If Australians typically enjoy a drink, Perth is no exception. With hundreds of bars, pubs, breweries, wineries, cideries and distilleries to choose from, regional to the heart of the CBD, those who want a drink will find one. Perth’s bar scene is vibrant, ever developing, and caters to every interest, at times the lowest common denominator with the variety of niche options available. But, Perth bars offer what the pubs and breweries don’t in their range, from sophisticated, curated menus to dives where the goal is simply to quench your thirst.
Small bars for an understated, cosy couple drinks aren’t few and far between—399 Bar in Northbridge claims to be Perth’s first small bar, pouring specialist cocktails and classic tap beers alike, and is complemented by Bobeche, a cocktail bar in the basement of The Heritage serving signatures and cocktails by the teapot.
Small bars thrive in the suburbs, too, as neighbourhood bars boomed following a relaxation of liquor licensing laws a couple years back. Besk in West Leederville is a trendy spot, doubling as a bottle shop while serving a variety of drinks. The Back Bar At Hylin is just a short walk away, too, for another spot when you’ve tried everything at Besk. The Matcha Colada cocktail is one of my favourites, containing bananas and chocolate and working amazingly. The outer areas of Fremantle host several bars that deserve to have their praises sung, including South Freo’s Percy Flint, Beaconsfield Wine Bar, La Lune and Mrs Brown’s to just name a few. You’d be lucky to have any of these as your local, but we strongly recommend finding your local and giving it a go. You never know what awesome spots could be hiding in the suburbs.
If you’re unsure about being able to guide yourself and discover the bars of Perth, you could always book a bar tour. Walking tours make up most of your options, taking you on a guided tour through the CBD’s best spots to eat and drink, but other transport options for something special include rickshaw rides between venues on your personalised bar crawl, complete with your own soundtrack.
A Perth bar crawl can become incredibly personalised even without the rickshaw ride, given the number of niche themed bars we have on offer. Tiki is popular, with Hula Bula Bar and Tiki As FK repping Polynesian-style décor and tropical cocktails, but there’s something for every interest. Honky Tonk in Freo, Mustang Bar and Alabama Song in the CBD both target the cowboys with Americana themes, live music and line dancing, while Rodney’s Bait and Tackle in Mosman Park joins Darling Darling in Freo with nautical themes, the latter leaning more 1800s pirate than anything else.