Where Should I Eat in St Kilda?

St Kilda is Melbourne's most characterful seaside suburb, where dining is inseparable from atmosphere, entertainment, and beachside lifestyle. The Esplanade curves along Port Phillip Bay with casual seafood venues, fish and chip shops, and seaside bars perfect for sunset drinks and casual meals. Acland Street, running perpendicular to the beach, is the cultural heart - a bohemian strip packed with independent restaurants, live music venues, bars, and galleries reflecting the neighbourhood's creative, eclectic spirit. St Kilda hosts a diverse dining scene shaped by its history as a backpacker hub, artist community, and destination for weekend escapism. You'll find Thai restaurants, Greek tavernas, Italian trattorias, and contemporary Australian restaurants often operating in converted Victorian buildings with character and quirk. The neighbourhood never feels polished - it's delightfully rough around the edges with colourful characters, street art, vintage shops, and a genuine bohemian aesthetic. Luna Park provides a carnival atmosphere and venue backdrop. The crowd is refreshingly mixed: visitors escaping the CBD for seaside atmosphere, locals enjoying their neighbourhood's beaches, artists and musicians working at night, tourists seeking "authentic" Melbourne experience (without pretence), international backpackers exploring the city, and couples enjoying romantic beachside dinners.