids and families. In poor weather, some rides may close, including the historic rollercoaster. Single ride: adult (13+) $11, child (4-12) $9, infant $5; unlimited ticket: adult $49.50, child $39.50, infant $16.50.
- 2 St Kilda Sea Baths, 10/18 Jacka Blvd (Trams 3a, 16 and 96: Stop 136, The Esplanade). An old Melbourne institution perched on the St Kilda foreshore, the Sea Baths building now has a variety of different functions, including a gymnasium, a spa, a sea water pool and countless restaurants, bars and cafés.
- The Solar System Walk. A walk that has an exact scale model of the solar system, from size to distance, including Alpha Centauri, the closest star we can see with our naked eyes.
- 3 Acland Street Plaza (Final Stop on Route 96). The cultural hub of St. Kilda. Pedestrianized Plaza bustling with eclectic shops, cafes, and street performers.
Events
- Visit the flea market on Sundays at the Upper Esplanade. Good variety and prices for innovative and creative souvenirs, bags etc.
- Every Sunday evening around sunset, there is a big party at the Espy. Situated on the picturesque Upper Esplanade, this pub has one of the best views in Melbourne. Its a bar with live music, pool tables and a lounge. Not to be missed, but bring extra cash for drinks. $5.30 for 3/4's of a pot of beer, jugs are $23.
Note: the Espy has been closed for the past two years. It's under new ownership and there are talks of reopening.
Buy
- Scout House Vintage, 125 Grey St (forner of Grey and Barkly). 10AM-5PM. Scout down to Scout house for cool vintage stuff, textiles, lighting and beautiful handmade.
Eat
You are truly spoilt for choice when it comes to eating in St Kilda, with over 100 eating-out venues available. The main streets in this area, Acland and Fitzroy Streets, have every type of take-away and restaurant. On Fitzroy Street, you can really see a contrast with upmarket restaurants with white table cloths rubbing shoulders with fish and chip takeaways. Depending on your budget, you are spoilt for choice. There are many cafes and restaurants favoured by locals hidden away in adjoining streets. Barkly St has Il Forniao - excellent pizza, and Claypots is a fantastic 'roll your sleeves up' type fresh fish restaurant. Acland St is noteworthy for its mouthwatering pastries.
St Kilda locals and Melbournians from neighbouring suburbs all cruise to the many cafes in the area, especially on weekends, for coffee and breakfast which is often served all day. Cafe Racer (Marine Parade) and Leroys (Acland St) have the locals nod midweek, Fringe and Vibe (Acland St) are always busy with weekend visitors and tourists due to their great location for people-watching.
Another great location is the Vineyard. If you can put up with the 'too cool for school' attitude and lack of interest from the bar and waiting staff at this venue, you are likely to have an enjoyable afternoon sitting on the terrace when it is sunny. The Vineyard has an enviable location beside a park full or Grand Canaries palm trees beside Luna Park. Sunday evenings are usually packed with the remnants of weekend parties who are partying on to a DJ.
East St Kilda and Caulfield are home to vibrant Jewish communities, and kosher bakeries and cafes abound.
Budget
- 1 Banff Cafe, 29/145 Fitzroy Street, ☏ +61 3 9525 3899. 8am-10pm. The Banff Cafe does delicious, generously-sized pizzas for $5.50 all day on Mondays and Tuesdays, and until 5:30PM the rest of the week. It is also good for happy hour from 3 to 6PM. A great place to sit outside on a warm afternoon. The building was once commandeered by the Americans as barracks for soldiers during WW2. It's an institution and the setting is nice, but the coffee is average.
- SpudBAR, 43 Blessington St, ☏ +61 3 9043 2901. 11:30am-9pm. Tucked into a little arcade of eateries on Blessington Street, just south of the end of Acland Street, does great value baked potatoes with a variety of toppings.
- 2 Lentil As Anything, 41 Blessington St, ☏ +61 424 345 368. Midday-3:30pm, 5pm-9pm. A couple of doors down from the Spud Bar is Lentil As Anything, an incredible vegetarian curry house where there is no price list - you pay what you believe the food to be worth. Worth getting down early for a spot out the back.
- 3 La Roche, 138-140 Acland St, ☏ +61 405 844 577. 8am-11pm. La Roche in Acland Street has $5 pizzas and $6 pastas on some nights as well as cheap drinks. Favoured by younger locals and students.
- 4 Bala's, 1C Shakespeare Grove, ☏ +61 3 9534 6116. Midday-9:30pm. Bala's. Opposite Luna Park, a must for the budget traveller.
Mid-range
- 5 Rococo, 85/91 Acland St, ☏ +61 3 9525 3232. 11am-11pm. Excellent quality food. Pizza/Pasta. Sit inside near the fire in winter or on Acland St.
Splurge
- 6 Donovans, 40 Jacka Boulevard, ☏ +61 3 9534 8221. Midday-3pm, 6pm-9pm. Opposite the beach and evening sunsets. An Age 2-Hat restaurant. Superb food at a pricey cost.
- 7 Stokehouse, 30 Jacka Boulevard, ☏ +61 3 9525 5555. Midday-Midnight. Almost next door to Donovans. An Age 1-Hat restaurant. Posh place for chilling and excellent food.
- 8 Café di Stasio, 31 Fitzroy Street, ☏ +61 3 9525 3999. 11:30am-11:30pm. Superb elegant Italian food.
Drink
Pub crawling and clubbing along Fitzroy St is very popular with backpackers.
- Prince of Wales, 29 Fitzroy St. Has a good selection of tap beer and shots.
- Hotel Esplanade (The Espy), 11 The Esplanade, ☏ +61 3 9534 0211. M-Th noon-late, F Su 11AM-late. Open since 1878, for over 100 years the Esplanade Hotel has been one of Melbourne's and indeed Australia's premier live music venues. Since the early days of string performances in the late 1800s the Espy's hallowed stages have been graced by many of Australia's and the world's major musicians, as well as other acts such as stand-up comedians. On an average week the pub plays host to over 50 bands across 3 stages, much of it free.
- Robarta and the nest, 109 Fitzroy St, ☏ +61 3 9534 9041. Robarta is a restaurant, bar, late night lounge and function space. The venue is over two floors, each with own bar facilities and 'state of the art' audio/visual facilities. The space is multifunctional; evolving from a restaurant and bar in the earlier part of the night, to a late night lounge with DJ's and dancing.
- The Prince Band Room (The Prince of Wales Band Room), 29 Fitzroy Street, ☏ +61 3 9536 1177. The Prince Bandroom has been a host to live music for more than 6 decades. Many of the best local and international bands and DJs play the Prince Bandroom when in Melbourne. It has played host to the likes of Lenny Kravitz, Jack Johnson, Scissor Sisters, Ben Harper, Pink, Coldplay, Bright Eyes and Goldfrapp.
Sleep
Budget
- Habitat HQ, 333 St Kilda Rd, ☏ +61 3 9537 3777, fax: +61 3 9537 3888, info@habitathq.com.au. Habitat HQ was voted the No.1 backpackers hostel in Victoria. Very clean. 24 hour security. Location has very convenient public transport options. Email for group bookings.
- The Ritz for Backpackers, 169 Fitzroy St (near Princes St), ☏ +61 3 9525 3501, ritz@ritzbackpackers.com. Check-in: 24-hour reception. Above the Elephant and Wheelbarrow hotel. Free breakfast daily and a great place to stay. You can park in the carpark behind the hotel overnight till 8AM, but you will probably get away with parking there a bit longer.
- Base Backpackers, 17 Carlisle St, ☏ +61 3 8598 6200, melbourne@stayatbase.com. Internationally rated as one of the top 10 Hippest Hostels in the world. Base offers a out of the ordinary hostel experience, combining state of the art facilities with a laid back vibe.
- Jackson’s Manor, 53 Jackson St, ☏ +61 3 9534 1877, info@jacksonsmanor.com.au. Dorm beds $19-24, single $58, double/twin $30 pp.
- Olembia Guesthouse, 96 Barkly St (near Inkerman and Grey Sts), ☏ +61 3 9537 1412, fax: +61 9537 1600, stay@olembia.com.au. Office hours 7AM-1PM, 5-7PM. Dorm beds $25, single $46, twin/double $78, triple $90.
- Nomads St Kilda Beach (Coffee Palace), 24 Grey Street (just off Fitzroy street), ☏ +61 3 9534 5283, toll-free: 1800 666 237, bookings@nomadsstkildabeach.com. Check-in: 24/7, check-out: 24/7. One of Melbourne's largest and most popular backpackers with 4-,6-, 8-, and 10-bed dorms, some en suite. Free pancake breakfast, large kitchen/communal lounge area and fun social events every night. Email for group bookings. beds from $27, rooms $90.
Mid-range
- St Kilda Stays[dead link], A manager/operator of mid-range and luxury short-stay apartments in St Kilda. 23 Apartments are available to accommodate 2-5 guests, with many on, or close to, Acland St and Fitzroy St. Minimum 7-night stay, rates from $84 to $238 per night. Book online at www.stkildastays.com.au, ☏ +61 422 217 744 or e-mail: info@stkildastays.com.au
Splurge
- 1 Novotel St Kilda, 16 The Esplanade (Trams 3a, 16, 96: Stop 136, The Esplanade), ☏ +61 3 9525 5522, H1506@accor.com. The high-end of St Kilda's hotels offers a heated pool, gym, 24-hour room service and rooms with a breathtaking view over the water. A number of different room configurations available, from a queen double to a high-class penthouse with one or two bedrooms. Double/twin $180-310, triple/family $280-350, penthouse $430-500.
Connect
There are plenty of internet cafes (many in convenience stores) located on Fitroy street. Rates start from $2 per hour. Some also have cheap international calls.
Princes Internet, Grey street, located next to Peter Pans Travel on Grey Street, has internet, international calls, fax, printing and writing of data to CD