St Kilda Esplanade Market

One of Melbourne's most enduring cultural landmarks, St Kilda Esplanade Market has held its ground on the Upper Esplanade beside Port Phillip Bay every Sunday since 1970. What began as a modest outdoor art exhibition - officially opened in December 1970 as the Art Bank - has grown into a beloved weekly institution showcasing the finest in Australian handmade art and craft. Every stallholder has a direct hand in making what they sell, turning the promenade into an open-air gallery where you can talk to the artist behind the piece, understand the craft, and take home something genuinely one-of-a-kind.

The stall mix spans original artworks, jewellery, ceramics, hand-stitched fashion, health and wellbeing products, and food and beverage - with new makers joining regularly so there is always something fresh to discover. The St Kilda foreshore backdrop gives the market its unmistakable electric vibe: the breeze off the bay, the buskers, the Sunday energy of one of Melbourne's most colourful neighbourhoods. Easily reached by tram (routes 16 or 96 stop right at the door), it is a natural centrepiece to a St Kilda Sunday.