An interior shot at St Ali showing the main room full of people
Photograph: Graham Denholm

South Melbourne area guide

The best restaurants, bars, shops and events in South Melbourne
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Lest you only make the trek occasionally to visit South Melbourne Market, let us tell you, there's a whole lot more to South Melbourne, from St Ali and Chez Dre for coffee, to Lûmé for dinner and Bibelot for dessert.

South Melbourne highlights

St Ali
Restaurants

St Ali

  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • price 1 of 4

The best restaurants in South Melbourne

Lucia
Restaurants

Lucia

  • 5 out of 5 stars
Where haute cuisine meets honest comfort, Lucia strips away pretence while preserving excellence
Half Acre
Restaurants

Half Acre

  • 4 out of 5 stars
The wood-fire grill burns bright at this glass-domed beauty in South Melbourne
O'Connell's Centenary Hotel
Restaurants

O'Connell's Centenary Hotel

  • 3 out of 5 stars
And for its latest trick, O’Connell’s Centenary Hotel has become an insta-portal to Old Blighty. Bring on the onion bhajis…
Austro Bakery
Restaurants

Austro Bakery

  • 4 out of 5 stars
South Melbourne is alive with the sound of Krapfen, strudels and more at this Austrian-inspired bakery.
St Ali
Restaurants

St Ali

  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • price 1 of 4
A new chef is yet another reason to spend all your time and money at St Ali South
Bibelot
Restaurants

Bibelot

  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • price 1 of 4
Bibelot dishes up cakes and confectionary so couture, you’ll want to walk out wearing them
The Kettle Black
Restaurants

The Kettle Black

  • 3 out of 5 stars
The goal-kicking team behind Top Paddock has flung open the doors to a fresh new café in South Melbourne. It’ll look fab in your Instagram feed
Tempura Hajime
Restaurants

Tempura Hajime

  • 4 out of 5 stars
Tiny, hidden and serving elegant cuisine, Hajime ticks all the best of Japan boxes
Lûmé
Restaurants

Lûmé

  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • price 3 of 4
OK, adventure-hounds. You want something out of the box? Lûmé is just the ticket
James
Restaurants

James

  • 5 out of 5 stars
From a Covid-19 pivot to one of South Melbourne's quiet overachievers – James presents a near-faultless menu

The best bars in South Melbourne

Woodsyard
Bars

Woodsyard

  • 4 out of 5 stars
This neighbourhood wine bar is where you’ll find drops of natural wine and some serious sourdough pizzas

More great venues in South Melbourne

South Melbourne Market
Shopping

South Melbourne Market

Pick up fresh produce, locally designed goods and gourmet treats at one of Melbourne's biggest markets
EQ
Health and beauty

EQ

A first-of-its-kind bathing and meditation experience for those looking to escape the chaos and stresses of daily life
Body Freedom Urban Spa Retreat
Health and beauty

Body Freedom Urban Spa Retreat

Body Freedom is exactly what its name suggests; freeing the knots from your muscles and the strains from your daily lives to leave you in a state of complete...
Mine Escape
Things to do

Mine Escape

The makers of Melbourne's original puzzle room open a new, nail-biting escape adventure