Specialties
Dog's Bar is a St Kilda 'institution'. Opened in 1989 as the first 'bar' in Australia, it's been looking after St Kilda's creative locals ever since.
With Italian casual dining (trattoria) serving predominantly Victorian produce & meat delivered mainly direct from the farm and only sourcing fresh, local fish, it's like pulling up a chair at a table in the middle of a farmers market.
Dog's Bar well over 200 arts events per year including regular (as often as weekly) visual art shows, live music almost every night, short film screenings, doco screenings, storytelling, ten minute plays, cabaret / comedy and more.
Dog's Bar is essentially a wine bar, it's a place to meet friends and make friends.
Brunch 10am - 3pm
Dinner 5pm - 10pm
Aperitivo Noon - 11pm
Dish prices $5-25
People watching terraces for summer / open fires for winter
History
Established in 1989.
Opened in 1989 by the late Donleavy Fitzpatrick, who later opened The George on Fitzroy St. At the time liquor licenses were impossible to obtain and as a result of Don going to the High Court to win a license, the State Government changed the legislation in the early 90's to allow anybody to open licnesed premises and we now have Melbourne bar culture as a result! From 2,800 licenses in 1989 to over 25,000 now!
Meet the Business Owner: David C.
Having fallen in love with Dog's Bar in early 2000, I had the chance to buy & operate it in late 2001. Ten years later, in a world that is forever changing, Dog's Bar is still a place to meet friends & make friends.
Dog's Bar arts hub has been created over the years and is really a personal "work in progress" having introduced Fringe and Comedy Festivals to Dog's Bar back in 2003 and 04 respectively. In the next 12 months we will run about 400+ arts events, including live music, film screenings, visual art, storytelling, ten minute plays, poetry readings & slams, dance and more. We've won 'Best Show' and 'Best Newcomer' at Melbourne Fringe Festival and built a reputation as place that supports up-and-coming creatives.