The Palais Theatre on the St Kilda beachfront is one of Australia's grandest surviving theatres, an ornate Spanish Mission building facing the bay with a capacity of around 3,000. Built in 1927 as a picture palace, it has operated in various forms over the decades and today functions as one of Melbourne's premier live music venues, hosting major local and international acts who fit between smaller club shows and stadium concerts.
The interior retains its original grandeur — vaulted ceilings, ornate plasterwork, and the sense of scale that comes from a venue built in the silent cinema era. The sight lines from the rear of the stalls are good, and the acoustics work surprisingly well for a venue this large. Luna Park sits directly next door, creating an oddly festive atmosphere on the street in front of the theatre before shows.