What the engine says about St Kilda
Demand 9/10: coastal premium with strong tourist and residential mix.
Demand 9/10: coastal premium with strong tourist and residential mix.
Seasonality 4/10: summer peaks 40% above winter; operators must plan for trough months.
Demand
9/10
Rent pressure
6/10 (lower is better)
Competition
5/10 (lower is better)
Top 10 restaurants in St Kilda
Ranked by success score (Google rating, review volume, prominence) within ~1000m of the suburb centre — not a directory browse, but incumbents worth studying before you open.
★★★★☆ 4.4 (3,629 reviews)
Strong 4.4★ average with solid review depth — customers actively recommend this restaurant. Likely the benchmark incumbent new entrants are measured against.
★★★★½ 4.6 (1,951 reviews)
Consistently high ratings (4.6★) backed by 1,951 reviews signal repeat demand.
★★★★☆ 4.3 (3,042 reviews)
Strong 4.3★ average with solid review depth — customers actively recommend this restaurant. Central position captures pass-by and destination traffic.
4. Topolino's
★★★★☆ 4.4 (2,154 reviews)
Strong 4.4★ average with solid review depth — customers actively recommend this restaurant.
5. Sister of Soul
★★★★☆ 4.3 (2,065 reviews)
Strong 4.3★ average with solid review depth — customers actively recommend this restaurant. Central position captures pass-by and destination traffic.
6. Donovans
★★★★½ 4.5 (1,332 reviews)
Consistently high ratings (4.5★) backed by 1,332 reviews signal repeat demand. Premium price tier ($$$$) with strong review depth — customers accept higher spend here.
7. Stokehouse St Kilda
★★★★☆ 4.2 (1,712 reviews)
Strong 4.2★ average with solid review depth — customers actively recommend this restaurant. Premium price tier ($$$) with strong review depth — customers accept higher spend here.
8. Monk Bodhi Dharma
★★★★½ 4.6 (845 reviews)
Consistently high ratings (4.6★) backed by 845 reviews signal repeat demand.
9. La Roche
★★★★☆ 4.2 (1,545 reviews)
Strong 4.2★ average with solid review depth — customers actively recommend this restaurant. Central position captures pass-by and destination traffic.
10. Cicciolina
★★★★½ 4.6 (674 reviews)
Consistently high ratings (4.6★) backed by 674 reviews signal repeat demand. Premium price tier ($$$) with strong review depth — customers accept higher spend here.
Possible gaps for a new restaurant
Tourist-friendly lunch spot with local produce story
Tourism dependency is elevated — visitors want authentic local food without fine-dining price tags.
Why businesses succeed — and fail — in St Kilda
Strengths
- ✔ Strong suburb-level demand signals
- ✔ High average customer ratings — the catchment rewards quality execution
- ✔ Café format scores 71/100 (GO band) for this suburb
- ✔ Restaurant format scores 72/100 (GO band) for this suburb
Risks
- ✖ Several incumbents with 4.4★+ and deep review counts set a high quality bar
Thinking of opening a restaurant in St Kilda?
These rankings show existing businesses at suburb-centre level. A Locatalyze report analyses your exact address — expected revenue, costs, profitability, competition within 500m, and investment risk before you sign a lease.
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