Mya Tiger St Kilda, Cocktails, Cantonese Feasting and a Sunset Worth Staying For

The sun is setting over St Kilda Beach, boats are out, water is still as glass. And…. cocktails are $15 bucks. Sometimes life just works.

It’s a Sunday arvo. Palm trees gazing in the landscape, sunlight goldly glistening and despite it’s still Winter, I’m glad I packed my sunnies. Downstairs the Espy is chockers, people munching on chips, downing frothies and having a grand old time.

Mya Tiger delights 

We head up the creaky stairs of this historic building which lead to Mya Tiger. Immediately clear this is going to be fun.

Rustic chandeliers, wooden tables, a disco ball and wonderfully weird ornaments create a slightly eccentric mix of old and new. It’s almost eerie, but somehow completely modern.

As for the sunset, there aren’t enough pencils in the entire Derwent palette to capture the magnificent colours streaming through the windows.

Even the bathrooms are an adventure. Excitable Waitstaff describe them as Harry Potter’s Chamber of Secrets, and I honestly didn’t know a simple wee could be quite so entertaining.

Happy hour, made happier

The 4-6pm daily “Happy Hour” isn’t just happy, i’s exceptional. A perfectly balanced Yuzu Basil Gimlet for $15, with London dry gin, a hint of ginger and aromatic Thai basil is shaken and served in a fine coupe.

And because apparently drinking a cheap cocktails isn’t fun enough, we get to roll the dice. Double ones equal snake eyes, and the cocktail is free. Sadly we’re unsuccessful, but thankfully still time for another. A Kaffir Lime Tommy’s is dangerously smooth, potent but not overpowering. (And PS, glad we uber-ed)

Bring on the banquet

We kick off with raw kingfish with burnt blood orange soy and sesame crunch, then munch on some chicken. Crunchy, oozy and goes bang in my mouth. Like seriously good popcorn, with more attitude. (And for my celiac hubby even better, gluten-free).

Then comes the duck. Whoever invented duck and Pinot should be crowned a genius. It’s one of those matches you can put it on repeat, rewind 70,000 times and never gets old. A juicy, glossy piece of duck breast arrives with a sticky sauce, cucumber, leek and thin pancakes (or lettuce cup for the GF people). The charred noodle roll is Mya Tiger’s take on fried Kway Teow. Loaded with bean shoots and greens, these noodles are slippery and slimy and oh so delish – I feel like Im channeling my inner kid of Curly sue as I slurp them up. 

By now, the sun has disappeared, lights are twinkling across the horizon and boats are making their way into the dock. The music is pumping downstairs and, honestly, it’s hard to leave.

Mya Tiger is not just a Cantonese restaurant. It’s an experience. Historic surroundings, jovial service, outstanding food and an evening that is truly unforgettable. Just make sure you get there for cocktail hour.

Mya Tiger – Level 2, 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda, 318
Tues – Saturday: 12-3pm 5.30- 10pm. Sunday: 12 -10pm