The Vineyard @ St Kilda

Since 1972, The Vineyard @ St Kilda has been a local lodestar — an original that wears its history with easy charm. Part restaurant, part bar, and all heart, it hums with live music and the convivial spirit of St Kilda, drawing regulars and first-timers to its prime position for good times and great food.

In the kitchen, classic European influences meet modern Melbourne sensibility. Piccolo plates set the tone: Italian meatballs in rich sugo with a snowy drift of parmesan and warm ciabatta, or delicate beef carpaccio lifted by salsa verde and micro herbs. It is food that balances comfort with finesse, designed for lingering conversations and a glass in hand.

Grande appetites are well served. A 300g prime King Island eye fillet arrives poised on a crouton with creamed leeks, broccolini and a lustrous jus — a nod to impeccable produce handled with restraint. Equally inviting, pappardelle salsiccia twirls through a traditional pork and fennel sausage ragu, finished with pecorino for a softly savoury finale.

Come for the heritage, stay for the atmosphere: the warm thrum of live music, the friendly bustle, and plates that feel both familiar and fresh. Book a table, settle in, and taste a slice of St Kilda history — ripe for the picking.