This November, Refinery Group Brings The Saint Back To St Kilda With The Attitude And Energy That Have Long Defined Its Fitzroy Street Address
This November, The Saint Hotel returns to Fitzroy Street for its next chapter. Taking over one of St Kilda’s most recognisable addresses, Refinery Group (The Angel of Malvern) is reinstating The Saint Hotel as a modern local for all, bringing together a public bar, pizzeria, outdoor dining, upstairs bars, private dining, cocktail lounge and a strong music offering, all under one roof.
Across two levels, a collection of distinct but connected experiences will welcome guests for all occasions. At ground level, the Public Bar will form the social heart of the hotel alongside Santos Pizzeria, and a beer garden, while upstairs the Balcony Bar, private dining and an intimate cocktail and listening lounge with vinyl and DJ programming will reveal another side to the venue.
First built as a State Savings Bank in 1914, the Fitzroy Street landmark has lived many lives – from bank to pub, nightclub and restaurant. Its next chapter isn’t about recreating any one of them, but reinstating the attitude, energy and social relevance that have long defined the address for St Kilda today. Refinery Group General Manager Operations Liam Burns says the neighbourhood has shaped every decision behind the project, he shares,
“The Saint Hotel will be a spot you can drop in for a beer or a glass of wine, stay for dinner, meet a few friends or kick on into the night. Drinks are a big part of that – a great beer, a properly made cocktail and a wine list with enough interest to keep exploring – backed by really good food, great music and an atmosphere that shifts as the day goes on. There’s a lot of history in this building, but ultimately we want it to feel like a pub that belongs to St Kilda now, a spot for locals and destinations drinkers and diners alike.”
Drinks will be considered without becoming complicated: a strong selection of beers, including a Saint Lager created for the Public Bar, local and international wine, spirits and a cocktail list that puts the St Kilda spin on aperitivo culture. Burns shares,
“The drinks have been built around how we want people to actually use The Saint – whether that’s dropping in for a quick beer, settling in over dinner or heading upstairs later in the night. The Saint Lager is a big part of that: something cold, uncomplicated and very much at home at the Public Bar.”
Refinery Group Executive Chef Justin North is shaping a food offering grounded in generosity and familiarity, spanning pub classics and Santos Pizzeria’s take on Detroit-style pizza, including pizza crust dippers perfect for snacking, alongside a drink. He shares,
“Every neighbourhood deserves an awesome pub, and that’s really what we want The Saint to be for St Kilda. The food is relaxed, sociable and familiar, but there’s serious technique behind it.”
With interior architecture by Studio McCue, Refinery Group’s internal design team has shaped the fit-out, from the furniture to the fixtures, to feel unmistakably St Kilda: layered, tactile and characterful without slipping into nostalgia. Warm walnut, exposed brick, terracotta, brushed steel, patterned upholstery and vintage St Kilda prints will sit alongside custom-designed pieces, including a bespoke Saint pool table, creating spaces that feel lived-in, playful and deliberately less polished. Project Design Manager Holly Stevens shares,
“We wanted the fitout to feel warm, layered and a little unexpected, with the character and irreverence of St Kilda running through it. There are polished moments, but also texture, colour, vintage references and pieces that feel as though they’ve always belonged here. It should feel considered without ever feeling too perfect.”
The Saint Hotel will open at 54 Fitzroy St in November 2026.
To stay in touch, sign up at https://sainthotel.com.au/.
Image credit: Ethan Jones