Image Source: Storehouse Subiaco
An agreeable climate with balmy nights makes Perth the perfect city for bar-hopping. Tucked away in laneways and on rooftops are some of the country’s best bars, many serving sophisticated cocktails in the coolest of surrounds. Here are some Perth bars that have the wow factor.
The lush, plant-filled Terrarium Bar in Perth’s CBD is a favourite with its refined bar food and incredibly long list of whisky, gin and other spirits. Spread over two storeys, you can take your pick of a booth near the windows or head to the rooftop and perch at a table under the festoon lights.
Northbridge, the livelier, grittier side of downtown Perth, abounds with restaurants and bars. Some – like Wines Of While – are both. Its restaurant serving rustic French and Italian-inspired dishes is excellent, while the bar is right on trend with a superb list of natural wines. The bar doesn’t take reservations so make sure you get there early.
Follow the music to Astral Weeks, where DJs spin vinyl in what was once a Chinese medicine store. Music in this intimate venue is not just background noise – the top-quality hi-fi sound system ensures it is the main focus. Yet the wine, beer and sake list is also impressive, with the drinks served by bartenders who are passionate about music.
As the temperature drops, warm up with a Gin-gerbread Sour at The Mechanics’ Institute, a cosy rooftop haunt in Northbridge. Made with Ginger Nut-infused Botanist gin, this zesty cocktail is one in an outstanding line-up of beverages. You’ll find cocktails made with dragon fruit, a knock-your-socks-off espresso martini, and delightful creations with names like Charlotte’s Web and Home Among The Gum Trees.
Wine nerds and lovers of craft beer and/or artisan spirits should head over to West Leederville and check out Besk, which is both a cool bar and a bottle shop. Hugely popular with locals, it also has a cracking food menu. The décor is stylishly modern with exposed brick, warm lighting and industrial accents. Pick up a bottle of wine to take back to your hotel.
In trendy Subiaco, or ‘Subi’ as the locals affectionately call it, Storehouse Subiaco has knockout views -- you can see up to 30 kilometres on a good day. But they’re not the only reason locals gravitate to this rooftop restaurant and bar four kilometres from Perth’s CBD, the food and drink are also drawcards.
This jewel in the crown of Vibe Hotel Subiaco Perth is known for its eclectic, inviting menu. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy sundowners, enticing guests with bespoke cocktails like Bouquet, a delicate blend of pink gin, strawberries and roses.
In the port city of Fremantle, or ‘Freo’ (Perth folk love those affectionate monikers), there’s also a buzzing bar scene. The quirky Darling Darling has a suitably maritime feel akin to a 19th century seafarers’ drinking hole – you’ll feel like you’re stepping below the deck of a ship.
The vibrant South Freo strip boasts Wild In The Street, with a Latin-inspired beach club vibe. Serving up some of Perth’s best cocktails, it is unassuming on the outside but inside is colourful and fun and the perfect place to enjoy a tipple or two.
Pull up a chair in the leafy courtyard of Fremantle’s Patio Bar, which highlights small and independent producers. Craft beers, cocktails and minimal-intervention local wines are served alongside shared plates in a light-filled oasis.
End your bar-hopping with a nightcap at La Lune, a Parisian-inspired brasserie and bar where the house-made charcuterie will feed your appetite while you choose from the impressive drinks list. Enjoy cognac suppers, themed cocktails, French and Australian wines, and a selection of pastis, France’s heady anise-flavoured liqueurs.
Stay
And once you're ready to rest your weary head, stay at Vibe Hotel Subiaco Perth. Featuring 168 spacious rooms and suites, including interconnecting suites that are perfectly suited for families or groups of friends, you will stay in comfort and style on your next getaway.
