C&G on St Kilda's Best bars

Tips & Advice

If recent Bayside weather is anything to go by, Summer is not quite ready to relinquish her sunny grip on Melbourne yet! We suggest you celebrate these last mild weeks by grabbing a bunch of friends and enjoying some of the city’s quirkiest and most stylish bars located in delightful St. Kilda. In this week’s blog, C&G spotlights several of our favorite local venues and outlines how you can hop, skip and jump to enjoy them all.

How best to ‘hop’ St. Kilda’s best venues:

  • Gather together your nearest and dearest. We think four companions is a good number - and get ready to mix it up! Consider picking a range of different locations across the neighborhood so you can enjoy the full St. Kilda hospitality experience.
  • Plan ahead. Be prepared by making reservations or saving your ‘wish list’ destinations into Google maps. No one likes wasting valuable time in queues or traipsing feeling lost in their finest.
  • Watch the magic unfurl. Find a comfy spot at the bar so you can witness your bartender or host working their mixology skills. Feel free to talk to them and ask them for their food and drink recommendations. Nobody will know what's on offer quite like them – not even Yelp!
  • Snacks a priority. Remember to enjoy food, drink plenty of water and be merry. Stay energized and enjoy a safe and social time out with your friends by interspersing alcoholic beverages with water or soft drinks.

Remember to plan your adventure, have fun, be safe and make sure you have your way mapped out via public transport, tax or an Uber. Here are our recommendations on some legendary local legends!

Dog’s Bar

This venue is a St. Kilda institution, which is why it makes the top of our list. Established in 1989, Dog’s Bar champions wine, food, good company and great live music. Fun fact - they’re famous for their extensive wine list.

Milk the Cow

Offering over 150-180 local and imported cheeses at any given time, Milk the Cow is a great place to start the night. Consider indulging in one of their famous ‘flights’, which pairs anything from beer to sake with their best-matched cheeses.

The Espy

St Kilda’s beloved Esplanade Hotel has been lavishly restored, and now features 12 bars, three band stages and two restaurants. The new-look Espy is not to be missed on a tour of St Kilda’s best and most beautiful venues!

Bar Di Stasio

Famous for classic Italian fare, this bar is elegant but not intimidating. You can sip espresso at the bar for a pick-me-up and enjoy art adorning the walls – iconic Melbourne identity and Bar Di Stasio’s owner Ronnie has quite the collection.