St Kilda: This seaside suburb has much more to offer than the beach

If mention of St Kilda brings to mind only the beach, you’d be forgiven. But this seaside suburb has more to offer.

It’s easy to spend a day here on foot, with a variety of food in close proximity and plenty of Victorian-style architecture to admire along the way.

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There are many cafes and bakeries to start your day. Woodfrog Bakery’s first outpost is still running on Barkly Street, where you can’t go wrong with a baguette or croissant.

On Acland Street, Black Star Pastry is serving up Instagrammable treats, including its famed strawberry-watermelon cake, which tastes as good as it looks.

For something more filling, Galleon is the place to be on a weekend. Expect to wait for a table, but you’re sure to make a few friends in line. If you’re there after 11am, be sure to order the salad sandwich.

If it’s summer, the beach is an obvious place to spend the afternoon. But during the cooler months, head to Linden New Art, a contemporary gallery set in a Victorian mansion. Exhibitions change frequently, so there’s really no limit to how many times you can visit.

There’s also the Jewish Museum of Australia on Alma Road, often home to workshops and activities alongside its exhibitions.

At night, head to one of St Kilda’s most exciting new openings – star chef Karen Martini’s Saint George. Set in the historical Saint Hotel, you have two spaces to choose between: The Grill, which features a flame-forward menu, or The Tavern, a more casual option serving up pub-style plates.

The latter is an ideal spot for a pre-dinner cocktail or a quick feed, but if you’re after Martini’s lauded bistecca alla Fiorentina, you’ll want to reserve a table at The Grill.

There’s also Stokehouse (and its casual little sister, Stokehouse Pasta & Bar), a new DOC outpost, Cafe Di Stasio and Radio Mexico. Locals also flock to St Kilda institution Cicciolina for homey Italian fare.

Round off the evening with a nightcap at The Espy – bonus points if you can find your way to its hidden bar, the Ghost of Alfred Felton.

This article first appeared in Domain Review, in partnership with Broadsheet.