Want to know the best bars in St Kilda Melbourne?
St. Kilda is one of Melbourne’s most popular and iconic nightlife areas. Its eclectic mix of beach vibes and lively streets is complemented by an artistic spirit. The best St Kilda bars offer a variety of experiences to suit every mood. The vibrant bars in the neighbourhood reflect its coastal charm, with each having its twist. You’ll be able to find a place where you can relax, socialise and enjoy expertly made drinks. If you are in St Kilda to visit our fairy penguins, afterwards you may want a snack or a refreshing drink. Here is a list of places we love!
The best bars of St Kilda offer a memorable evening. From rooftop bars with panoramic views to intimate cocktail lounges that are hidden behind unassuming doorways, these bars promise an unforgettable night. The buzzing St Kilda nightlife will impress you whether you are a local, a tourist, or both. Innovative bartenders create creative cocktails, while local favourites pour refreshing craft beers. If you want to experience the nightlife in St Kilda, then explore the best bars in St Kilda. Great drinks, music and atmosphere are waiting for you.
Discovering the Best Bars in St Kilda, Melbourne
1. Fifth Province Irish Pub
Visit The Fifth Province Irish Pub in St Kilda to experience a taste of Ireland.
You’d swear you were in a pub on Shop Street in Galway, or O’Connell Street in Dublin. The walls are covered with framed Guinness posters that feature the old slogan “My Goodness, My Guinness”. There is also a wine list, an Irish cocktail menu, and a variety of craft beers available on tap.
The pub offers a variety of weekly specials, including what they call the best Happy Hours in Melbourne. From Monday to Thursday, from 4-6 pm, you can enjoy $7 house wine, spirits and pints. Live music is also available most evenings during the week.
Menu features contemporary pub food and Irish classics, which highlight Victoria’s seasonal products. The lesser-known Irish staple of the chicken fillet rolls is available alongside the braised beef with Guinness pie, and McDonnell’s Chicken Curry — the preferred curry in the land where saints and scholars live. Wednesdays from 11am are Parma Day, with house-made chicken Parmas for $20 and Thursdays from 11am are $25 steak days.
2. Prince Public Bar
Prince Public Bar, the street-level bar of this multi-venue venue that opened in 2019, is probably best known. Iva Foschia of IF Architecture has reimagined the expansive space, while respecting the building’s art deco roots. The space is filled with light and spacious, and the oval bar at its heart offers access to the lobby of the hotel and the Prince Dining Room.
Prince Public Bar is known for its beers but a new kitchen means that it can now cater to all appetites, from breakfast through dinner, every day. From 7am, you can fuel up on dishes like chilli and cheese eggs, mushroom shashshuka or honeycomb and vanilla pancakes with vanilla mascarpone, lemon balm and honeycomb. Niccolo coffees, superfoods smoothies, and fresh juices are a far cry from the late-night visits that were once common.
The kitchen also offers a wide range of classic counter meals, such as chicken schnitzel, wagyu on polenta, and sweet and sour fried cauliflower.
The booze hasn’t been forgotten — there’s a wide range of beers on tap, classic drinks like old-fashioneds and negronis, as well as a wine list that’s dominated by Australian wines. The happy hour is from 5-7pm on weekdays and includes $8 schooners as well as basic drinks, including glasses of wine.
3. Republica
Iconic St Kilda Bar & restaurant, located on the beachfront. Republica is much more than a bar or restaurant. It’s a destination that captures St Kilda’s relaxed coastal lifestyle. It’s the ideal place to relax, socialise and create lasting memories.
4. Fat Lulu’s Pizza and Bar
You need not look any further if you are looking for a pizzeria in Barkly Street. We bring the best of Italian cuisine to the South-Eastern suburbs. Our dough and pasta are made in-house. We also offer a variety of toppings, traditional sauces, and gourmet pizzas. You can choose from our Aussie Pizza – made with egg, bacon and ham – or the traditional 4-cheese special. We also offer gnocchi, carbonara, ravioli, or gorgonzola gnocchi. Come and visit us at 192 Barkly Street to enjoy our delicious food. We look forward to seeing you.
Fat Lulu’s is a casual dining restaurant located in St Kilda. It focuses on offering unique experiences to locals and tourists. The Italian and Australian flavours of our menu and store enhance the experience that St Kilda eateries offer.
5. ST KILDA IDDY BIDDY BAR
Iddy Biddy, a funky and comfortable bar located in the heart St Kilda. Iddy Biddy is open seven days a week, for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Iddy Biddy is a great place to spend time with family and friends.
Iddy Biddy is serving St Kilda’s community with quality food and drinks since 2008. Iddy Biddy has a reputation for providing value for money, consistent quality, great taste, and generous portions.
6. Red Eye Bar
The bar is tucked away in a quiet area, but it has a lively atmosphere with affordable drinks and nightly entertainment.
Red Eye, often considered a “backpacker bar” and a student bar, is home to an array of events that welcome all people.
The world-famous ‘Big Willy’s Bingo’ is held every Monday, and hundreds of people attend to win cash prizes, free accommodations, trips along the Great Ocean Road, and much more. Red Eye hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including Trivia, Beer Pong and live music, as well as DJs and Happy Hours.
7. Vineyard Bar & Restaurant
This is a must-visit if you want to experience St Kilda’s original local establishments, with their authentic history, delicious food, live music, and prime location.
This venue is a prime location for dining with their Vineyard cocktail.
The Iodice Brothers, Johnny, Alex and Adrian, opened The Vineyard Restaurant, a restaurant in St Kilda, Australia in 1999. They quickly established a reputation for being a popular place in St Kilda, both among locals as well as tourists. The Vineyard has been serving St Kilda for 22 years. Johnny and Alex still sail this small boat seven days a week.
8. Harvey’s Sports Bar
Harvey’s Sports Bar & Grill, located in the heart of St Kilda, is the perfect place to enjoy a great time with family and friends. Harvey’s is the perfect place to celebrate any event or cheer on your favorite team. Enjoy a delicious menu, tasty drinks, and a range of rooms that can accommodate groups of any size. Get in touch with us today to immerse yourself in all the action!
9. Espy Main Bar
The Main Bar offers a wide selection of pub classics, including stone-baked burgers, pizzas, and tasty seaside snacks. You can also satisfy your thirst with a cocktail menu inspired by the coast, a wine list that has been specially curated & a selection of tap beer.
10. The Nelson Rum Bar
A cheeky group of merrymakers are drinking rums from around the globe just up the road from the beach. Brendan Drinan, Sasha Noble and their brother-in-law shook the idea for years and brought it to fruition when they put up the “For Lease’ sign on their dream Acland Street location.
The bar offers a wide selection of rums, including those from Trinidad, Martinique and Barbados. Nelson Mojito, with white pepper-infused Rum, lime zest and mint with orange blossom Water, is a great drink for a hot summer day.
Shared plates of sticky pork wings, chicken wings with southern spices and seafood paella make for an excellent light meal or snack. The decor is nautical with recycled pier and pylons forming the communal bar, and a painted giant octopus stretching his tentacles along the barnacle-coloured wall.
What about the name of the bar? Noble, while rum-tasting, came across the story of Lord Nelson. A sailor who was known for his luck in battles and finally defeated at sea. His good fortunes were preserved in a barrel of rum. To share his good fortune, the sailors punched holes in the barrel and drank rum while cheering “to Nelson’s Blood”.
11. The Lion & Wombat
The Lion & Wombat is a company that wears its influences proudly. The first thing that you will see when looking through the window is a large Union Jack. Above the door, a coat of arms with the two animals is displayed. This pub is a little slice of England Down Under, from the decor and menu to the quiet location.
The menu is perfect for those who want a taste of England or a home-cooked meal. The menu was curated by husband and wife Alex Back and Sophie Machin, who were heavily influenced from Back’s experience managing pubs in the UK and here.
You can expect British favorites like soft-boiled eggs wrapped in sausage and breadcrumbed, and deep-fried Scotch eggs. You’ll feel like you are in London or Edinburgh and not in a pub on a street corner in St Kilda. The polished interiors feature a sunroom, and there is a beer garden at the back.
There is a large drinks menu. There are more than 30 wines on the menu (mostly white and red, but with some rosé and bubbles thrown in) and a variety of local beers, including Wombat Draught, which is made by Stomping Ground. The British influence is also evident in the cocktail menu, with the Paddington (made with marmalade, whiskey, and ginger) and Cuppa Tea made from jasmine infused gin and peach.
12. Freddie Wimpoles
Established in 1857, the George Hotel is a significant part of St Kilda’s history. Liam Ganley transformed it into Freddie Wimpoles. He fitted out the 150-seater space with dark timbers and a wall of beer cans.
You can choose from a variety of seating options, including communal tables for large groups, four-seater squares for something more intimate and bar tables or stools for just a few drinks.
The main product is beer. The name Freddie Wimpoles pays homage to Frederick Wimpole, who bought The George in Melbourne in 1873 and became Mayor of St Kilda, Victoria in 1886. He was also director of Melbourne Co-operative Brewing Company, now Carlton & United Breweries, in the late 1800s.
The taps rotate 12 beers – both local and foreign – every hour. There is also a wide selection of canned and bottled brews. There are 180 different spirits available if you do not like beer.
The drink menu is complemented by an American-style deli featuring subs, hot dogs and sandwiches. The menu includes a Reuben classic and the Traditional French Dip, a roast beef and horseradish with beef juice to dip. There’s also a vegetarian sub made with roasted peppers, Swiss mushrooms and vintage cheddar.
13. Chronicles Bar
Chronicles, a watering hole with a lot of light and a welcoming atmosphere for locals of all backgrounds, is the perfect place to unwind. The bar is run by Loc Fortune, Justin Lustman and Tom’s Liquor Merchants. They met at The Toff Curtin House.
The duo created a space which felt both casual and intimate. The timber-clad, brick-walled bar has bifold doors and exposed brick walls that lead to a relaxed terrace. Locals gather on Fitzroy Street to have a drink after work or to catch up with family and friends. At the same table, you’ll often find multiple generations.
Local focus is also reflected in the drinks menu which features independent Victorian breweries. Burnley Brewing and Love Shack, as well as Bodriggy are likely to be on the list. Victorian wines, both traditional and lo-fi, are abundant. Italian drinks are also included to add a foreign touch.
Chronicles is an authentic St Kilda institution. You can even order food from nearby restaurants to be delivered right to your seat. It’s a great reason to stay.
14. The Walrus
The Walrus was named after the Beatles’ song. The Alps is the brainchild of Amy McGouldrick and Marty Webster, business partners and friends (Toorak Cellars, Milton Wine Shop, The Moon Trader House, and The Moon). They serve oysters, bar snacks and lesser-known wines to regulars and travelers alike.
Webster is also a chef and keeps the menu light. Expect rotating pintxos like gildas scrawled onto a mirror. Also, expect a variety of oysters, canned seafood, tuna, tartare, and a delicate lobster and prawn sandwich without a crust.
Bottles are just as accessible as glasses. Webster is always on the lookout for lesser-known grapes and lesser-known regions. For example, vinho verde in Minho from Portugal.
The couple’s eclectic collection of records is a great accompaniment to the wine sessions. The space is bright and has a yellow color scheme, thanks to the yellow walls, curtains and art, as well as glasses filled with golden Muscadet. Webster and McGouldrick have created a relaxed, homey vibe.