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Rooftop Bar
Open-air bar on the roof of Curtin House on Swanston Street, open from noon to 1am most days of the year, with burgers, cocktails and walk-ins…
Hotel Esplanade
Seaside St Kilda pub opened in 1878 and known as The Espy, reopened in 2018 with live music rooms, cocktail bars, a balcony and a Cantonese restaurant.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic seaside pub and live music venue
- Area
- St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Opening
- Open daily
- Official site
- hotelesplanade.com.au
Good to know
- Live music rooms
- Cocktail bars
- Cantonese restaurant
- Balcony
Why we recommend it
The Hotel Esplanade, known to Melburnians as The Espy, opened on 7 January 1878 on the Upper Esplanade in St Kilda, overlooking Port Phillip. It was originally planned as three large terraces and converted into a hotel during construction. The philanthropist Alfred Felton, a major benefactor of the National Gallery of Victoria, lived here from 1892 until his death in 1904, and Mark Twain and Sarah Bernhardt were among its guests. The National Trust classified it in 1990 as one of the earliest, largest and most prominent nineteenth-century resort hotels in Victoria.
The Espy's reputation rests on music. From the 1970s, when the Gershwin Room became first a disco and then a band room, live music ran almost every night on up to three stages, and the hotel is reputed to be the longest continuously running live music venue in Australia. Paul Kelly recorded tracks for a live album in the Gershwin Room in 1995, and the SBS music quiz show RocKwiz has been filmed there since 2005.
The hotel closed suddenly in May 2015 and reopened in November 2018 after an extensive renovation. It is now a multi-level venue. The Main Bar and Balcony is the classic pub space, the Public Bar and Basement show sport, the Sunroom is a light-filled bar and dining room, and upstairs are Mya Tiger, a Cantonese restaurant, and cocktail spaces including the Green Room, with its green velvet booths, Louey's and Ghost of Alfred, a cocktail bar on the top level. Live music continues in The Gershwin and The Basement.
Opening hours are 12pm to 11pm from Sunday to Thursday and 12pm to 3am on Fridays and Saturdays, with Ghost of Alfred open from 6pm to 1am on Fridays and Saturdays only. Check the gig listings on the website for bands and ticket details.
The Espy suits music fans, groups of friends and anyone spending a day in St Kilda. A late afternoon drink on the balcony followed by dinner and a band makes a full evening, and it combines easily with a walk on St Kilda Pier, where the little penguin viewing sessions begin after sunset. Trams 12, 16 and 96 run between the city and the St Kilda Pier stop nearby.
For enquiries call (03) 9534 0211 or email [email protected].
Hotel Esplanade FAQs
Where is the Hotel Esplanade?
At 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda, overlooking Port Phillip.
What are the opening hours?
12pm to 11pm Sunday to Thursday and 12pm to 3am on Friday and Saturday.
Is there live music?
Yes, in The Gershwin and The Basement. Check the website for gig listings.
When did the Espy open?
On 7 January 1878. It reopened in November 2018 after a renovation.
Is there food?
Yes. The Main Bar serves pub meals and Mya Tiger upstairs is a Cantonese restaurant.
What is Ghost of Alfred?
A top-level cocktail bar open on Friday and Saturday from 6pm to 1am.
How do I get there?
Trams 12, 16 and 96 run from the city to the St Kilda Pier stop nearby.
How do I contact the Espy?
Call (03) 9534 0211 or email [email protected].