Best Restaurants in Perth, Western Australia

Known for being the longest city in the world, stretching almost 150kms along Australia’s west coast, Perth is surrounded by amazing tourist destinations. The happiest animal in the world (Quokkas) can be visited on Rottnest Island, delicious wines savoured at Margaret River, and the longest timber jetty in the Southern Hemisphere (2km) walked at Busselton.

With all these fantastic places nearby, you can see why visitors jump straight to road tripping the Western Australia coastline. However, wandering around Perth’s CBD you will find many laneways which hide gorgeous boutique shops and restaurants. I have been to Perth numerous times, for work and play, and have discovered some fabulous places to eat. This article is dedicated to my top 5 places to stop each time I’m in the city, along with a few honourable mentions.

1. Crew & King Cafe

Location: 825 Hay Street, Perth

Conveniently located in the Majesty’s Theatre, Crew & King Cafe has plenty of fresh options for anytime of day. The menu offers a wide selection of foods, from light snacks to have on the go, to lunch and larger main meals.

The art deco style and moody vibes of the cafe make it a great place for a dinner date, however it’s also peaceful to escape to for lunch and/or enjoy a coffee. Seats lining the front windows also make it a brilliant spot to sit and people watch!

Cottage cheese, rocket and fig bruschetta with balsamic dressing

2. Nippon Izakaya Bar and Restaurant

Location: QV1 Plaxa, 250 St Georges Terrace, Perth

Nippon Bar and Restaurant is without a doubt my favourite restaurant in Perth, serving eclectic dishes that combine the best of Australian and traditional Japanese cuisines. The entire restaurant has been perfectly crafted for an all-round fantastic dining experience, from an amazingly decorated cherry blossom bar, low-slung white cushioned seats, and beautiful glassware.

All produce is locally sourced so the menu offers a broad range of smaller plates and large share dinners; the wait staff were great in offering advice when I had trouble deciding between all the different options. The menu is seasonal, so when I visited in summer there was a selection of sushi and sashimi plates, oysters, gyoza, wagyu tataki, tako karaage (marinated octopus) and more.

Pork gyoza, teriyaki chicken with rice and Japanese potato salad, and Clandestine Pinot Noir (Adelaide Hills, South Australia)

3. The Belgian Beer Cafe

Location: Corner of King and Murray Street, Perth

The Belgian Beer Cafe can only be described as an brilliantly fun pub that oozes in charm. Stepping through the front doors you are transported into a different time; 1930’s style covers every inch of the bar and bistro.

Whilst being famous for its huge selection of Belgian beer, the menu is also packed full of delicious, and generously portioned, pub classic and modern Australian foods. Happy hour is every Monday to Friday from 5pm to 6pm and there is also live music every Friday night from 4pm; this is a great addition to the already upbeat and energetic vibes of the brilliant beer cafe/ pub.

Herb crusted Salmon with roasted duck fat chat potatoes and broccolini

4. Simple Italian Cucina Pizzeria

Location: 413 Murray Street, Perth

Simple is a gorgeous, family-owned Italian restaurant with multiple locations across Perth. The Mediterranean menu has all the dishes you would expect from an authentic Italian restaurant, including arancini, burrata caprese, pastas, seafood, and woodfire pizza.

I stopped in for breakfast; they have an Italian market-style takeaway window for you to order pastries, toasties and other sweet treats. They also have a selection of fresh, home made juices; I had the Strawberry Bang (apple, strawberries and lime) which was so delicious I drank it all in about 30 seconds. I dined in and had a breakfast so large I could only get through half, and the coffee was the best I’d had during my trip to Perth that week.

Bruschetta with toasted sourdough bread, avocado, cherry tomatoes, Stracciatella cheese and balsamic glaze

5. Durty Nelly’s

Location: 397 Murray Street, Perth

If you are after a hearty pub feed then Durty Nelly’s is the place to go. It’s not just a typical Irish Bar; what makes it special is that the interior was designed and constructed in Ireland by Irish architects, using genuine materials, then disassembled and transported to Perth, well and truly reinforcing its authenticity claim.

Traditional Irish dishes dominate the menu, from golden Beef & Guinness pie, fry-ups with black pudding, to signature Sunday roast dinners. The portions are generous, and I could only eat half, however the steak was cooked to perfection and was washed down with an equally generous pour of wine.

Note: Ross here – I haven’t been to Durty Nelly’s so can’t corroborate Kelly’s view above, however I’ll make sure this article is updated once I’ve tried it out!!