The Stokehouse

Dining on the deck of the Stokehouse on a balmy summer's evening is perhaps the best possible entrée to Melbourne's wonderfully relaxed yet supremely sophisticated fine dining scene. Set right on St Kilda beach with palm trees framing the view, this restaurant housed in a beautifully restored 1920s beach shack is a culinary and social landmark.

Stokehouse has it all - inventive contemporary food that draws on the influences of Asia, the Middle East and Europe, a great wine list, expert staff, a lively and buoyant atmosphere and killer views. During winter the open fireplace keeps everyone cosy while the rest of the year diners battle for those precious outdoor tables where the fashionable crowd aim to be seen.

In true Aussie style there's an informal bistro downstairs that spills customers out onto the beach, where they chat and flirt, cold beers or chardonnays in hand.