Veludo Bar & Restaurant

Veludo epitomizes that renowned St Kilda cool. You know, the kind of cool that just attracts the most worn-in thongs - in a good way.

Set over two floors, crossing the bounds of restaurant, cafe and bar with ease, Veludo has been going strong now for over a decade. Any time of week you can find it filled with folks out for a drink and a bite to eat, or packed with young'uns ready to rock the night away. The average punter may be a bit perturbed by the amount of beautiful people in attendance (honestly, where do they all come from?), but after a few friendly beers everyone looks the same anyway.

Be in early on the weekend to grab a stool out the front to get a healthy does of people watching. The views are definitely worth getting up early for. Beer is usually par for course while out the front - you can sit on a Corona or Heineken all day long as you laugh at the locals. As the lights dim and the sun goes down, order a round of cocktails and listen to the music.

Seven nights a week you can also get your fill of the freshest live beats and rhythms this side of Jamaica. In fact, the list of bands and solo acts to play here reads like a veritable who's who of the country's hip hop, funk, soul and jazz scene. And when the music ain't live, DJs hit the decks to keep hips swaying and heads nodding. No wonder the place is harder to get into on a weekend than Fort Knox.