Eating Out
You are truly spoilt for choice when it comes to eating in St Kilda, with over 100 eating-out venues available. The main streets in this area, Acland and Fitzroy Streets, have every type of take-away and restaurant. On Fitzroy Street, you can really see a contrast with upmarket restaurants with white table cloths rubbing shoulders with fish and chip takeaways. Depending on your budget, you are spoilt for choice. There are many cafes and restaurants favoured by locals hidden away in adjoining streets. Barkly St has Il Forniao - excellent pizza, and Claypots is a fantastic 'roll your sleeves up' type fresh fish restaurant. Acland St is noteworthy for its mouthwatering pastries.
St Kilda locals and Melbournians from neighbouring suburbs all cruise to the many cafes in the area, especially on weekends, for coffee and breakfast which is often served all day. Cafe Racer (Marine Parade) and Leroys (Acland St) have the locals nod midweek, Fringe and Vibe (Acland St) are always busy with weekend visitors and tourists due to their great location for People watching.
Another great location is the Vineyard. If you can put up with the 'too cool for school' attitude and lack of interest from the bar and waiting staff at this venue, you are likely to have an enjoyable afternoon sitting on the terrace when it is sunny. The Vineyard has an enviable location beside a park full or Grand Canaries palm trees beside Luna Park. Sunday evenings are usually packed with the remnants of weekend parties who are partying on to a DJ.
East St Kilda and Caulfield are home to a vibrant Jewish communities, and kosher bakeries and cafes abound.