St Kilda Esplanade Market Guide

The St Kilda Esplanade Market is a Sunday makers' market on the Upper Esplanade, and the best visit is a morning one by tram with a plan for the beach afterwards. It has run along the clifftop above the bay since the 1970s. Stallholders sell work they made themselves, so you are buying from the person behind the table rather than from a reseller. Hours and stall numbers change with the seasons and the weather, so check the City of Port Phillip market page on the day before you set out.

This guide focuses on how the market works and how to get the most from a visit. For food, family dining and the wider suburb, see the rest of the St Kilda Almanac.

Your plan for a Sunday at the market

The single most useful step is to check the council's market page on Sunday morning, then catch a tram to arrive before 11am. From there, follow this order:

Confirm hours and weather updates on the City of Port Phillip website before leaving.
Catch route 96, 16, 12 or 3 and skip the parking hunt.
Bring a tote bag, some cash and padding for fragile items.
Walk the full length of the stalls once before you buy, unless a one-off piece grabs you.
Ask makers about custom orders and take their details.
Finish with a walk to the pier, booking penguin viewing in advance if you plan to stay into the evening.

For more ideas on food, families and things to do nearby, browse the St Kilda Almanac guides.

The Esplanade Market sits on the foreshore of St Kilda, Victoria, so a visit fits easily alongside nearby landmarks such as St Kilda Pier, the St Kilda Sea Baths, the Palais Theatre and Luna Park, Melbourne. Stallholders lean toward handmade work in the spirit of the Arts and Crafts movement, and you can also expect household goods and small decorative pieces. Street performance often adds to the seaside atmosphere. Afterwards, many visitors walk to Acland Street for cafés and cake shops, or to Fitzroy Street, Melbourne, for more places to eat. Fitzroy Street should not be confused with the inner-city suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria. Travellers searching online should also check that results point to Melbourne's bayside suburbs and not Bayside, Queens, in New York.