Guidebook for Saint Kilda East
Food Scene
It's expensive and you'll need to book months in advance, but there's a good reason Ben Shewry's intimate place is the highest-ranked Australian restaurant on the World's Top 50 list.
59 locals recommend
Attica
74 Glen Eira RdIt's expensive and you'll need to book months in advance, but there's a good reason Ben Shewry's intimate place is the highest-ranked Australian restaurant on the World's Top 50 list.
Great place for a leisurely breakfast within easy walking distance, but if you want to eat here on a weekend you'd better get in early - the place packs out.
14 locals recommend
Frank & Ginger Cafe
101 Orrong CresGreat place for a leisurely breakfast within easy walking distance, but if you want to eat here on a weekend you'd better get in early - the place packs out.
If you think all Turkish food is the same, head to this place and prepare to have your socks knocked off. Forget your kibbeh, pide and dips: this modern, inventive, adventurous food. And delicious.
11 locals recommend
Tulum Turkish Restaurant
217 Carlisle StIf you think all Turkish food is the same, head to this place and prepare to have your socks knocked off. Forget your kibbeh, pide and dips: this modern, inventive, adventurous food. And delicious.
A huge range of coffee varieties, including rainforest grown and fair trade, roasted daily and at a pretty decent price. Try before you buy in the cafe, or stock up on nuts and chocolates while you're here.
6 locals recommend
The Coffee Company
260 Carlisle StA huge range of coffee varieties, including rainforest grown and fair trade, roasted daily and at a pretty decent price. Try before you buy in the cafe, or stock up on nuts and chocolates while you're here.
Tucked away on a side street off the busy Chapel Street main drag, this is not your run-of-the-mill Vietnamese restuarant. But it is delicious and affordable, with a bright and funky decor.
House of Hoi An Restaurant in Melbourne
40 Green StTucked away on a side street off the busy Chapel Street main drag, this is not your run-of-the-mill Vietnamese restuarant. But it is delicious and affordable, with a bright and funky decor.
You don't come here for the friendly service, but if you like Chinese food with more spice and punch than you'll find at your typical Chinatown Canto-style eatery, Dainty is a must. It packs a punch with food that is anything but dainty. A word of advice: take the spicy guide seriously.
34 locals recommend
Dainty Sichuan Food
149 Lonsdale StYou don't come here for the friendly service, but if you like Chinese food with more spice and punch than you'll find at your typical Chinatown Canto-style eatery, Dainty is a must. It packs a punch with food that is anything but dainty. A word of advice: take the spicy guide seriously.
Really lovely breakfasts, good coffee, great design and friendly service. Very popular on weekends, though.
25 locals recommend
Hannah
141 Chapel StReally lovely breakfasts, good coffee, great design and friendly service. Very popular on weekends, though.
Drinks & Nightlife
Carlisle Wine Bar
137 Carlisle StreetGood food, good wine, good music.
Great range of craft and imported beers, very nice rooftop deck.
145 locals recommend
The Local Taphouse
184 Carlisle StGreat range of craft and imported beers, very nice rooftop deck.
This upscale gastro-pub has great food and a buzzy atmosphere. Visit to see the beautiful people in action.
43 locals recommend
The Smith Prahran
213 High StThis upscale gastro-pub has great food and a buzzy atmosphere. Visit to see the beautiful people in action.
Parks & Nature
It's obligatory and on a nice day packed with tourists and locals alike. During summer, there's a pop-up cinema and live music events on the foreshore. The pier is always worth a stroll and late at night you might catch a glimpse of the fairy penguins that nest there
697 locals recommend
St Kilda beach
It's obligatory and on a nice day packed with tourists and locals alike. During summer, there's a pop-up cinema and live music events on the foreshore. The pier is always worth a stroll and late at night you might catch a glimpse of the fairy penguins that nest there
Sightseeing
Hipster central. Cafes, fashion, restaurants, pubs and bars keep this Fitzroy strip pumping at all hours
135 locals recommend
Brunswick Street
Brunswick StreetHipster central. Cafes, fashion, restaurants, pubs and bars keep this Fitzroy strip pumping at all hours
A good place to grab coffee before exploring the network of laneways in teh CBD, probably at their densest and most interesting between Flinders and Bourke streets.
164 locals recommend
Degraves Street
Degraves StreetA good place to grab coffee before exploring the network of laneways in teh CBD, probably at their densest and most interesting between Flinders and Bourke streets.
Hosier Lane
7-9 Hosier LnStreet art
Arts & Culture
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image has a brilliant permanent exhibition (Screenworlds), touring exhibitions (recent offerings include David Bowie, Hollywood Costumes, Martin Scorsese) and screenings of classics and new-release art-house movies in two magnificent cinemas.
258 locals recommend
ACMI
Flinders StreetThe Australian Centre for the Moving Image has a brilliant permanent exhibition (Screenworlds), touring exhibitions (recent offerings include David Bowie, Hollywood Costumes, Martin Scorsese) and screenings of classics and new-release art-house movies in two magnificent cinemas.
A great collection of international art, plus major touring exhibitions. Entry to the permanent collection is free, but special exhibitions are ticketed.
1737 locals recommend
National Gallery of Victoria
180 St Kilda RdA great collection of international art, plus major touring exhibitions. Entry to the permanent collection is free, but special exhibitions are ticketed.
The second wing of the National Gallery of Victoria, at Federation Square, is dedicated to Australian work, including Indigenous. It's a must see.
128 locals recommend
The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia
Russell StreetThe second wing of the National Gallery of Victoria, at Federation Square, is dedicated to Australian work, including Indigenous. It's a must see.
The former home of John and Sunday Reed, Heide is a house, a gallery, a restaurant, a sculture park and a gorgeous kitchen garden in the middle of suburbia. Well worth the trip.
98 locals recommend
Heide Museum of Modern Art
7 Templestowe RdThe former home of John and Sunday Reed, Heide is a house, a gallery, a restaurant, a sculture park and a gorgeous kitchen garden in the middle of suburbia. Well worth the trip.
Entertainment & Activities
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is one of the world's great sports stadiums, and it hosts a lot more than just cricket. That's the chief sport in summer, but in winter it's all about Australian Rules Football. The atmosphere at a keenly contested AFL game is intense, ribald and a lot of fun - even if you have no idea what's happening on the field.
976 locals recommend
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Brunton AvenueThe Melbourne Cricket Ground is one of the world's great sports stadiums, and it hosts a lot more than just cricket. That's the chief sport in summer, but in winter it's all about Australian Rules Football. The atmosphere at a keenly contested AFL game is intense, ribald and a lot of fun - even if you have no idea what's happening on the field.
Built in 1936, this art-deco building is one of the last of the old picture palaces, and still operates as a single-screen venue. The mix of classics and new-release movies means there's always something worth catching on the enormous screen; check out the calendar online or in the flat for details.
145 locals recommend
The Astor Theatre
1 Chapel StBuilt in 1936, this art-deco building is one of the last of the old picture palaces, and still operates as a single-screen venue. The mix of classics and new-release movies means there's always something worth catching on the enormous screen; check out the calendar online or in the flat for details.
Shopping
No trip to Melbourne is complete without at least one traipse up and down this lengthy strip devoted to food and fashion. Start at the Windsor end and head north to Toorak Road; you might want to check out Greville Street (a microcosm of hipsterdom) and the Prahran Market (for fresh food) while you're at it.
458 locals recommend
Chapel Street
Chapel StreetNo trip to Melbourne is complete without at least one traipse up and down this lengthy strip devoted to food and fashion. Start at the Windsor end and head north to Toorak Road; you might want to check out Greville Street (a microcosm of hipsterdom) and the Prahran Market (for fresh food) while you're at it.
There's a Woolworths and a good fruit and veg shop and deli here and you can get pretty much door to door on the #5 tram. It doesn't have the appeal of Balaclava or Prahran, but it's probably easier to get to and from on public transport.
6 locals recommend
French Connection Malvern Central
110 - 122 Wattletree RoadThere's a Woolworths and a good fruit and veg shop and deli here and you can get pretty much door to door on the #5 tram. It doesn't have the appeal of Balaclava or Prahran, but it's probably easier to get to and from on public transport.