Danielle Austin

Perth more than proves its prowess when it comes to world-class bars. Here, neighbourhood wine joints and rustic beer houses are so much more than their humble exteriors suggest. Hiding behind doors are extensive and thoughtful drinks lists, gourmet tapas and aperitivo bites, and creative collaborations. Drink your way through our guide to the best bars in Perth. RECOMMENDED: These are the best restaurants in Perth right now.

With its sunny climate and impeccable wine and produce offerings, Perth could lay claim to being Australia’s answer to Italy. It’s no surprise, then, that Perth’s Italian dining scene is rich and extensive. From wine bars offering aperitivo and pizza, to intimate restaurants where you can share pasta over candlelight, you’re guaranteed to be saying saluti to a stellar meal.  RECOMMENDED: Eat your way through our guide to the best breakfast in Perth.

Perth’s early mornings and year-round sunny climate practically beg locals to enjoy their morning meal alfresco. Couple with a love affair of great coffee and it’s no wonder that breakfast options in Perth are both ubiquitous and delicious. We’ve rounded up some of the best breakfasts on offer, so you can focus on getting your brunch fix.  RECOMMENDED: Eat your way through our guide to the best restaurants in Perth.

One of Subiaco’s best-kept secrets is Bar Amelie, a self-described Australian-style tapas bar with a great list of elegantly creative cocktails and mocktails, alongside beer and wine, all in a setting that is both contemporary and art deco reminiscent. Velvet banquettes, brass fittings and richly coloured artworks create a space that is plush and intimate, and an inviting setting for after-hours drinks and cosy date nights. Bar Amelie’s bartenders have curated a list of signature cocktails with which to temp visitors, many of them putting a new spin on a classic drink. Take, for instance, a Negroni that pairs the classic gin and vermouth with Cazcabel coffee tequila and an orange twist, or an Old Fashioned where local whiskey mingles with orange bitters and caramel syrup.

Relative newcomer Bertie Wine Bar has made a big splash on Perth’s bar scene. While the artfully curated wine list is reason enough to make the trip to Bertie, the bar has quickly gained notoriety for its eccentric, Brit-centric food. Taking cues from London eateries, the bar describes its menu as British-inspired, but this is comfort food given an upscale reimagining, with dishes like Welsh rarebit, steak and chips, and a moreish Scotch egg served alongside homemade brown sauce.  The wine list is heavy on Australian wines and a cocktail list of serious, spirits-heavy tipples is also worth perusing.

Offering a wine bar experience without any of the pretence and pretension, Vincent Wine is simultaneously upscale and rustic. Space is limited, and the venue doesn’t take bookings, but a small wait is worth your while.  Vincent’s bread and butter is charcuterie and by-the-glass wine, a list of which you’ll find handwritten on white subway tiles behind the bar. The drinks menu features European wines and the staff are more than willing to walk you through the various merits of a Mosel riesling compared to a Sicilian bianco, but there’s also a selection of Australian vino and cocktails on offer. 

Neighbourhood aperitivo bar Volare brings a touch of European wining and dining to Maylands. Local wine enthusiasts gather at Volare midweek to make the most of the venue’s aperitivo offerings. House wine is on offer, as well as a list of signature spritzes which include the obligatory Aperol but also Limoncello spritz, or a namesake spritz boasting Davidson plum bitters and pine verjus. All drinks come with complimentary house Sicilian olives, but it's worth ordering a full spread of snacks.  

Part wine bar, part fromagerie, Powells caters to Perth’s insatiable appetite for a grazing platter and a glass of vino. The wine list here is both meticulously thought out and invitingly playful. The team keep the list fresh, rotating new wines to keep things interesting for regulars. While there are a few comfort options on the menu, like Swan Valley rose and Margaret River tempranillo, Powells isn’t the place to play it safe. Rather, let the venue tempt you to pet net in a can or a glass of Mediterranean-inspired orange wine.

Beer enthusiasts gather at Ruinbar, an industrial feeling space in Northbridge offerings brews and a sunny courtyard in which to enjoy them. Beer is serious business here, and eighteen on-tap options include six local beers and a rotating list of Australian brews. You'll also find Aperol Spritz and Palomas on tap, and there’s a decent list of wine, packaged beers, made-to-order cocktails and spirits available. Come weekends, local food trucks sling their wares in the courtyard, but the venue encourages food delivery on weekdays to satiate hungry visitors.

Madelena’s upper-floor bar is setting a new standard in Perth. The bar is making a name for itself for its impressive cocktail concoctions, boasting a seasonally rotating menu of ten bespoke creations. The cocktails themselves are innovative and ambitious, with the bar team playing with flavours and techniques, and growing their own herbs and edible flowers out back to incorporate into drinks. There are also four beer taps and an extensive list of natural and low-intervention wines available in the downstairs restaurant.

For the charmingly jumbled and ultimately delicious, take on Italian fusion. Testun combines known and loved Italian classics with global influences. Think a confit tomato topped crostino finished with crunchy furikake, or lamb spiedino (skewer) seasoned with Szechuan. The menu is ever-changing, but always creative and inviting of adventure.

For simple yet stylish Italian-inspired plates and a fantastic wine list. Mummucc is the second Italian dinery helmed by the Monsterella pizzeria team, and the experience shows. Here, you get the best of both worlds. A sumptuous menu of Mediterranean dishes, with flashes of Australian influences, plus the added option to order steaming hot Monsterella pizza straight to your table from its location just next door.

Classic Italian in a contemporary setting, with an artfully curated wine list. Why go? From its thoughtful wine list to its chic and minimalist interiors, Nolita invites an up-market crowd looking for comforting classics. However incongruous, the combination of contemporary and classic is working here. The menu doesn’t try to reinvent the cuisine, but sticks close to authentic recipes, with a little added finesse. The pasta is housemade, as it should be, and coated in slick sugo or tossed with Mediterranean vegetables and seafood. A short list of off-the-grill options, like bistecca or market fish, will appease those looking for a heartier dish.

For a fine dining experience and comfortingly classic Italian flavours. Housed in the very swanky Como the Treasury hotel, Post Osteria and Bar is a luxe option for a meal out. Despite this, the menu reads as a list of comfort dishes, proving fine dining and wholesome dishes aren’t mutually exclusive. The menu is all about high-quality produce and flavours with mass appeal, and takes cues from all over Italy, from Roman-style amatriciana to Milanese cotoletta. The wine list, fittingly, combines great drops from both Australia and Italy.

Located snug on the bank of the Swan River, this Maylands café has quickly become a hotspot with the early morning crowd, earning a reputation as one of the most wholesome breakfast options in Perth. Expect a crowd of small children to be making use of the outdoor play kitchen and wooden playscape, and parents savouring a frothy cappuccino. The nourish bowl comes loaded with avocado, roasted sweet potato and harissa spiced chickpeas, all on a bed of brown rice, quinoa, spinach, pickled cabbage and grape tomatoes, and coated in green goddess dressing. Optionally, add lemon myrtle chicken breast.