Australians dining, like Australian culture, likes to put pretense and showmanship to the side and go for substance. Maybe the best neighborhood to dine in the whole country is the suburb or St. Kilda, located about 30 minutes outside of Melbourne on the sea.

St Kilda has a locally famous skate park, plenty of cafes and clubs and some relaxing piers. It’s comparable to a laid back version of L.A.’s Venice Beach, minus the Day-Glo, professional bubble makers and fast food. In St. Kilda the restaurants serve high quality food and wine in very casual settings.

In St Kilda, diners aren’t required to eat a correct number of courses at a certain time of day. Conversation, relaxation and freedom to eat as you’d like to as in sharing or not sharing, sitting at the bar or at the table.

Some of St. Kilda’s top eateries include:

Tonka serves modern Indian and in classic Kilda style offers an environment where you can opt for either formal or casual dining. It’s one of those menus that just begs to be shared.

The new Cumulus Up bar is the latest venue from Chef Andrew McConnell (Cumulus Inc., Cutler & Co, Golden Fields). It serves a select wine list and carefully matched bar snacks in a stylized bar setting for those looking for a bar environment over the restaurant below.

Ombra focuses on old culinary techniques and shared dining.

Bar Di Stasio, the first new venture by landmark St Kilda establishment Café di Stasio in more than 20 years, serves up Italian bar snacks with a modern edge.

Gazi is a new restaurant that’s been established in the old Press Club. It serves casual Greek-style street food in a contemporary setting. Only Athens and Thessaloniki have larger Greek populations than Melbourne.

Hihou and Nama Nama – Izakaya Den’s Simon Denton has diversified the Japanese-inspired offering, Hihou is an upstairs Japanese-style, intimate speakeasy serving creative snacks and drinks, while downstairs on same corner sits casual udon bar Nama Nama.

Follow me on Twitter @JRuggia1.