Marine Parade is the beachfront address in St Kilda, and this apartment is directly across from the beach. Not near it. Across from it. The walk from the front door to the water takes thirty seconds on a slow day.

The apartment is a single bedroom with a queen bed, a living room with a queen sofa bed for additional guests, and a full kitchen with everything needed for a proper stay. The bedroom has a small ensuite bathroom - it is compact and worth knowing in advance, particularly for groups of three or four who will be sharing. What it lacks in size it makes up for in location, which is the trade-off Marine Parade has always offered.

The pillows are worth a mention. There are eight across three types: traditional, latex, and memory foam. Guests notice this and write about it. The linen is 100% cotton percale. The sofa bed is a Koala. The streaming setup runs Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime on a 50-inch screen. These are the details that separate a well-run apartment from one that just has the right view.

The rooftop is the other thing. A communal BBQ terrace sits above the building with an unobstructed view over St Kilda Beach. Sunset from there is the kind of thing guests photograph and send to the people who did not come. Most guests do not know it is there until they arrive, which makes it a consistent point of delight in the reviews.

Communal laundry is on each floor. There is no in-unit washer. Parking on Marine Parade is metered or permit-restricted and street spaces are competitive, particularly on weekends. The tram is a better option and stops directly outside.

The full apartment is yours: the queen bedroom with ensuite, the living room with sofa bed, the kitchen, and access to the communal rooftop BBQ terrace. Communal laundry is available on each floor. Self check-in via lockbox at the entrance.

I am available at any time during your stay should you need anything at all!

St Kilda runs on its own energy. The beachfront draws people from across Melbourne on weekends, and Marine Parade is at the centre of it. Acland Street is a one-minute walk and has some of Melbourne's most recognisable cake shops alongside a strong selection of cafes and restaurants that have earned their place over decades. Luna Park is two minutes on foot and still genuinely enjoyable regardless of age. The Esplanade Market runs along the foreshore on Sundays and is one of those Melbourne institutions worth building a morning around.

Fitzroy Street is a five-minute walk and offers a longer evening if that is the plan - dining, live music, and bars that stay open later than Acland Street tends to. St Kilda Pier extends into the bay about three minutes away, and the little penguins that come in at dusk are one of those understated Melbourne experiences that people remember.

The tram stops immediately outside the building. Route 96 runs directly to the Melbourne CBD via Albert Park and connects through to Fitzroy and Brunswick. Routes 16 and 3/3a run down St Kilda Road to Flinders Street Station. Bus stops are on Barkly Street. Balaclava Station is a fifteen-minute walk for train access. A car is genuinely unnecessary for most of what St Kilda has to offer.

This apartment is most comfortable for a couple, or parents with one or two children, as there is only the one small bathroom which is an ensuite to the large bedroom.

For small groups of adults (3-4) who plan to be exploring Melbourne most of the time, or just appreciate value for money and location over additional space and a large bathroom, this place is also perfect for you.