• Skip to content
  • City of Melbourne
  • Create a listing
  • Subscribe
  • What's on homepage
    • Home
    • Things to do
      • Free things to do
      • Family and kids
      • Theatre and shows
      • Music, concerts, and gigs
      • Entertainment
      • Comedy
      • Film
      • Sport
      • Attractions and sights
      • Major events
      • Exhibitions
      • Festivals
      • Aboriginal Melbourne
      • Walks and itineraries
      What's on
      • Today
      • This weekend
      • This week
      • This month
      Guides
      • The ultimate guide to Melbourne's best Christmas markets
      • Melbourne's best blockbuster events
      • The ultimate guide to Melbourne’s best Christmas events
      • Read more things to do guides
    • Eat and Drink
      • Restaurants
      • Cafes
      • Takeaway
      • Bars and pubs
      • Dining events
      • Dining deals
      Guides
      • The ultimate guide to outdoor dining in Melbourne
      • The best restaurants for group dining in Melbourne
      • The best new restaurants in Melbourne
      • Read more eat and drink guides
    • Shopping
      • Fashion
      • Accessories
      • Specialty food
      • Gifts and homewares
      • Technology and entertainment
      • Sport and outdoor
      Guides
      • Melbourne's most instagrammable shops
      • Melbourne's most iconic shops
      • The best Christmas gifts under $100
      • Read more shopping guides
    • Visiting Melbourne
      • Where to stay
      • Accessible Melbourne
      • Visitor Centres
      • Travel essentials
      Getting around Melbourne
      • Public transport
      • Cycling
      • Driving and parking
      • Taxis and rideshares
      • Maps
      • Walks and itineraries
      Guides
      • How to spend 24 hours in Melbourne
      • The best new hotels in Melbourne
      • Melbourne's accessible and wheelchair-friendly attractions
      • Read more visitor info guides
    • Create a listing
    • Contact us
    • Subscribe

What are you looking for?

Primary category
Secondary categories for primary category Anything
Secondary categories for primary category Things to do
Secondary categories for primary category Eat and drink
Secondary categories for primary category Shopping
Secondary categories for primary category Hotels
Secondary categories for primary category Guides

Accessibility

List of Accessibility Features

When are you visiting?

Date shortcuts
Calendar

Where do you want to look?

Locations
What are you looking for?
Anything
Anytime Anywhere
  • Protagonist cafe tables and chairs in the Arts Centre Melbourne forecourt.
  • Various slices on display.
  • Coffee machine and coffee cup at Protagonist café.
  • View of St Kilda Road and pedestrians from café.

Protagonist

  • Cafe

Popular for your morning coffee fix, Protagonist serves up custom coffee blends and breakfast options, including jaffles and toasties. Freshly-baked cakes and biscuits are also available. Lunch options include sandwiches, wraps, salads and savoury pastries, which you can enjoy in the open-air surrounds on the forecourt. Or perhaps gather some gourmet treats for a picnic in the nearby Queen Victoria Gardens.

Protagonist is defined by striking architectural mesh, akin to a bronze curtain that is raised as the cafe opens in the morning and then lowered at night to signify end of service.

Protagonist opens for pre-show drinks and snacks prior to events.

Hours

Day Times
Monday
  • 8am - 4pm 8am - 4pm
Tuesday
  • 8am - 4pm 8am - 4pm
Wednesday
  • 8am - 4pm 8am - 4pm
Thursday
  • 8am - 4pm 8am - 4pm
Friday
  • 8am - 4pm 8am - 4pm
Saturday
  • 9am - 3pm 9am - 3pm
Sunday
  • 9am - 3pm 9am - 3pm

Location

Protagonist
100 St Kilda Rd
Southbank 3006

Open in maps location for Protagonist

Contact details

  • Visit website for Protagonist
Instagram page for Protagonist

Christmas

Christmas starts only in the city
Start here
A man and woman dancing next to a woman dressed in a Santa outfit who is using a DJ deck.

Christmas things to do

The city’s wrapped and ready with magical moments, twinkling lights and festive fun.

  • Family and kids
  • Entertainment
A man and woman sitting at a table full of food with a Christmas tree in the background.

Christmas eat and drink

Savour the city’s festive flavours with rooftop bars and menus made for merry moments.

  • Bar
  • Restaurant
Two women holding several shopping bags while they walk through a shopping arcade decorated for Christmas.

Christmas shopping

Start ticking off your list in the city’s iconic laneways, arcades and malls.

  • Gifts
  • Fashion
Start here

Discover more

Black placemat with bowl of granola and fruit, another with eggs and smashed avocado, latte to the right.

Soul Cafe

Classic cafe menu, great coffee and ambient soulful tunes.

  • Cafe
Red brick cafe with small tables and chairs outside and a red motor scooter.

The Bond Store Cafe

Pop in for a European breakfast, brunch or lunch to escape the bustling Southbank crowds.

  • Cafe
Pastries.

Cathedral Coffee

An intimate little nook in Cathedral Arcade serving single origin coffee and sweet treats.

  • Cafe
Two people enjoying brunch on a couch.

Melbourne's best study cafes and laptop-friendly spots

Find the best spots to grab a seat, charge your phone and lock into study mode.

  • Cafe
Envelope Icon

Subscribe to What’s On Melbourne

Sign up to receive updates on what to see and do in Melbourne.

Subscribe now
Australian Aboriginal Flag Torres Strait Islander Flag

The City of Melbourne respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land we govern, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin and pays respect to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge and honour the unbroken spiritual, cultural and political connection they have maintained to this unique place for more than 2000 generations.

We accept the invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and are committed to walking together to build a better future. For more information, visit Aboriginal Melbourne.

Create a listing
Contact What's On Melbourne
  • What's On Facebook page
  • What's On Instagram page
  • What's On TikTok page
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility
© 2026 City of Melbourne
City of Melbourne home page