Maria Del Borrello Anania
+5
What a truly wonderful find. I have been to St Luja a few Friday nights and it never disappoints.
The boys go out of their way to accommodate and always make you feel welcome with a smile and a chat. Decided to go for dinner and the food was delicious… I recommend you try the gnocchi and the deadly sins dessert.
It is so rare to find a place where you can have a great meal, a warm cocktail by the fireplace (I loved the hot buttered rum) listen to 70s,80s music and even have a boogie later in the night when the DJ starts.
St Luja is definitely my go to place…Your degustation night is next on my list!!!
Really great place to kick back
Great food and drink � they have an open fire place
And the staff are super friendly, highly recommend,
They have a DJ playing 80s 90s music on Fridays and Saturdays
Worth a look in
Oh my gosh! This place is amazing! From the genuine friendly greeting and service that you can’t fault,to the decor and cocktails and then - the food! Wow! What an absolute gem this place is! So sad that this place is not in my home town.
All the best with this guys. I will certainly be back if I’m in Melbourne again, and be recommending you to my friends.
Awesome!
Everything about this place was superb. The staff were incredibly friendly and the decor and atmosphere was everything I could have hoped for. Best fish I have ever had and the panna cotta was amazing (even for someone who isn't a big fan of dessert). Icing on the cake was the cute quotes on the drinks menu, adding a fun and quirky touch to an already incredible experience. Thanks for an amazing night. Will be back when we're in Melbourne again!
Stunning decor �
Super friendly and attentive staff �
Delicious food �
Great music �
Creative and visually enticing cocktails �
Great spot with amazing beach views �
Free smiles �
If you're looking for a place to impress, St Luja is what you're looking for. Highly recommended.
On a Sunday afternoon I’m looking for a versatile cocktail menu, snacks that can satisfy a range of unexplainable needs (its Sunday...), and an environment to lift spirits. St Luja ticks all the boxes... when you don’t know what to order, the amazing bar team steer you through the decision making process; live blues music rings through the Sunday feeing and gets your toe tapping again; and the food provides comfort and surprise through inventive culinary charm. Delicious. What a glorious way to spend my first Sunday in St Kilda - can’t recommend highly enough!
Phenomenal food! Wonderful place for a comfortable and yummy evening out. Absolutely loved the pan-fried pumpkin gnocchi - basically melt on your tongue!
Amazing cocktail list! Wonderful, friendly staff with excellent drink recommendations and delicious desserts. The vibe of the place is great. Such a cosy lovely bar with an awesome range of spirits and awesome decor.
Great spot for drink and food. Would highly recommend it.
Fantastic place with great food and drinks. Beautiful exclusive function room for any private function.
Great building, great food, great wine, three great guys who have personalities that make you feel at home. A French chef who smashes the presentation and flavour of the dishes out of the park. We wish you all the very best in your business as you're enthusiasm is priceless.
Drinks are next level!
Food top class!
Been to a few functions there now and each one is better than the last! The most recent one I booked was the basement for my brothers bucks and I couldn’t have asked for a better place for it!! It ticks every box!!!
Amazing food! A+ service - chilled music and the best place I've had the pleasure of being at for years. Thanks boys �
I've been here for 5mins, and I don't think I'll ever leave! What a gem!!
Update: for the love of god order the corn salad...
Update: difficult to pick a winner on mains, but I think the mushroom gnocchi wins. Roast chicken with carrot cake, and brisket with onion rings also amazing.
Update: Whiskey donuts!!!!
Lovely ambiance when you first walk into the restaurant. It truly sets the tone on how the evening will go and straight away it put me into a relaxed vibe. The service by the waitress was fantastic, as well by the handsome waiter. Food was outstanding and I’m definitely looking forward to eating here again.
The meat tray was amazing. The steak and brisket was so tender and delicious, it pulled apart easily and had plenty of flavour with the gravy. Buffalo wings were average as were the pikcles and coleslaw. Highly recommend the mac & cheese croquettes and onion rings.
Situated just out of Melbourne CBD. Amazing ambience and delicious food. I will definitely be visiting again to try out other dishes.
⭐️ 4.5 stars⭐️
An energetic and funky atmosphere this was a great pick for an early birthday celebration! With an alternative vibe, it’s almost a speak easy restaurant.
What we ordered:
Mac and cheese croquettes
Onion rings
Zoodle salad
Beef brisket
Chocolate brownie
What we can say is definitely order those mac and cheese croquettes!! As for the mains, the zoodle salad was light and refreshing. The light dressing and slivered almonds added a beautiful taste to the meal. The Brisket melted in your mouth, had a BBQ flavour and overall was a simple meal done to perfection. So impressed we ordered a brownie for dessert.
Shout out to the staff for being so helpful and kind 😃
Amazing delicious food, great service, relaxed atmosphere! Can’t fault it! Mac and cheese croquettes were yummy, meat board was spot on, perfectly cooked salmon... will be back for sure! 👌😋
I stumbled across STL from a ‘Fork’ email and I’m so glad I did. Both the food & service were impeccable. STL is also within waking of the Espy making it a great option after an aperitif. Overall STL comes highly recommend at around $50 a head for 2 courses. Although compact, their wine should please most people & budgets...
Really enjoyed our lunch at St Luja. Love the deco of the restaurant. Service was very friendly and prompt. Every dish we had were impressed by everyone. The steak was very good. Servings were generous. The choc brownie was delicious!
Step back in time in St Kilda. The decor is Art Nouveau, relaxed and stylish. The service is friendly and welcoming. I have been here a few times now and can I just say the Aged Negroni is a must as well as the chocolate brownie and ice cream. Sit back in the comfy booths, awesome music playlist and extensive cocktail, wine and beer list. Food is to die for. Just do it. A must do in St Kilda.
Very nice food and the staff were very prompt and polite. Not too expensive and will be back. We started out the front sitting in the sun having Pre dinner drinks and they saved our table inside for our dinner before a show at the Palais. Excellent place before a show at the Palais
Went here on a Saturday with a Cudo voucher. our table for 2 was in a great spot by the window, the wait staff were very attentive and had great customer service, especially the Irish guy. Our food was delicious! We couldn’t decide what to have due to so many yummy choices, but decided on the fish of the day, and the brisket. Both were amazing! Got some Mac and cheese croquettes and they were ok, could of had more cheese in them, the corn on the cob was great! Then warm choc brownies and ice cream- soooo yum! Needless to say we left very full and very happy with the service and the food. Will visit here again! 😀👍
Had a lovely dinner at St LuJa, with just the right about of meat and greens! Ordered their steak, mac and cheese croquettes, cos salad and pulled pork tacos - everything was great, except I think the mac and cheese croquettes should have more cheese flavour to it! Great place by the St Kilda beach too!
Lovely venue and good ambience. The beef brisket, fish of the day and steak, were all cooked perfectly. The dessert was spot on, pana cotta and brownie was divine.
A lovely little gem at the beach end of Fitzroy St. We visited with our young bub on Fathers Day and we’ll definitely be back. Great cocktails, a small but well-executed food menu, delightful views across to the palm trees and St Kilda beach, all housed in the most charmingly-appointed deco-style venue. Bonus points for the super friendly waiter. Can’t wait to return.
My partner and I went here for our anniversary dinner and overall, really enjoyed the experience. The restaurant itself is a very cool venue, and great for a romantic event. We had the brisket and steak, along with some starters, and it was all really good. The customer service was lovely, but because they were quite understaffed due to a full house and an event downstairs, everything came out very slowly (which meant we didn't order a second cocktail or dessert because we didn't want to wait another 30 mins for the next course/drink). The rest of the experience was great.
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We were given a voucher by St Luja to check the place out. Immediately upon entry I was impressed, how was there a cool speakeasy style bar in Melbourne that I was unaware of? Great ambiance and the Art Deco styling was right up my alley and reminiscent of the hidden bars in Europe that I so love.
The waiter who spoke to us explained they are a cocktail bar with a wide range of whiskey that can often change and as they don’t like to waste paper reprinting menus the staff are well versed in the offerings so can explain what’s on hand. I enjoyed the environmentally friendly vibe but he generosity didn’t particularly extend to the plating. There wasn’t a lot of calamari on the entree but if you pick your night right you do get better value eg $20 steak and wine on Thursday night.
We went for the steak anyway at $32 and I found it a little under seasoned and the jus very thin and watery.
For me I think this place has amazing atmosphere and is well worth a visit but perhaps stick to drinks and avoid dinner as their expertise seems to lie in mixology
Art-deco decor is awesome. Especially towards the back near the fire. Beautiful service, waiters were lovely. Mains, beef brisket & chicken bean casserole were both incredible. Entrees could be improved in quality & generosity. Dark choc brownie with dehydrated raspberries was to die for. A great spot & would defs back . Mood, music & ambiance - perfect
Such amazing food and the most incredible service. The decor, the music, the atmosphere. everything about this place was top notch. from the moment we walked in till the moment we left, we were made to feel comfortable. Thank you Luke for your hospitality.
Beautiful venue been here many times since 10 years ago mate birthday...great summer beach location and fine dinning are very exclusive now !delicious cocktails always...2x cocktails, 2x entrees, 2x main course, 1 desert cost $149 tonight...so price wise depends what you order...cocktails around $20 but main course was quite reasonable, beautiful presentation, friendly staff and great for summer date and night out around stkilda beach :)
Great food, even better service and amazing ambiance both in the bar/restaurant and looking out towards the beach! Food is great. We had the squid, toasties, brisket, and tortellini, which were all great (the squid in particular). Staff are friendly and attentive. The food came out with perfect timing, not too fast not too slow, and we just enjoyed for hours. Cocktails were great and have a great whiskey collection.
We went her with a living social voucher.
Assuming menu given was for the voucher only as it differed to the website and the link given on the booking page. It was still extensive none the less with good variety.
Wine was lovely, friendly staff, lovely Art Deco atmosphere.
Food presentation was fantastic - very impressive. Much care is clearly given to this.
The tomato carpaccio was more like basil ice cream with a bit of tomato (would definitely give this a miss) and not much else.
The lamb with tortellini overall was an enjoyable dish. The lamb was in the dry side, but the flavour was good and the crispy tortellini were Devine!
Pumpkin gnocchi was good but it was way too small.
Corn salad and dessert were absolutely superb. I did however feel that the dessert platter needed one more item in it- again, it was a bit small.
Overall a good experience, would return.
ST LUJA
Located on the corner of Fitzroy street and the Esplanade, St Luja is a gorgeous place to enjoy a sunset cocktail or some delicious tapas style food. They have live music often and provide a nice vibe for a fancy cocktail or a regular drink. While the food was super tasty and flavoursome, we were quite shocked by the extremely high prices for very small servings (i.e. 29$ for pumpkin gnocchi in which there were about 8 pieces, $13 for 3 of the smallest mac and cheese ‘croquettes’ we’ve ever eaten’, $9 for a tomato salad which had maybe 5 cut up tomatoes.) Again, the food really was tasty and plated beautifully but be warned it comes at a high cost and a small portion. The service is extremely friendly and you can tell the staff are passionate about what they do.
Awesome gem on Fitzroy street. The food was absolutely delicious. The variety and quality of the cocktails was super impressive. The staff were so lovely. All made for an excellent night out. Definitely will be back.
I have been to this treasure of a place a couple of times and have had a great time on both occasions. The old world art deco decor of the place makes it such a charming place to be in and the cocktail list matched the atmosphere perfectly . The real highlight however is the service. The staff are all a lovely bunch of people who are very attentive and friendly. I hope to be back soon.
Have been to St Luja twice now; the most recent time I was the lucky winner of a $150 tab to spend on food and drinks. The venue has a great atmosphere with an old style speakeasy vibe and the staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. Between the two of us for entrees we shared the crispy squid with coconut and pineapple slaw and the kingfish sashimi with beetroot. Both dishes were tasty and fresh. Then for mains we shared the chicken and slow cooked lamb. The lamb was a massive highlight. The cocktail offerings are also impressive. I would definitely recommend the margarita. 👌🏼
Amazing cocktail recommendations! The barren here clearly know their stuff. Food was equally awesome. The beef carpaccio was a stand out and we shared the Mango Marquis, as well as a matching blood orange smoky cocktail. To die for!
LOVE this place! Spent a Sunday afternoon at St Luja's Boilermaker & Blues session! The place has a really awesome vibe, with its moody lighting & Art Deco finishes.. it feels like you've stepped out of St Kilda and into another part of the world!
The team were super friendly, their drink selection is on point with an unreal cocktail menu!! Really looking forward to getting along for dinner, because going by the Kingfish Ceviche and Truffle Parmesan Fries that we had.. it will be Amazing!! Thanks so much St LuJa, you guys rock!!
Food is second to none, I had the charcuterie board which was delicious and my parameter had a few bar snack items. Wouldn't have changed a thing everything was super tasting. Another must is a whiskey cocktail - on point!!
The staff were friendly and willing to have a chat too which I liked, definitely added to the experience. 100% worth a visit!!!
Celebrated a friends birthday at St Luja and it is now my favourite bar to frequent. Brilliant ambience, amazing food, incredible cocktails, attentive staff, live music and great range of single malts.
We had dinner at St LuJa last week, what a beautiful venue. Art deco style with an open fire, which was just what we needed after coming in from the cold. The fish special was spectacular, cocktails delicious, but the friendly and informative service was what made the night such a great experience. The staff were very passionate about what they did, and we couldn't asked for a better night. we will be back soon. ps - great playlists as well!
Benjamin Maverick Woods
+5
Came through St Luja last weekend for some drinks and a cheeky boogie. Absolutely loved it, will come back. Great outdoor area to smoke some durries and the staff were legends.
This is most definitely my favourite bar in St Kilda. With its cosy european vibe and incredible drink service, I am always looked after with top notch service every time. The food at St Luja is amazing as well. Lots of tasty tapas sized dishes, as well as larger dishes. Gives the choice of grazing while you concentrate on the amazing cocktail list, or enjoying a full meal if you prefer.
I always look forward to coming here. Its a place thats suited to people who appreciate top notch service and the finer things on a night out!!
Hope to see you guys again very soon : )
What a great find. Fantastic cocktails, lovely food and superb friendly service.The cocktail theatre and charismatic staff made a great night for us. The padded rear area was akin to a genie bottle and we loved it. We will be back regularly.
Tried part one of the "gangsters degustation " and will definitely be coming back for part 2. Four courses of the most delicious food (My favourite being the Tobacco smoked chicken) matched perfectly with the most amazing cocktails.
The atmosphere of the night was amazing with the story of the way food and drinks come together fascinating.
The staff are engaging and friendly. Happy to help with whatever you need. Highly recommend trying.
Would you like to come to a four course Gangster Degustation at the hot new cocktail bar in St Kilda with two lovely guys who have just opened a whiskey, cocktail and tapas bar? Yes, I really would!! The guys are running monthly themed degustation dinners to introduce customers to their amazing food and great passion for cocktails and a little bit of a love for whiskey! The first degustation takes you back to the days of Al Capone and Speak Easy bars.
We thoroughly enjoyed our evening at St. LuJa - the cocktail suggestions were magnificent and the tapas style bar food was completely delicious! We look forward to returning for another fine dining experience. Good luck to the new team!
I really love the vibe at Laika! The staff are so easy to talk to! Plus if you are looking for a cocktail that isn't on the menu they will make it for you! I wanted a chocolate martini, they made it for me and it was the best cocktail I had all night! It was definitely our favourite place of the night to chill and just relax. The music softly played so it was easy to talk to my friends!
I would definitely return!!
only a week old bar with new owners i believe. Gorgeous venue . wasn’t busy on a late Friday night , had a great drink made by the skillful barman. beautiful black pepper on a surprise drink. Plus they are lovely chill people to have a conversation with. Will swing by for a drink again. Cheers ! thank you for the hospitality !
Had the most fun evening here! The staff are extremely friendly and glad to help you with any concerns you may have. Went there for a friends birthday and tried a lot of their cocktails - all of which were really good. While they did havr other patrons there, they created an enjoyable atmosphere and ensured that our large group had plenty of space to enjoy ourselves!
Impeccable food and friendly service. We stopped for a drink while waiting for take-away nearby and ended up staying. Had the oysters and cured fish ceviche; fresh, beautifully presented and just the right amount. For the less adventurous seafood wise, as I can be, I highly recommend veering away from the more standard offerings as you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Amazing place! Love it! Atm.... Amazing place! Love it!
Atmosphere, public, service - everything top class.
We come here quiet often and every time there is a new discovery - either something new like a new "something-something" cocktail, amazing music etc.
Yesterday I had my Hens night here. It was unforgettable! Service, staff, drinks! Will definitely never forget my hens here. We were looked after like top class VIPs. Love! Love! Love Laika!
Public (ie the crowd) is great! Unlike some bars or clubs when you are unsure about your safety. Here - it's a complete comfort zone!
Thank you, staff and the management of Laika for your work! You definitely know how to make your clients feel special!
Thank god Laika came to St Kilda!!. Laika started in 2008 by a crew of city Barman that lived in St Kilda for them and their friends. Laika quickly became one of St Kilda's hot spots for its looks, drinks and music. To be fair Laika is not really for urbanspoon users but if you're cashed up and want to have a fun time you should check this bar out.. Friday and Sat are flat out and if you can't get in you can always try a Sunday arvo for some live music and wine..
Absolutely fantastic !!!. Had my birthday last night in Dome ,if you want to have a SPECIAL NIGHT Laika Bar is the only one. Fantastic cocktails,friendly professional stuff you feel special from the moment you walk in.
Surprising reading that some people are so unhappy...the only reason for that would be they do not deserve to be in !!! Some are coming for a free dance, not surprising they are ask to leave... I witness that last night and all 3 reviews from that group ... That is so typical ...
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RESPONCE TO KSR 05/25/14 WHO IS NEVER SATISFIED.... I have noted your email and the comment on URBANSPOON. In regards to this I would like to respond as follows:
Firstly, your requested booking for was 35-40 people in the main public bar. We did offer you a private function room, however you preferred the main public bar area, in which case, the service that can be offered varies from the private, as we must attend to other patrons in the main bar as well, in addition to which we cannot segregate your function from patrons of the main bar. People who book our VIP private rooms receive a more personal level of service, and in fact I have just received very positive feedback from a private booking at the Dome on the same night as your event.
Secondly, the menu that we serve for Tapas and the menu that we have for Functions are different, including the portion size. As indicated to you, the function menu is only nibbles, and does not include chicken skewers (as per the Tapas menu), but chicken pieces. (Please re-read the original function menu sent).
I am not sure what kind of prices you are used to paying, however to pay $381 for 35-40 people (less than $10 p.p) in a Top Shelf Drink Bar (which provides its own entertainment), and expect people to feel satisfyingly fed, is completely unrealistic. As you were not in a private room, you did not have a personal waiter/waitress, and as such this may be the reason why you needed to follow-up about the platters, however I can assure you that everything you ordered was delivered. I understand some people from your function ordered additional food, however once the main bar is full, we cannot continue serving food and as such the order could not be filled. If you had booked the private room, we would have been able to continue the food service.
Furthermore, we were open to your request to bring your own music/band, which we normally do not do. Our staff helped your musicians set-up, you used our stage and equipment, and nothing extra was paid for this additional service. Rather than having our house music, which has been selected for the style of bar we operate, our premises was subjected to your personal taste of music, which actually resulted in many clients leaving and complaining because of the noise created by your drummer. In addition to this, once your musicians left, your guests enjoyed the free entertainment offered by the bar and could dance all night (as I was able to see through our security cameras).
As a final note, I have reviewed your other comments on Urbanspoon, none of which are positive. I have also been a patron of all the same restaurants and these are top-class establishments. As such it seems clear that you expect a lot of service for very little expense. Perhaps catering at home may be a better option for you, as you will know the outcome and have better control of the overall function.
Regards Olga
Best gin fizz ever. Don't order food.
Tasty food, excellent service. Wines are ok. Good atmosphere
Good. Went there on Thursday night and I was amazed with the wine list and the tapas. Service was 5 stars, the Columbian manager was attentive and friendly and very helpful help in us finding what we wanted. I'm coming back next Thursday.
I love this place, best cocktails in melbourne
Best Mai tai ever!. I had the best mai tai ever, in Hawaii 5 years ago, tried the same drink in many places since then, without the same satisfaction untill last sunday at Laika bar. Lovely Bar and staff. Definitely the place to go in St Kilda!
Great night out!!!. We end up at laika, enjoing 4 or 5 of their classic cocktails,,, following classic methods and ingredients.Is an amazing experience. Live music was amazing.
I Like Laika. Just awesome: best espresso martini in Melbourne. Nice old school looking bartenders... its like being trapped in 1920s for one night. Great!
Have enjoyed many, many cocktails over the years. Tonight we discovered their amazing tapas. Such fabulous service in a fabulous location. Why would you go anywhere else?
What a Bar! Omg great place cocktails and a disco dj, awesome crew behide the bar that can make u any drink u can think up. An old school bar + 30 reminds me of a bar I play at in new york good job people I'll b back may use it in my next movie. Love you Laika thanks again for last night was GOLD...
Cocktails here are sublime as was the tacos the only downfall was our european waitress who came off very unpolite and intrusive, with a little bit of service training this place could become a hit.
Great bar. Excellent drinks, good food and sharp service from the moustachioed waiter. I definitely support their 'no children' policy. having called ahead to ask if children were welcomed it was clear once i arrived that laika is no place for kids. Laika is an adults playground, and they do it well.
Great gin martini!
Toorak Times Newspaper
+4.5
Just so good!. Having had 4 kids the last thing I want is to go to a sophisticated bar and find mummy having her day out with the kids.
The thing I love about Laika is that it is an adults only bar, no one under 25 is welcome...period. No puppies, and it ain't a restaurant, it is Melbourne's premier cocktail and tapas bar.
Reading the review below one has to ask where people's heads are when they take their kids to such a venue, just making the scene or just irresponsible! More money than sense!
If you want the time of your life...and you're cool, try Laika Bar...otherwise refusal may offend...lol
Outright best bar in Melbourne, great food, great wine, brilliant bar staff. The live music on Sunday nights is fabulous. Can't wait to return
Classy drinks, friendly staff and a bloody good atmosphere! Visiting from Sydney and loved it! Outside views are nice and I can't wait to come back!
Cocktails are amazing, food was great, and the small finishing touches with the ice cube branding was a great addition.
Food was delicious and there were plenty of options. The overall meal and drinks were quite expensive, but not unreasonable given the quality and service.
Staff were great and overall it was really enjoyable.
Absolute gem of a bar! Nice relaxing atmosphere, music is not loud, great place to sit, sip, and chat. Did I mention the cocktails are absolutely top shelf? James, the owner and bartender, is very welcoming and great to talk to as well, plus he makes killer drinks. Cheers!
Slightly grimey, leather heavy, Art Deco bar with decent cocktails, but slow service. I guess those cocktails are worth the wait.
Amazing staff - always there to look after you! Drinks are made so well with a lot of thought and care. Could not recommend this place enough. Definitely one of my regulars :)
This place is outstanding for its amazing cocktails and food. The drinks and food have beautifully balanced flavours and the service from the friendly staff is fantastic. Can't wait to to go back.
Booked through the fork as they had special 50% off food. Was pleasantly surprised how good the food was... Also it was very well priced even without discount.. service was good. Full bar so drinks were good too. Will definitely return in future..
Warren Tate Speaker Coach
+5
Cool little cocktail bar at the beach end of Fitzroy st. I love the Art Deco decor and the vibe of the bar. They often have a DJ playing the tunes not just background music. Great service and private seating areas as well as bar lounge seating not to mention plenty of room outside. A great place for before or after dinner drinks.
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