Where to eat and what to see before a show at the National Theatre in St Kilda with kids?
Here is my list of places to eat and what to see with kids right before seeing a show at the National Theatre in St Kilda.
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**Just something to note when you visit the National Theatre in St Kilda with kids**
It’s an old theatre so there are hardly any toilets here which means there are LONG lines at interval. DEFINITELY get kids to go before the show and then make a mad dash for the bathrooms at the start of interval if they need to go.**
PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
WHERE TO PARK WHEN VISITING THE NATIONAL THEATRE IN ST KILDA WITH KIDS?
We always park at the Acland Court Car Park just a few hundred metres walk from the theatre. You need to park in the general parking section (a couple of the spots are only for the Coles customers but they are clearly marked.).
If you prefer street parking, if you park outside the St Kilda Wine and Spirits after 6:30pm it’s free parking (no parking before 6:30pm though as it is a clearway on weekdays.) It is 4 mins walk from the theatre.
WHERE TO EAT WHEN VISITING THE NATIONAL THEATRE IN ST KILDA WITH KIDS?
The Village Belle Hotel (the garden bar – it’s indoors – like a big garden atrium.) No seedy vibes inside & the Garden Bar is family friendly and there is someone playing live music most nights. Service is a bit slow so order via QR code as soon as you get there. This is 3-4 mins walk from the National Theatre.
Flour Child for pizza (5 mins walk from the National Theatre.)
Flour Child is a pizza and pasta place a few steps from Luna Park. I would avoid this place for brunch or lunch on weekends as they have lots of bottomless brunch events going on and it can get a bit messy. However, it is great for a family meal not far from the beach. The venue is really cute. The full Flour Child menu is here.
Radio Mexico (3 mins walk from The National Theatre.)
Radio Mexico is just a min or so walk from Luna Park and the beachfront. Best to book via their website and choose indoor or outdoor seating. Very vibey, lots of different options. Really good food. They have high chairs here. This is also just a few minutes walk from the National Theatre (we love checking out musicals here.)
Piccolina Gelateria (4 mins walk from the National Theatre)
The Gelato here is so good. Card only transactions here.
Donovans ( 10 mins walk from the National Theatre)
For a special meal out, we love Donovans. It is just across the road from Luna Park and the Palais. The food here is ALWAYS good.
The vibes inside are like a fancy country club – which is why it is mostly family dinners, dates and corporate gatherings. They do welcome kids here but kids do need to be able to stay in their seats for the meal. My husband and his side of the family order the chicken pie here every time. I also recommend ordering the Bombe Alaska for dessert. You will definitely need a reservation here. See the Donovans menu here to see if it matches your budget for lunch or dinner. There is not a kids menu here.
Republica next to the beach is always a good time – it is a little over 10 mins walk to the theatre though. This restaurant means that kids can play on the grass while they wait for their food too.
St Kilda Sea Baths complex is a great place to have lunch or dinner with kids. Republica is one of the restaurants here.
My kids also love all of the statues around the complex. We especially likeRepublica
Please note that a walk along the St Kilda pier (23 mins walk to the very far end of the pier from the National Theatre) is very easy to do from most of my St Kilda (and some of my Middle Park) restaurant recommendations. It’s an easy, flat walk for kids and, during the day, there is an open fish’n’chip shop/cafe at the end and a Mr Whippy van (open into later in the evenings.) The pier is also stroller friendly. There is also a swimming spot at the end (a bit deep for little kids though) AND a penguin viewing deck for the evenings!!! Read about the penguin viewing pier in St Kilda here.
Although not the most “lovely” option, there is a public toilet at the end of the pier.
Walk on further for along the beach for a 30 min evening walk to Port Ormond from St Kilda. Port Ormond has a beautiful view of the bay and the Melbourne city skyline.
The National Theatre is also just 6 mins drive (or 40 mins walk – but drive so you can drive along it, of course!) from the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit. You can pair it with a walk around Albert Park Lake.
Albert Park Lake is a beautiful place to run or take a family walk on a sunny day. If you folllow the track all the way around, it is a 5km round trip. If you’re in a car you can also drive the Grand Prix track around the lake too.
Brother Shota (8 mins drive from the National Theatre St Kilda) is this cozy and beautiful Japanese restaurant in Albert Park. It’s quite popular so you will definitely need a reservation. These guys welcome families. At risk of sounding like a complete food snob – as someone who has lived in Japan for more than 13 years I wouldn’t call this authentic Japanese but I would call it Japanese food with an Aussie twist.
1 min walk from Brother Shota or 4 mins walk from Plum Garland Playground (pics below) is Frozen Yoghurt and Acai bowl shop Crumb Get Some. They have way more toppings to choose from compared to Yochi. There is also a small fenced playground right next door (my kids loved this playground as babies but also as bigger kids now too!) It’s called Danks Street Play Space. I used to come here lots when I had a toddler and baby as the fence meant that I didn’t have to worry that my toddler was running onto the road while I was tending to the baby.
Or 3 mins walk from Crumb Get Some or 4 mins walk from Dundas & Faussett and the Albert Park shops is an iconic Melbourne ice-cream shop called Jock’s Ice-cream. It’s random but I really love the licorice flavoured ice-cream here.
And we also love Dundas & Faussett for breakfast or lunch. Perfect for before a matinee at the National Theatre. This restaurant is just 9 mins drive from the National Theatre, St Kilda. This restaurant has outdoor and indoor seating. I love it here so so much – especially on a nice warm day. This restaurant has high chairs. Go to St Vincents Gardens playground afterwards – it’s so lovely there. Albert Park Library is also just 2 mins walk away – they have a fabulous storytime for kids.
Just a few doors down from Dundas & Faussett is a stunning florist called The Green Room Flower Shop.
In my opinion, the best take-out sushi and bentos in Melbourne, Moonfishh. This spot is 8 mins drive from The National Theatre (when it’s not peak hour.) Please note that this sushi spot closes at 7pm most nights. These guys do handrolls, pokebowls and salads (sashimi or fried tofu) and also Japanese bentos. They also do catering (big sushi platters etc.) See the Moonfishh website here. You can read all about Moonfishh, Albert Park on Tripadvisor here. You could buy this and then drive down to the beach at the end of Victoria Ave or the Plum Garland Memorial Playground to eat it !
They have high chairs here and it’s common to see parents sitting outside with kids for morning tea or lunch. After lunch at Moonfishh, you can go to Albert Park Library to check out their children’s kids book section or visit St Vincents Gardens playground (have a sushi picnic here!!!!!)
Sandbar is 8 mins from the National Theatre, St Kilda by car (when it isn’t peak hour.)
And for a cafe literally on the beach (kids can make sandcastles next to the table or dip their feet in the water while you watch) I recommend Sandbar. This is probably my favourite place to have a brekkie outside on a lovely hot day in Melbourne – especially when we have visitors from overseas.
Read about Sandbar on Tripadvisor here. Please note that it closes at 7pm most nights.
The Cricketers in Port Melbourne is one of my favourite pubs in Melbourne. It is 10 mins drive from the National Theatre Melbourne (when it isn’t peak hour.). I recommend sitting out in the courtyard with kids. It’s also a great place to bring international guests and show them a vibey neighbourhood aussie pub.
PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Going to Her Majesty’s Theatre to see a show instead? Here are my recommendations for where to eat and what to see with kids beforehand or afterwards.
