10 Sensational things to do in St Kilda, Melbourne

best things to do in st kilda - city views

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Ahh St Kilda. Much loved Melbourne suburb by the bay. We Melburnians often first venture here as teenagers keen to discover the beach and cool vibes and then form a long-running attachment to this quirky part of our city.

The area is wonderfully eclectic with a vibrant mix of people and activities. There are things to do in St Kilda for everyone both day and night.

Apart from the well-loved attractions like St Kilda Beach and Luna Park, you will also find some off-the-beaten-track experiences that may not appear in the guidebooks.

Things to do in St Kilda guide

st kilda things to do - luna park

Outside activities in St Kilda

Soak up the sun at St Kilda Beach

Of course! Most first time visitors to Melbourne venture outside of the city centre just for this beach. And it’s well worth the effort. It is a sandy beach with calm bayside waters suitable for swimmers of all ages.

Cafes and restaurants line the foreshore and you can stroll, ride, take a bike tour or rollerblade along the beachside path. On warm sunny days this beach is very busy until late into the night.

Stroll along St Kilda Pier

st kilda things to do - walk along the pier

Take a stroll along the iconic St Kilda pier where post-war migrant ships from Europe first docked. From here we welcomed thousands of new immigrants to our city.

Grab a coffee, breakfast or lunch at the pier’s kiosk and enjoy the view back to the city. The original 1903 kiosk was destroyed by fire in the early 2000s but has been lovingly restored thankfully as it is part of what makes St Kilda special

The pier is a wonderful spot to view the city of Melbourne, take a romantic stroll and view the local wildlife. You can often see seals and dolphins playing in the water and the area is home to a colony of over 1,000 fairy penguins. The best time to see the cute little waddlers is at dusk.

St Kilda Esplanade Market

st kilda attractions - st kilda market

Every Sunday the arts and crafts market along the St Kilda Esplanade is a popular place to shop for gifts and souvenirs. The market is open 10 am – 4 pm and can be found on the Esplanade between the Esplanade Hotel and Palais Theatre.

Luna Park

The fun fair at Luna Park has been entertaining Melbourne families for over a century and the open-mouthed face entrance is an iconic part of St Kilda’s landscape. Boasting the world’s oldest continually operating wooden roller coaster and a beautiful carousel, the park has rides and attractions for adults and children of all ages.

Buy your ride tickets in advance to avoid the long lines. Luna Park is open on weekends, Victorian school holidays and every public holiday except Christmas Day. There’s a small $5 charge if you don’t plan to go on any rides – more ticket info

Lawn Bowls at St Kilda Sports Club 

st kilda melbourne things to do - sports club

• 66 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

A very popular afternoon activity is a round of barefoot lawn bowls at the St Kilda Sports Club. Casual bowls is suitable for people of all ages and abilities and is lots of fun. After the match you can relax with a drink in the friendly bar.

You will find the club on the far corner of Albert Park.

Sailing from the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron

• Pier Rd, St Kilda

Learn to sail at one of the oldest sailing clubs in Australia. The club has courses for children as young as seven as well as adults. Sailing can be thirsty work so luckily there is a fantastic bar at the Yacht Club with wonderful views of Melbourne that you can access if you know a member too.

Where to eat in St Kilda

best places to eat in st kilda

Baker di Chirico

• 149 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

I would cross town for the baked goods from this little St Kilda bakery. The bread made here is some of the best in Melbourne and you will often find queues out the door. Baker di Chirico are also famous for their nougat.

Breakfast or brunch at Fitzrovia

• 155 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

In our opinion, Fitzrovia serves the best brunch in St Kilda. Yes, they have the Melbourne breakfast classics – smashed avo and excellent coffee. But try the apple and rhubarb hotcakes or hot chilli jam scrambled eggs for a real treat. Bookings recommended if you want to brunch there on the weekend. 

*Top pick* Seafood feasts at Claypots Seafood Bar

• 213 Barkly Street, St Kilda

One of my all-time favourite Melbourne eateries, Claypots Seafood Bar is an institution and rightly so. In a casual and friendly environment you will eat some of the freshest and tastiest seafood imaginable. There is often live music in the bar next door and the whole experience makes for a great night out.

Cakes of Acland Street

Stroll down Acland Street and you can’t help but be tempted by the traditional East European cake shops. I love vanilla slices so my favorite shop is Le Bon Continental Cake Shop but you can’t go wrong with any of these cake shops. They all specialize in something different so look through the window and don’t even try to resist temptation.

Artisan gelato at 7 Apples

• 75 Acland Street, St Kilda

There’s no beach without ice-cream, right? 7 Apples makes unique and delicious flavors like white peach with pecan praline and black sesame with Nutella swirls. I love my gelato and I give 7 Apples my seal of approval!

Wine + cheese at Milk the Cow

• 157 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

If you are a cheese lover, this bar will become a quick favorite. The bar has over 150 varieties of local and imported cheeses with which to pair your favorite wine. Find out more – Milk the Cow

Stylish pub turned restaurant – Newmarket Hotel

• 34 Inkerman Street, St Kilda

Flavors from California and a grown-up grunge vibe make for a great night eating tacos and drinking cocktails. Must try the soft shell crab tacos and the Hell Yeah cocktail. More info on their website.

Romantic dinner at Donovans 

• 40 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda

Donovans is a longstanding favorite restaurant. The restaurant sits looking over the sand and water and is designed to feel like a cozy beach home. The menu at Donovans has an emphasis on seafood and is constantly evolving.

Their chocolate fondant dessert is one of those dishes you don’t forget in a long while. Tip – enjoy champagne on the terrace as you watch the sunset over the bay to the west of Melbourne. Their children’s menu is great too.

Delicious pizza at Mr Wolf  or iCarusi II

• 9-15 Inkerman Street, St Kilda | 231 Barkly Street, St Kilda

Who doesn’t love wood-fired pizza? Karen Martini’s Mr Wolf serves amazing Roman-style pizzas in a smart casual setting. The restaurant also caters for coeliacs and those avoiding gluten and has a wonderful children’s menu.

For a more rustic but equally delicious pizza and antipasto feast head to iCarusi. They are also famous for their dessert calzone or calzoncino.

Nightlife in St Kilda

St Kilda nightlife

Soak up the relaxed St Kilda vibes at the Prince Public Bar

• 29 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

A great spot to start a night out or enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon drink. There is usually free live music from local artists. You can also hear international acts upstairs in the Prince Bandroom – check their website for listings

Enjoy a concert at the Palais Theatre

• Lower Esplanade, St Kilda

The theatre itself is difficult to miss as you stroll along the St Kilda beach and Fitzroy Street. A wonderful example of art deco architecture, the Palais Theatre is a much-loved Melbourne venue for many different types of concerts – from ballet to rock classics. Check their website for listings.

Epic Melbourne band and pub venue – The Espy (Esplanade Hotel)

• 11 Upper Esplanade, St Kilda

This most Melbourne of venues has recently reopened with swanky new bars and restaurants but the famous Gershwin band room remains intact. It has been said that if you haven’t had a drink at The Espy you haven’t been to Melbourne.

You can check what is on at the Espy here.

Indoor activities in St Kildawhat to do in St Kilda - sea baths

St Kilda Sea Baths

• 10/18 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda

Even in winter, you can enjoy swimming in the seawater. The St Kilda Sea Baths has an indoor swimming pool using heated seawater from the bay. You can also use the hydrotherapy spa.

Jewish Museum of Australia

• 26 Alma Road, St Kilda

St Kilda is home to a large number of Orthodox Jews, many refugees from holocaust atrocities in World War II. The Jewish Museum of Australia tells the history of these people and the broader Jewish population in Australia.

The museum is open from 10 am every day except Mondays and Saturdays. View the website for more details.

Classic films at the magnificent Astor Theatre 

•corner Chapel Street and Dandenong Roads

The Astor is a much-loved Melbourne institution. One of the last single-screen cinemas in operation in Australia, the art deco theatre can hold over 1000 visitors and is famous for showing reruns of classic movies like The Wizard of Oz and Singin’ in the Rain.

Luxurious spa treatments at Aurora Spa – Prince Hotel

• 2 Acland Street, St Kilda

Massages, hand, feet and facial treatments are divine at Aurora Spa. It’s one of the best spas in Melbourne in my opinion. Try the Active Botanical Facial – your skin will never feel so fresh and clean.

Where to stay in St Kilda

There are several St Kilda hotels and serviced apartments to choose from and it’s a popular place to stay thanks to all the activities and fun things to do in the area. Here are our favourites

Best for music and nightlife – The Prince

Right in the heart of the action, The Prince has modern rooms each with a BOSE sound system so you can relive the tunes you heard the night before. The hotel is also home to luxurious Aurora Spa.

Check prices and availability | Read reviews

Best for art lovers – Tolarno Hotel

Just a short walk from the beach, the Tolarno Hotel is decorated with pieces from celebrated local artist Mirka Mora. This small and friendly hotel has several room sizes catering to overnight and longer stays.

Check prices and availability | Read reviews

Top pick – The Blackman

Just a short walk from the Fitzroy Street hustle and bustle, The Blackman is a stylish and modern boutique hotel offering on-site restaurants and a fitness centre. I love the decor and comfort at this hotel.

Check prices and availability | Read reviews

Favourite Melbourne boutique hotels

St Kilda is easy to get to from Melbourne’s CBD and surrounding suburbs. If you like staying at stylish boutique hotels, there are many to choose from in Melbourne. Here is a list of my favourites.

How to get to St Kilda

visit st kilda - take the tram

Taxis and Uber are common throughout Melbourne. Uber is significantly cheaper and easier to access at peak times.

Public transport – it is a 15 minute tram ride from Melbourne’s city centre to St Kilda. Catch a tram down St Kilda Road from stops outside Federation Square opposite Flinders Street Station.

You will need to use a Myki public transport card to use the tram.


Need more info about Melbourne and the surrounding area? Read my Melbourne city highlights guide, our guide to the best family activities in Melbourne, my picks of  Melbourne’s boutique hotels and tips on visiting the Great Ocean Road


Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and as always all opinions are my own. Please review my disclosure page for more information on my affiliate policy.


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