Discover Perth’s Urban Villages
A cluster of urban villages surrounds the heart of Perth city. Each has its own distinctive personality—whether hipster, grungy, multicultural, or trendy—transforming an exploration of each into a fascinating observation of Western Australian society. These buzzing neighborhoods are also home to some of the best restaurants, bars, and boutiques, each reflecting their locale’s defining style.
Hipster Heaven: Leederville
Leederville is having a moment. Its eclectic strip is brimming with people sipping coffee or wine in the sunshine from 10 am (when cafes, restaurants, and shops open) until late into the night. Most stores don’t close until 10 pm, and its nightlife, naturally, kicks on much later. The train ride is a mere three minutes from the city.
From the exit, pop out at Oxford St and turn left into Kailis Fish Market, which provides excellent insight into local seafood such as marron and rock lobster. If you’re on a tight budget, Siena’s offers affordable pasta and pizza, but spend a little more to enjoy a delicious experience across the road at Spanish tapas house Pinchos (one of the local favorites).
Opposite Pinchos, Bill’s Bar and Bites gets energetic on weekends, while Foam, back on Oxford St, features pavement-facing couches made for people watching. Leederville offers free wifi (look for the City of Vincent Network), making it a popular spot for freelancers who often work from Foam’s large inside table. For shopping, local shoe store Hunter is hard to beat, along with Varga Girl (best to come with cash). Venturing away from the main strip, you’ll discover some hidden gems. Kitsch serves excellent mod-Asian cuisine in upcycled surroundings, next door, Italian alimentari Re Store boasts the best continental rolls in town, and across the street, Pixel Coffee Brewers is widely recognized for its top-notch brews and breakfasts.
Multicultural Mish-Mash: Northbridge
This is the city centre’s gritty little delinquent sister. Divided from the shinier city zone for the past century (and set to be reunited early in 2018 by a vast pedestrian zone), Northbridge has evolved into a hotbed of cultures. Waves of Chinese, Italian, Greek, Indian, and Vietnamese migrants have filled the area with cheerful and affordable restaurants against a backdrop of concrete and neon. New Moon serves excellent all-day dim sum, while Viet Hoa excels in steaming pho, Lucky Chan’s focuses on ramen and a funky rooftop ambiance, and for a touch of class, Shadow’s offers enticing modern European fare in a stylish setting. Begin your Northbridge adventure by wandering along William St, where you’ll discover homegrown designers (favorites include Merge, run by a WA fashion graduate, Periscope for tailored goods, and Fi and Co for whimsical vintage pieces) and, at the far end, a brilliant assortment of unique gifts at William Topp.
If you’re starting later in the day, head upstairs to Mechanics Institute rooftop bar – it’s accessed via a narrow laneway off the Perth Cultural Centre. Continue your night at Sneaky Tony’s (be sure to get the password from its Facebook page), swing back to The Bird for live music, then head over to Ezra Pound for unique cocktails. Wrap up your night at a dive bar with a lively, post-midnight dance floor, Joe’s Juice Joint. Two additional gems to remember: ChiCho Gelato serves the finest handmade gelato this side of the Nullarbor, and Rooftop Movies features an open-air cinema atop a car park, especially delightful when they’re screening classic films. Bonus tip: Alex Hotel is the trendiest and best-located accommodation in the city.
Stylish and Smooth: Subiaco
Subiaco, one of Perth’s leafy suburbs, offers a cross-shaped residential area divided by Hay St and Rokeby Rd. There’s plenty to explore on each side, ranging from cafes to boutiques, bars, and large, beer-focused pubs. One quirky highlight is a cat café named Purrth. You can schedule 30 or 60-minute sessions with the resident rescue cats (and yes, Purrth cat café has a solid animal welfare policy, as we inquired). Another significant attraction is the Saturday Subiaco Farmers Market, where from 8 am to noon, visitors can fill their bags with local fruits and vegetables, crusty bread, Instagram-worthy cupcakes, and cured meats.
While much of ‘Subi’ has an upscale yet commercial feel, a trip south on Rokeby Rd to the end near Kings Park reveals a cluster of hidden treasures. On the corner of Heytesbury Rd, Juanita’s bar serves as a local favorite that spills onto the pavement. A bit tiki, a bit upcycled, and a lot of fun, it features a well-curated wine list and exceptional mezze platters (the owner’s artworks adorn the walls). A couple of doors down, Lady of Ro specializes in char-grilled Mediterranean dinners by candlelight. Then there’s the bustling Boucla, a café with a lively Moroccan ambiance, where great coffee is paired with even greater cakes.
For food lovers, Subiaco has two standout options: Lulu la Delizia serves artisanal pasta made using recipes from Italy’s Friuli region, while New Normal offers a sleek modern dining experience where vegetable dishes often rival their meaty counterparts. Both venues are located just off Subiaco’s well-trodden main streets.
