24 Hours in St Kilda

You’ve got one day to kill in Melbourne and you’re thinking about hitting St Kilda, the inner city hood named after a schooner … which in this case in an old wooden ship, not a beer drinking glass. You’re going to need an in-the-know St Kilda guide, so here you have it.

Beach Eats

St Kilda Beach is great, but if you’ve only got one day to tackle this suburb, you want to focus on the important things. That means stuffing your face and drinking like a fish, while glancing at the ocean.

A St Kilda guide wouldn’t be a St Kilda guide without mentioning the slick Stokehouse and the slightly more casual Republica. Two classy waterfront joints that boast laid back fine dining options, sunset-embracing beer gardens and wicked cocktail lists.

Tip: Check out Republica on Friday afternoons for $2 freshly shucked oysters.

Cheese Dreams

Milk The Cow is a late night fromagerie run by a group of delightfully gluttonous cheesemongers offering indulgent punters over 180 different types of the crumbly, bitey, stringy and soft cheese.

When you walk in you’ll be greeted by a six-metre long cheese cabinet and a wall of booze. Treat yourself to Australian and international cheese boards, hot pots, fondues and cakes, and match them with wine, beer, cider, whisky, sake or cognac.

Bars

There are just too many bars. Crawl around Bar Di Stasio, Uncle St Kilda, The Local Taphouse, Captain Baxter, Freddie Wimpoles, Mrs Hopper, Misery Guts, Cellar Bar, Laika, Dogs Bar and more until you can’t see. And decide for yourself.

Acland Street Sweet Treats

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, then Acland Street is going to be your jam. Much like the bar scene, there are sweets a-plenty. Set aside a few hours and throw the calorie counter into the bin – you’ve got a speed dating session with a cheesecake, vanilla slice, Kugelhoupf, banoffee pie, choccie tart and fruit boat.

Make note of the following – Acland Cake Shop, Le Bon Continental Cake Shop, Europa Cake Shop, Sister of Soul, Monarch.

Pop in to

If you’re in the mood for a traditional wood-fired bagel, Shtetl Bagels set up shop at Hank Marvin Markets every Saturday alongside over 40 other street food vendors. There is also The Esplanade Market, which caters to the arty and crafty among us.

This is where the St Kilda guide leaves you. Undo the top button and finish the day with a gig at the beautifully restored Palais Theatre. Built in 1927 as part of a turn-of-the-century entertainment district, the theatre has retained its original design and if it isn’t heritage listed, it damn well should be.

words by niall roeder