New Openings in St Kilda 2026: Five Spots Worth Your Time
St Kilda’s hospitality scene has always had a revolving-door quality — places open, places close, and the ones that survive tend to be genuinely good. 2025 and early 2026 have brought a solid wave of new spots to the suburb, and we’ve done the legwork to tell you which ones are actually worth your time (and money).
Here’s what’s new, what’s worth visiting, and what we’re watching.
The Cat’s Kaka — Japanese-Fusion Brunch (Late 2025)
Where: 52 Acland Street What: Japanese-inflected brunch menu with dishes like miso scrambled eggs on shokupan ($19), matcha waffles with black sesame ice cream ($21), and a Japanese iced coffee ($6.50) that puts most Melbourne flat whites to shame. Vibe: Clean lines, light timber, minimal. Seats about 30. Feels like a Tokyo side-street cafe transplanted to Acland Street. Verdict: This is the real deal. The miso eggs alone are worth the inevitable Sunday queue. The kitchen is small and the menu is tight — everything we tried in two visits was excellent. Expect a 20-30 minute wait on weekends before 11am. Go at 10am on a weekday and you’ll walk straight in. The matcha waffles are worth a special mention — the black sesame ice cream melts into the warm waffle and creates a combination that’s savoury, sweet, and deeply satisfying.
Price point: Brunch for two with coffee runs about $55-$65. Affordable by St Kilda standards.
What to order first: Miso scrambled eggs, Japanese iced coffee, and share the matcha waffles if there’s two of you.
Limbo Cocktail Bar (Early 2025)
Where: 8 Acland Street What: A moody, intimate cocktail bar with a focus on live jazz and a short, sharp drinks list. Cocktails run $22-$28. The signature “Limbo Old Fashioned” (bourbon, smoked maple, Angostura) is outstanding. Wine from $14 a glass. Vibe: Low lighting, velvet banquettes, a tiny stage for the jazz trio that plays Friday and Saturday nights. No cover charge, but tables fill fast after 8pm. Verdict: Limbo fills a genuine gap in St Kilda’s nightlife. Before it, there wasn’t really a sophisticated late-night option between the Espy and the Fitzroy Street pubs. It’s not cheap, but the quality justifies the price. Book a table if you’re going Friday or Saturday — walk-ins are possible but you’ll be at the bar.
The room: Velvet banquettes in deep navy, brass light fixtures, exposed brick walls, and a small stage area cleverly integrated into the room. Seats about 45 total. The cocktail menu changes seasonally — the current list includes a smoky mezcal number ($26) and a pear-and-thyme spritz ($24) that’s lighter than it sounds.
The jazz: The Friday and Saturday night trio (piano, upright bass, saxophone) plays from 8:30pm to midnight. They lean into standards — Miles Davis, Coltrane, Ella — with occasional modern arrangements. The volume is conversation-friendly, which is a rare and welcome quality.
Price point: Two cocktails and a shared snack plate will run about $70-$80 for two.
Hot Chicken Project — St Kilda outpost (Late 2025)
Where: 212 Carlisle Street What: Nashville-style hot chicken with Melbourne attitude. Quarter bird with slaw and fries ($18), whole bird ($32), and a range of heat levels from “Country” (mild) to “Reaper” (the kind that makes your eyes water for an hour). Sides include mac and cheese ($8) and corn on the cob with chipotle butter ($7). Vibe: Loud, fast, casual. Bright orange branding, no bookings, order-at-counter. Seats about 40 inside with a small outdoor area. Music is hip-hop at a volume that says “this isn’t a cafe.” Verdict: Carlisle Street has been crying out for a solid casual dining option, and Hot Chicken Project delivers. The chicken is properly crispy, the heat levels are genuinely differentiated, and the prices are reasonable. Late-night hours on Friday and Saturday (until midnight) make it a post-bar standout.
The heat levels:
- Country (mild) — Buttermilk-brined, lightly seasoned. The safe play.
- Nashville (medium) — The classic. Cayenne-forward, builds steadily.
- Hot (hot) — Serious heat. You’ll sweat. Flavour still present underneath.
- Reaper (extreme) — Carolina Reaper-based. They make you sign a waiver. We’re not joking.
The sides: The mac and cheese ($8) is baked with a crispy breadcrumb top. The corn ($7) comes with chipotle butter and cotija cheese. The coleslaw ($5) is vinegar-based, cutting the richness of the chicken perfectly. Build a plate of a quarter bird, mac and cheese, and slaw for $31.
Price point: Quarter bird meal deal with sides: $25-$30 per person. Whole bird to share (feeds 3-4): $32 plus sides.
Baked. — Artisan Bakery (Early 2026)
Where: 67 Fitzroy Street What: Sourdough, pastries, and a small but excellent toastie menu. The twice-baked almond croissant ($7.50) is flaky and rich and worth getting up early for. A full sourdough loaf is $9. Vibe: Minimal, airy, good natural light. A few tables inside. Feels like it belongs in Collingwood but has found a home on Fitzroy Street. Verdict: It’s early days but the quality is obvious. The bakers start at 3am and by 7am the display is full. By 11am on weekends, the almond croissants are gone. Go early. The sourdough loaf ($9) is a genuine everyday bread — thick blistered crust, open slightly tangy crumb, and it keeps well for three days.
The toastie: Don’t sleep on the toastie menu. The ham, cheese, and pickle ($14) is served on their own sourdough with proper sharp cheddar and house-made pickle. There’s also a seasonal special that rotates weekly — we tried a roasted tomato and gruyere version that was excellent.
The space: Bright, minimal, about 10 seats inside and a small bench out front. Large front windows, bare concrete walls, a single shelf of bread loaves displayed like art. The focus is on what comes out of the oven, not the decor.
Price point: Coffee and a pastry: $12-$15. Toastie and coffee: $20. Bread and butter to take home: $12.
Things We’re Watching
Unnamed wine bar on Barkly Street — There’s a fitout underway at the old hairdresser site between 80-90 Barkly Street. No signage, no social media yet. Locals are speculating natural wine bar. We’ll update when we know more.
Carlisle Street precinct renewal — The City of Port Phillip has approved streetscape upgrades for Carlisle Street between Hotham and Clarendon. Expect wider footpaths, new street trees, and improved lighting. Timeline is late 2026 completion.
The Espy kitchen rebrand — The Esplanade Hotel has quietly been revamping its food offering. The bistro space is getting a refresh and the menu is shifting toward more modern Australian with a seafood focus. No official launch date, but locals have noticed the change.
Acland Street gelato laboratory — Reports of a new gelato laboratory opening in the old newsagent space on Acland Street. If true, it fills a gap — St Kilda has plenty of cake shops but no dedicated artisan gelato producer.
Fitzroy Street activation — The City of Port Phillip is running a trial of weekend footpath dining activations on Fitzroy Street between Carlisle and The Esplanade. If successful, this could bring new pop-up food vendors and extended trading hours.
FAQ
What’s the best new opening in St Kilda right now? The Cat’s Kaka on Acland Street for brunch, and Limbo on Acland Street for evening cocktails. Both fill genuine gaps in what was available before.
Are these places likely to last? The five we’ve listed all show signs of staying power — strong execution, clear concepts, and growing word-of-mouth. Hot Chicken Project has already built a late-night following on Carlisle Street.
Where should I go if I only try one new place? The Cat’s Kaka if you’re a morning person. Limbo if you’re an evening person. Hot Chicken Project if you’re a midnight person.
How do I find out about new openings? Follow @melbz101 on Instagram for weekly updates. Local Facebook groups (St Kilda Community, Fitzroy Street Traders) also catch openings early.
The Verdict
St Kilda’s 2025-2026 new openings represent a genuine step up. The Cat’s Kaka brings something completely new to Acland Street’s brunch scene. Limbo fills the cocktail-bar gap the suburb didn’t know it had. Hot Chicken Project gives Carlisle Street a late-night identity. Baked. adds artisan bread to Fitzroy Street. Each one fills a specific hole in the suburb’s hospitality offering rather than duplicating what already exists, and that’s the mark of a food scene that’s maturing rather than just growing.
Read next: St Kilda Nightlife Guide | St Kilda Late-Night Food | St Kilda Neighbourhood Guide
Explore More of St Kilda
- St Kilda History
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- St Kilda Cocktails
- St Kilda Cheap Eats
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