OTHER COUNTRIES: WHERE TO EAT IN ST KILDA WITH KIDS (MELBOURNE)

WHERE TO EAT WITH KIDS IN ST KILDA ?

This is just my St Kilda, Melbourne, kid-friendly list – see here for full list of where we like to eat with our kids in other parts of Melbourne. And if you’re looking for our favourite things to do in Melbourne as a family?- Read here.

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.)

Fish tacos (Fried fish in the front and grilled fish in the back) and a tofu taco at Radio Mexico

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.

Piccolina Gelateria on Acland Street is so good. Card only transactions here. Only open from midday until late.

Piccolina Gelateria. I got salted caramel. You can also choose if you’d like whipped cream or nutella on top.

Piccolina Gelateria. Passionfruit, salted caramel and white chocolate flavours.

St Kilda Sea Baths complex is a great place to have lunch or dinner with kids.
My kids also love all of the statues around the complex. We especially like Republica

Please note that a walk along the St Kilda pier is very easy to do from most of my St Kilda (and some of my Middle Park) 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!!!
Although not the most “lovely” option, there is a public toilet at the end of the pier.

The end of St Kilda Pier. The penguin viewing deck is just to the left and the walk down to the Marina entrance to the right.

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.

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.

Donovans, St Kilda. That’s St Kilda Beach that you can see out the back there.

Being served the chicken pie at the table at Donovans, St Kilda.

The chicken pie at Donovans. It is served into the pastry casing at the table.

Further away from the national theatre and the pier in St Kilda: We LOVE this English gastro pub. It is called The Lion & Wombat. The food is so good – warning- their Sunday roast is SO popular that you need to book at least one month ahead. But for a normal meal out – you can just make a reservation easily on OpenTable. They are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. With kids, I recommend driving here or taking a cab – the area is a bit seedy so I, personally, don’t feel comfy walking around this restaurant area most times of the day – especially with kids. But the restaurant itself is SOOOO lovely that we keep going back and back. It sounds like a random recommendation but the mushrooms on toast here is AMAZING – as is the sticky date pudding. Wednesday night is steak night. This restaurant is kind of “nice dinner out” vibes so I don’t recommend coming here with kids unless they are able to sit still at the table for the whole meal.
They don’t have a kids menu but can do a half portion roast on Sundays for kids who are 12 or younger ($15.)

The Lion & Wombat, St Kilda. This was Wednesday Steak Night.

A scotch egg as an appetizer at The Lion & Wombat, St Kilda.

Banoffee Pie. It’s yummy but the sticky toffee pudding is to DIE FOR!
Lion & Wombat, St Kilda.

The Fish of the Day. This was the Grilled Swordfish on a mediterranean salad. It was light and summery.

The sausage roll appetiser at Lion & Wombat.

Further away from the national theatre and the pier in St Kilda: For a cafe with a playground, I recommend Cowderoys’s Dairy (lunch and breakfast only.) See the Cowderoy’s Dairy menu here – they have a kids menu and also babychinos. The playground isn’t part of the restaurant but is directly behind/connected to the outdoor seating section.

The swings at the playground next to/connected to Cowderoy’s Dairy.

The West Beach Bathers Pavilion also is literally on the beach (well, the outdoor seating is.) This is a hot spot to sit in summer but on a mild day, kids can bring sand toys and everyone can sit under umbrellas.

West Beach Bathers Pavilion with my in-laws from Scotland.

An adventure playground
13 mins drive from these St Kilda restaurants is one of our favourite adventure playgrounds.
Booran Reserve. There is a water splash area, flying fox, massive climbing tower, basketball court etc.

NOT FAR FROM ST KILDA
Another recommendation that is 9 mins drive in St Kilda or 8 mins drive from Brighton is Elwood Bathers.
This is a “special event” restaurant for our family (because of the vibes or the prices.) My husband and I like coming here for lunch and the kids often ask to come here for the night of their birthdays. The kids menu at Elwood Bathers has a number of options (including spiders/ice-cream floats.). The kids menu is for kids who are 10 or younger but they don’t mind if your kids are just a few years older. The kids’ pasta portions are nice and generous. Personally, as it is a “nicer” restaurant, I wouldn’t bring kids here that can’t sit still at the table – although I still do bring a card game or colouring for my kids to keep them entertained while we wait for our meal.
For adult meals, the prices are around 40-50 dollars per main. Don’t hold back on the sides as they are often my favourite! I love how we can sit and look at the water here.

Elwood Bathers’ risotto (and I’ve chucked some of the greens and potatoes from the sides menu on top – because I’m fancy like that!) The red drink is my daughter’s raspberry lemonade.

The Barramundi and the kids’ pasta – oh and my daughter playing Top Trumps Musical Edition (I speak more about “restaurant toys” here.

Elwood Bathers. If you know me, you know how much I love a potato cake!

Elwood Bathers. This was us celebrating a family birthday.

My kids jumping the waves at Elwood Beach (literally just outside Elwood Bathers.)

This is just my St Kilda, Melbourne, kid-friendly list – see here for full list of where we like to eat with our kids in other parts of Melbourne. And if you’re looking for our favourite things to do in Melbourne as a family?- Read here.

Remember that, when in St Kilda- you are also close to my family-friendly dining options in Port Melbourne, South Melbourne and Albert Park (and not too far from the Melbourne CBD either.)