Perth’s best bars, pubs and breweries: The ultimate guide to the best drinking spots across Western Australia

If you think Perth still deserves the dullsville moniker you haven’t been paying attention. Despite a pandemic trying to dampen our spirits, WA’s bar scene is healthy and thriving. Indeed, these days it seems its more a case of — so many bars, so little time. In an effort to help you experience the best bars Perth has to offer (and some worth starting the car for), he’s a guide to some of PLAY’s favourites. This guide will help you plan your next pub crawl, family friendly catch-up or date night. Cheers! City Gems Vincent Wine 465 William St, Perth Have all your friends nicked off to Europe this winter? Are you feeling the pangs of jealousy as you try and skip over their Instagram stories? Same. But here’s a tip, duck off for an afternoon at Vincent Wine and you’ll never know you’re not in a quaint little corner of Paris yourself. This chic little wine bar is an absolute winner, from its famed charcuterie to its well-considered wine list that comprises 80 per cent French and Italian wine and its delicious steak tartare. We could go on and on but best you try it for yourself. Si Paradiso 1/446 Beaufort St, Highgate This massive Highgate bar may be best known as a go-to late-night venue, but its food deserves a shout out too. There is an element of creativeness and care in each dish with freshly made pasta, blistered pizzas topped with seasonal ingredients, not to mention its impressive take on the retro bombe Alaska dessert. Wines of While 458 William St, Perth The name of this bustling William Street wine bar is fitting because if you’re able to snag a table, the delicious food and vast range of drinks will encourage you to stay a while. It’s the kind of casual and friendly setting that could be anywhere in the world — a back street of Fitzroy or a laneway in London — with its line-up of natural wines and Mediterranean-inspired menu dedicated to showcasing local produce. Goody Two’s Basement, 40 Irwin St, Perth Hidden in a basement in Hibernian Place is a (faux) cherry blossom tree that creates a canopy over a late-night cocktail bar. That place is Goody Two’s, a Japanese-infused joint lashed in lavender and soaked in shochu. Specialties are the signature cocktails, sake and an extensive Japanese whiskey menu, but they have all the usual suspects, too. We are big fans of their Thursday dollar dumpling deal to kickstart the weekend. Sneaky Tony’s + Toots Somewhere in Northbridge We can’t give away the address for his double-whammy — finding it is half the fun. Once you have given the bouncer the day’s secret password, you’ll find yourself in a Prohibition-style speak-easy with hundreds of rums to choose from and a darkly decadent interior. But wait, there’s more. Toots is hidden behind another door and brings velvet-lined disco vibes and playful cocktails if you’re lucky enough to score a golden ticket. Mechanics Institute Rear, 222 William St, Northbridge One of Perth’s first and best small bars is rapidly approaching a decade of good times and great cocktails set to a soundtrack ranging from daggy dad rock to hardcore hip-hop and hair metal. While there’s no longer burgers and chips from Flipside on the ground floor, this back alley Northbridge institution offers rooftop bar vibes outside or dive bar ambience inside. Plus there’s usually some of P-town’s top drink-slingers behind the wood. An absolute banger. Picabar Perth Cultural Centre Location, location, location. Picabar is all things to all people, from folks thirsty after a trip to WA Museum Boola Bardip or Art Gallery of WA and liquid lunchers during the day to inner-city hipsters and arty-farty party people at night. The (non-cultural) heart of the Perth Cultural Centre is also the flaneur’s fancy — it’s possibly the best people watching pub in Perth. There are also plenty of beers on tap, a solid wine list and a short, savvy menu featuring arguably close to the best steak sandwich and veal parmigiana in town. Ruinbar 165 Beaufort St, Perth A row of heritage shopfronts stood silent since the State Government bought them during the tunnelling for the Graham Farmer Freeway. Today, they clamour to clinking glasses of beer, raucous rock ’n’ roll and the pinball machine. Modelled on the so-called ruin bars of Eastern Europe, Ruinbar opened earlier this year in all its rough-hewn glory. Owner and hospo maestro Miles Hull keeps things simple — craft beers, booths and high tables inside and long tables in the beer patio, plus soon Pretty Good Pizza will serve up slices. The Royal 531 Wellington St, Perth One hundred and thirty-seven years after it was built on the corner of William and Wellington streets by former convict Joseph Noonan, The Royal reopened to reinvigorate the heart of the city. While the pandemic soon hit hospo hard, the historic hotel turned two-level pub and restaurant venue has continued to serve the people great pub tucker and top-quality beverages. There are few better spots to bend the elbow than on the 70m long and 4m wrap-around balcony overlooking Yagan Square. Hail, the king. Petition Beer Corner State Buildings, CBD Many a beer lover has been guilty of gawking, slack-jawed at the impressive board of craft beers from around the world hanging above the bar. If you’re not sure, ask the staff, who will not only point you in the right direction but give you a wee taste of an ale. One of Perth’s top three craft beer destinations, Petition Beer Corner often has rare tipples from top US breweries alongside the best of WA craft. They also do top-notch food and tantalising events (their beergustations with Long Chim are epic) in the corner space overlooking St George’s Terrace and Barrack St. Foxtrot Unicorn Basement, 101 St Georges Terrace, Perth In a world overrun by craft beer bars or bright shiny venues claiming to bring “a touch of Santorini” to Perth, Dimitri Rtshiladze’s underground venue boils things down to the essence. Foxtrot Unicorn is a bar. Dark wood, chesterfield couches, mood lighting, vintage pub knick-knacks, cheesy jaffles and — most importantly — damn good drinks. You come here to drink and talk, not to be seen. The way it should be. There’s four beers on tap and more in the fridges alongside small-batch wines and an astute cocktail list reeling in the classics as well as concoctions using Indigenous ingredients. Astral Weeks Shop 12, 60 Roe St, Northbridge Perth’s first Japanese-style listening bar lurks down a Chinatown alley in a former traditional medicine shop. Makes sense. Co-owner Sean O’Neill and his partners have installed a pristine sound system, gathered an eclectic drinks menu and opened a comfy, cosy and, yes, very hip venue. Guest and house DJs spin vinyl while you and your friends soak up the crystal clear sounds and catch up over Japanese rice lager, sake, unflashy wines or a classic cocktail. Expect jazz, world, funk, soul and ambient records on the turntables. Frisk 103 Francis St, Northbridge If you like gin, you’ll love Frisk. Really love it, like, wanna get married. Rumour has it, Frisk has more gins than any other bar on earth (and gins from every corner of earth). They also have other alcoholic offerings, and the small bar’s location a stone’s throw, but not a stubbie’s throw, from Northbridge’s main nightlife drag makes this an ideal spot for chat over a G&T or something more intoxicating from the “House Signature Drinky Poos” list. Varnish on King 75 King St, Perth If whiskey or bourbon is your poison, then Varnish should be your spiritual home. Modelled on US nouveau dive bars, Varnish stands alone as Perth’s ultimate whiskey bar but that’s not to stay it doesn’t do everything else too. The award-winning venue, in the basement of a 1920s heritage building also has a robust menu of hearty and creative food, a resident beaver called Justin (get it?) and a thing called a bacon flight where you can pair whiskey or rose with four rashers of seasoned bacon. It all warrants further investigation. Rockin’ the Suburbs King Somm 13 King William Street, Bayswater If every neighbourhood had a bar like this one, we’d be a very content bunch. The casual bottle shop and bar combo, owned by the team behind Subi hotspot Juanita’s, is the perfect spot to perch up in winter with a drop of your choice and a pizza or three. Just don’t blame us if you’re still sitting there four hours later. It’s that kinda place. Pep’s 492 Stirling Hwy, Peppermint Grove From the moment this bar opened its doors in October 2020, it became a firm favourite among locals and the wider community alike. There is a lot to love about the stylish space — friendly service, a 230 strong wine list, a selection of cocktails and tasty snacks plus culinary collaborations with an array of businesses are bound to have you returning again and again. . Good Company 200 Karrinyup Rd, Karrinyup If you’d have told us a year ago that one of the best north of the river bars would be at a shopping centre, we wouldn’t have believed you. However the arrival of this pub, as part of Karrinyup Shopping Centre’s schmick redevelopment, is transporting people to the Mediterranean with its beach club-style interiors, cool cocktail list, live music and DJs on the weekend. Casa 399 Oxford St, Mt Hawthorn One of the newer kids on the block, Casa is a wine bar and store with Euro flair. A curated list of top drops is on the main menu, but the shelves and fridges carry many more niche bottles plus spirits and beers. The menu is tight and delicious, boasting smoky bay oysters, share plates like octopus, kingfish and house focaccia and bigger dishes like steak and pasta. The courtyard is sublime on a warm evening. Mummucc’ 46/56 Grantham St, Wembley First things first: it’s pronounced “ma-mooch” and translates to “mother” in Abruzzese. Now we have that cleared up, Mummucc’ is a prime example of how to do a neighbourhood bar. The small size means it’s always busy, with people venturing from all over Perth for the moody ambience and killer wine list. Sip an apertivo and enjoy piatti, pasta and dolce. St Brigid Bar 251-253 Scarborough Beach Rd, Doubleview Since opening just over a year ago, this suburban small bar named after the Irish patron said to have turned water into beer has become a proper local haunt. Good food, great drinks (including speccy cocktails) and a weekly Sunday roast from midday will do that. And the 6018 massive and blow-ins love sipping a tasty glass of red next to the courtyard fire during winter. Albert’s Respite and Refreshments 294 Cambridge St, Wembley Wembley seems to be where it’s at when it comes to top-notch neighbourhood bars. In the spot that once was The Stanley, Albert’s just celebrated its first birthday and we think it will only get better with age. The warm vibe and friendly service make the drinks taste even better, with winter specials including a Clove Old Fashioned and Sloe Gin Negroni. And yes you can still bring in your burgers from Flipside next door. Dutch Trading Co. 243 Albany Hwy, Victoria Park Craft beer lovers speak of Dutch Trading Co. in hushed tones. Belgian dubbels, tripels and quadrupels. Farmhouse saisons. American Imperial IPAs. Russian Imperial Porters. They’re all on tap at DTC, while they last. This award-winning mecca for fancy-pants brewskis always has more than you could possible drink, or afford, as well as fridges full of takeaways and a decent menu of pub standards. Besk 264/270 Railway Pde, West Leederville Vying for Perth’s best tap-list honours with Dutch Trading Co. and Petition Beer Corner, Besk treats beer with the same high regard as most fine-dining establishments treat wine. They also elevate beer food on a short menu (mostly) designed to be shared. Like any good craft venue, you can sample the ever-changing beers on tap or go the whole hog. Then there’s the danger to your wallet of exiting through the bottle shop. Besk is so good it’s bad. Nowhereman Brewing Co. 25 Harrogate St, West Leederville Nestled in a quiet street stumbling distance from three train stations, Nowhereman Brewing Co. is brewery, tap-room, restaurant and social hub all in one. Opening five years ago in a former furniture factory, the microbrewery pours Nowhereman’s latest beers, serves pub staples and pizza, and sells takeaways plus cool merchandise. Punters can sip a Leederville Lager or Crate Digger Pale Ale within view of the stainless steel brewkit at a venue dubbed “Perth’s urban brewery”. The Corner Dairy 260 Woodside St, Doubleview Billing itself as “a bar for everybody”, The Corner Dairy’s front beer garden is usually populated by families. Babies and dogs aside, the owners love their craft beer, so there’s always a few fresh and interesting pours across the 10 taps (plus the ever-present Swan Draught). Food is designed to share and ranges from oysters, cured meats and Wagin duck liver parfait to dry-aged sirloin. Both desserts are worth a squiz: adults only whiskey flan and Unknown Pleasures, a barley and malt ice cream with beer caramel and charcoal meringue. Freo’s Finest Republic of Fremantle 3 Pakenham St, Fremantle This spot is lauded for having one of the best cocktail menus in WA, and we would have to agree. The urban distillery makes its own vodkas and gins, which can be sampled in a tasting flight or in one of their boozy creations. A novelty favourite is the millionaire, which is topped with a smoking bubble of fun. Whip out your phone quickly to capture the magic before it pops! Jungle Bird 59 High St, Fremantle With its mismatched furniture and beachy atmosphere, Jungle Bird just oozes Freo charm. A curious combo of rum and coffee are the signature offerings here, and the selection is pretty ace. Cocktails are fruity and punchy and the food is Caribbean-inspired: think jerk chicken, jalapeno poppers and barbecue jackfruit. Weekends see punters spill out on to the sidewalk. Madalena’s 406 South Tce, South Fremantle You can smell the fresh sea breeze with a table on the pavement at this South Fremantle fave. And local seafood is the name of the game here, with the downstairs restaurant offering larger plates and the upstairs bar serving bites, charcuterie and cheese. On the drinks front, the wine selection is modern and funky, with plenty of organic and skin-contact offerings. Strange Company 5 Nairn St, Fremantle The lighting is low, the decor is industrial-sleek and the drinks are seductive. Like its name suggests, Strange Company presents wild and wonderful cocktails, such as Yoplait Fizz with vodka, pomegranate, creme de mure, watermelon, lemon and whites, or In the Clouds with butterfly pea, ROF gin, lemon, lavender, coconut yoghurt and creme de violette. Go for a drink before dinner or stay for the fabulous share plates. Ronnie Nights 75-77 Market St, Fremantle Who is Ronnie Nights? A dashing wingman for the East Freo Sharks in the 1970s? A used car dealer? A porn star? All we do know is that there are plenty of good nights on offer at this superb bar and kitchen in the heart of downtown Fremantle. Lurking somewhere between a dive bar and a hipster hang out, with suitable living room vibes upstairs, Ronnie Nights offers a nifty range of craft beers, small-batch wines and clever cocktails with retro pub tucker that punches above its weight. Onya Ron! Worth the drive The Fire Station 68 Queen Street, Busselton This watering hole may have swapped hoses and trucks for beer and tacos, but both iterations have provided a much-needed service for the Busselton community. The venue, built in 1937, specialises in craft beer, natural and organic wines from the South West and beyond as well as live music. Bungalow Neighbourhood Social 226 Naturaliste Tce, Dunsborough You’d be forgiven for forgetting you’re in the heart of Dunsborough while relaxing at this bar, with its spacious and stylish fit-out surrounded by towering trees and creek. The welcomed addition to one of WA’s most popular tourist towns has a thoughtful range of natural wines, sourdough pizza and share plates as well as the chilled holiday vibes we crave when escaping the big smoke. Little Stiller 7 Mandurah Tce, Mandurah The neon wall sign sums up the kind of experience you can expect to have at this Mandurah distillery — let the fun be gin. The bright and fun venue on the water — pull up by boat if you’re feeling extra boujee — has a focus on gin (you can take home your own personalised bottle) as well as a crowd-pleasing menu featuring crispy pickles and jalapeno pepper wontons. Txoko Brewing 247 Haddrill Rd, Baskerville In contrast to the big microbreweries with sprawling play areas in the Swan Valley, Txoko Brewing feels rustic, homely, almost quaint — no wonder its Basque name means “cozy nook”. Father and son team Gabriel Rodriguez and Gabriel Rodriguez Urrutia-Shu lead the tight-knit team at Txoko, which features their own inventive craft beers on tap plus their own take on pub grub. Only pity is that the menu doesn’t lean into their Basque heritage. Jaspers 23 Brockman St, Pemberton A whiskey bar in Pemberton? We’re listening. Sink into the chesterfield couch in front of the roaring fire and sample the very best whiskeys from around the world, from classics to rare drops and everything in between. They haven’t forgotten the region’s fine wines either, and the local produce extends to the hearty, seasonal food menu. If you’re in the area, make a booking or risk missing out. Har Bar Shop 6C, 26-34 Dunn Bay Rd, Dunsborough Arrr, me hearties. Landlubbers and seafarers alike will be enthralled with his pirate-themed hotspot in the heart of Dunsborough. Har Bar is decked out in maritime paraphernalia and is a must-visit while in the South West, not only for its lively spirit but also its small but on-point drinks menu. Cocktails are written up on the chalkboard and wines come from the Margaret River region. Liberte 162 Stirling Terrace, Albany A slice of Paris in Albany, with a Vietnamese twist — that’s Liberte. Another place that should be booked in advance, it begins with a charming little bar in front before opening up into a restaurant that oozes old-world charm with its chandeliers, Persian rugs and antique furniture. The menu is fancy and moreish, while the drinks list is very well-considered. Wild Hop Brewing Company 1301 Wildwood Rd, Yallingup South West brewpubs tend to involve compromise. The playground might keep the kids happy, but the beer isn’t the best. Or the food is great, but you crack out the iPad to keep the kids off your back. Not at Wild Hop. Head chef Josh de Caen’s flame-inspired, seasonal tucker is terrific, the play area is ace and — most importantly — the ever-changing tap list rocks. In fact, there’s only one core beer (the Short Shorts Czech Pilsner) at this picturesque brewery on windy Wildwood Rd. Make sure you book, and take a two-litre growler to fill with your favourite beer. Yonder Bar Lot 4/124 Bussell Hwy, Margaret River In a shipping container, off the main drag next to Coles in Margs there is a little dive bar like the ones you might discover in Austin, or Memphis, or Nashville. Yep, a dive bar in a shipping container in our premiere wine region. It all makes sense once you’re sipping a can of beer or tasty cocktail, listening to classic rock and shooting the breeze with owner Leon Carroll. All we can say is wander out Yonder, y’all. Beerfarm 177 Gale Rd, Metricup WA craft icons Beerfarm make great beer. They also run a great brewpub just off Bussell Hwy. The rustic, communal vibe is enhanced by the long tables and tasty share plates of Burnt Ends barbecue housed in an old barn overlooking the farm’s dam. The Beerfarmers keep the little ‘uns happy with quality kids’ meals plus, in the summer, a massive slip ’n’ slide. Beerfarm would be perfect if they could get the AC/DC pinball working. Margaret River Brewhouse 35 Bussell Hwy, Margaret River Lurking in the trees just before you hit town, Margaret River Brewhouse is a slow-burning success story. Currently constructing a big brewery at the other end of Margs, the brewpub stands on its own merits with cold beer, kick-arse food and a friendly atmosphere. Washing down a serve of the free range chicken wings doused in firecracker sauce with a Kolsch or Red IPA on a lazy afternoon is as good as life gets. Bring the fam Gage Roads Freo Peter Hughes Drive, Fremantle Big isn’t always better, unless you’re talking about the ASX-listed independent brewing behemoth’s massive pub on the waterfront at Victoria Quay. Grab a pint of core range or seasonal Gage Roads, or a guest tap, and find a vantage point to watching ships being guided into port. There’s also plenty of traffic out of the kitchen, where head chef Danny Sanchez launches top-shelf pub food ranging from pizzas, tacos and, of course, fish ’n’ chips to snapper crudo, Albrolhos octopus and Fremantle lobster rolls. Tune in to the shipping news and settle in. Clancy’s Fish Pub Fremantle 51 Cantonment St, Fremantle Drink like a fish, while eating one. Clancy’s Fish Pub has clung to its status as one of the Port city’s favourite haunts like a barnacle. And no wonder; simple but satisfying serves of seafood, a great range of craft beers and other drinks, plus regular entertainment — Clancy’s is a family friendly favourite for Freo folk, as well as those further afield. Don’t forget to bring a footy for a post-lunch kick in the park out the back. Little Creatures 40 Mews Rd, Fremantle The OG of WA craft beer venues keeps on keeping on 22 years after opening in a big shed at Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour that was a crocodile farm and home to Kookaburra II before being turned into the world-renowned microbrewery. While there was talk of Little Creatures moving from its iconic home, there’s been a stay of execution and the smiling cherub will continue to serve up fresh seafood, wood-fired pizzas and tasty frites in its sprawling Great Hall — all washed down with classic beers, including Pale Ale, Little Creatures’ very first brew that’s stuck to the same recipe for two decades. Pirate Life Perth 440 Murray St, Perth While Pirate Life Brewing began in Adelaide eight years ago, the blokes behind it hail from WA and finally made a mark on their home town with this ambitious 1000-person hospitality precinct in the CBD. While the brewpub (and shiny brewkit) where head brewer Jackson Purser creates fresh beers take centre stage, Pirate Life Perth also has a steakhouse-inspired restaurant, private dining rooms and takeaway store. And there are plans for two more venues inside the venue out the back of this impressive addition to the city’s west end.