While Perth may be known as a sleepy city, the CBD is anything but. With new bars and restaurants opening their doors seemingly every day, the Central Business District isn’t just for business but also for pleasure.
There’s no shortage of activities to occupy yourself with when in the CBD. Shopping and bar-hopping come to mind, with multitudes of options concentrated within just a couple blocks. Forrest Chase, Hay Street Mall, Murray Street Mall and Raine Square provide just about everything you could think to shop for, with the latter three connecting directly to Perth Underground Station. Bars, restaurants and assorted cafes line the streets when it’s time to kick your feet up. For food and drink, the Localista guides feature 353 options in the CBD—you won’t struggle at all to find something delicious, luxurious or walk-in.
If the bars in the CBD weren’t exciting enough, Northbridge would be the place for bars, pubs, and nightclubs. Every local has a story of their most memorable night out in Northbridge, just a bridge walk from the CBD. This is the definitive destination in Perth for a night on the town, with venues ranging from pool and snooker houses, laid-back specialty cocktails, vibrant multi-story clubs and a classic Irish pub. Ending your night with some greasy takeaway food is easy, but it is rivalled by the high-quality desserts and multicultural cuisines that open late into the night.
Even during the day, Northbridge is a cultural hub. The Perth Cultural Centre is a gathering of Perth’s key arts and culture institutions, conveniently just a short walk from the train station. The Centre includes the Art Gallery of WA, WA Museum Boola Bardip, State Library of WA, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, the State Theatre Centre of WA and The Blue Room Theatre. Arts and history lovers will thrive, but so will families, particularly when visiting the $500 million redeveloped WA Museum and its eight permanent exhibits that provide education and entertainment. The State Theatre Centre is generally regarded as an architectural triumph and is not to be missed alongside the CBD’s more famous landmarks.
The waterfront precinct of Elizabeth Quay is the perfect place to spend an evening. Right on the edge of the Swan River, the Quay’s prime location means there’s no shortage of beautiful views and activities to pass the time while taking them in. Stroll in via the suspension bridge, check out the Bell Tower, and grab some ice cream from Gusto Gelato for your walk around the precinct. For the most up-close Swan River experience, a gondola ride would send your visit to the next level.
The Gondolas on the Swan that launch from Elizabeth Quay take in the sights of Kings Park from the water, but you would be missing out if you didn’t see the Kings Park and Botanical Gardens firsthand. The park features over 3000 species of WA’s unique flowers and plants and numerous lookouts to view the Perth skyline, picnic areas, cafes, and walking trails. Most locals never would’ve taken a guided park tour, but they’re well worth it. One of the several Indigenous-ran cultural tours unlocks a side of the vast gardens that you may have never considered.