Captain Baxter

The iconic St Kilda institution has reopened with a lighter, fresher feel – so fresh that even a Melbourne hailstorm couldn’t dampen our spirits.

Inspired by tropical beach bungalows of the 1920s, the Captain Baxter redesign offers patrons a panoramic view, where the untrained eye can see The Palais Theatre, St Kilda Marina, St Kilda Beach, the pier, the city skyline, even right across to the You Yangs. Led by Aleksandra Savic Rakocevic from Star Architecture, the revamp brings more light into the bar utilising a fully retractable roof, clear glass balconies and large sliding windows.

The revamp also extends to the menu, of course. Teaming up with Timothy Martin and Adrian Hawkins (formerly The European and Est, respectively), Matt Dawson (group executive chef of St Kilda Venues) incorporated fresh and delicate flavours into a menu with a relaxed, casual, beachside vibe.

Working with local producers like Game Farm for poultry, O’Connors and Cape Grim for beef, and hand-selected Australian Oyster Coast oysters, the new menu has a section dedicated to seafood, a nod to Captain Baxter’s seaside location. The rest of the menu features Asian influences, like the Korean fried chicken starter, char siu pork cutlet, and our pick, the Isan BBQ chicken – cooked in Captain Baxter’s coal oven – served with jaew mak len, a Lao tomato salsa. Even the fried potato cakes came with a yuzu kosho mayo.

The idea of a relaxed beachside dining experience doesn’t feel complete without a refreshing drink in hand. Sommelier Luke Campbell has curated a wine list from Victorian wine regions and Australian wine producers to match the flavours in the fresh seafood and charcoal grill dishes.

Vinos aside, there’s also a selection of signature cocktails, such as the Captain’s Rum Punch, which is “tropical, rich, fruity” and the Kusabi Martini – “savoury, spicy, fresh”. Drinking for more than one? A range of litre cocktail carafes are available, ranging from classics like Pimm’s and Sangria, to the Summer in Vietnam, a zany elixir of Zubrowska Bison Grass Vodka, elderflower liqueur, lime, cucumber, Vietnamese mint, apple juice and apple cider. It definitely fits its description of “fresh, light, green”!

Pre-renovation Captain Baxter was known as Melbourne’s go-to for lunches under the sun, drinks at sun-down and relaxed beachside dinners. As we sat by the large floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the beach and watching the sun set, we can only say that it’s back and better than ever.

Pop on down to check out the lighter and brighter look, and make sure you give the potato cakes a go – you won’t regret it!

Captain Baxter
St Kilda Sea Baths, 10/10–18 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda
Open 7 days, Monday to Thursday, 5pm to late, Friday to Sunday, 12pm to late
captainbaxter.com.au