Balaclava, VIC 3183

I lived in Windsor for 12 years before moving to Balaclava with my wife and baby. I didn’t think I would end up loving it as much as I do! It is a non pretentious suburb where so many different people live together as a community. On my street alone, there are so many different types of people who are laid back and unique. Carlisle st has everything you need from a wide range of great cafes, bakeries and one off shops. We recently bought a bigger house on the same street- that’s how much I love it here...

This suburb has all the best of St Kilda, and none of the bad. Great cafes and restaurants along Carlisle St, butchers, fresh fruit and veg grocers, bargain discount shops...yet none of the backpacker hostels or dirty nightclubs that is found in St Kilda.

The result - a place for young singles and families alike to enjoy pleasant and peaceful inner city living.

Great shopping strip in Carlisle Street, close to the beach. Excellent public transport options. Hidden parks like the one in William Street. Great for walking. Glick's bagels is a destination by itself.

If you want to live in the middle of everything, including arguably the best breakfast/cafe strip in Melbourne you've come to the right place. I lived here for 7 years and I still miss it every day. I was lucky enough to live in one of those rare cul de sac streets off Carlise St and it was so peaceful. Walk 50 metres though and you are in the middle of everything. Two supermarkets, 20 cafes, great niche record shops, the Wall... and only 5 mins from the beach. It is more of a young person place than a family suburb. Most of my friends with families have moved out to the suburbs.

Balaclava remains young at heart.

As an Investment:
As a property buyers agent at Capital Property Advisory specialising in property investing for large portfolio holders, we have seen immense growth and recommend certain streets in this area to astute investors.

As an Owner Occupier:
I personally lived in St Kilda East for several years with my children and found this area an ideal location for families, couples and singles as everything is at your door step, such as trams, shops, restaurants, cafes and much more.

The famous Alma Park provides a beautifully treed walking tracks and outstanding play area’s and tree house for children.

All your shopping requirements can be met in Carlisle Street, St Kilda East with supermarkets, fruit shops, butchers, bakeries, banks, chemists, clothing and shoe shops (I recommend you take a look at Unique Shoes), several discount stores, restaurants, cafes and bars.

The transport facilities in the area are fantastic, with a simple tram ride down to St Kilda beach and the wondrous environment that Acland Street, St Kilda has to offer with the highly regarded cafes, bars and restaurants.

Fantastic suburb! Parks, schools, restaurants, childcare, bars, cafe's supermarket, shops, diversity, gyms, trees and a great feel to it! I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I can walk to the station, the beach , grab a great coffee, do my shopping, visit friends, have a great meal all without getting in my car. Love it!

Close to the city and the beach with a great vibe, there is a lot to like about this area.
I have driven though here a few times on my trips to Melbourne and it always looks inviting. But as with a lot of areas it depends on the part you are in.
There are some parts that are quiet and family friendly with a number of younger families in the area. Then there are less attractive apartment focussed areas best suited to those that want the area for its proximity to nightlife, the beach and city.
With public transport servicing the area well it’s a good spot for everyone, but it’s a matter of choosing the right street.

St Kilda east is ideally located between Chapel Street and St Kilda offering you more than enough places to eat drink and be merry.
There are some nice parks around the area and the streets have reasonable tree lining making it a nice place to be.
It is well serviced by public transport making it easy to get to the city. It is also not far from the beach which is worth a visit.
There are some nice houses in the area and a good mix of people. It would work well for younger people that want to get out and about but also for families.