The 15 best bars in Perth

If you fancy a good rum, Sneaky Tony's has your name written all over it. A hop, skip or stumble down an alleyway in Chinatown and you’ll find yourself at the unassuming door of Sneaky Tony’s – Perth’s top secret premium rum bar. If you wish to enter, you’ll have to proclaim the daily password, which may or may not be found on Facebook or Instagram. One you mutter those magic words to the gatekeeper through the tiny, peeking-shutter in the prohibition-style door – well there’s a few more doors – but then you’ll be met with an exposed-brick and timber-laden speakeasy with a touch of American-forward decor. With shelves boasting an impressive collection of more than 300 rums from all four corners of the globe, there’s sure to be something to tickle your fancy. Or, go hard on the cocktails, in which you can order an entire crystal punch bowl. For those after hard liquor, the expert mixologists will pinpoint the perfect drink for you.

Time Out tip: There’s no signage on the outside of Sneaky Tony’s locale. Just listen carefully for the tunes, and keep a weather eye on punters who look like they know what they’re doing.
Address: 38 Roe Street, Northbridge
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 5pm-12am

Hook, line and sinker, Madalena’s is easily one of the best bars in Western Australia, and it has certainly claimed a spot in our guide to the best restaurants in Perth, too. This South Fremantle bar boasts an old-world flair with plenty of gold detailing, timber touches, and mid-century light fixtures that complement the seaside daylight just nicely. The sun-filled boteco sources the freshest sustainably caught seafood from local suppliers at Fins Seafood and pairs it with seasonal goodness from their thriving kitchen garden. Madalena’s ever-changing menu sees the likes of Fremantle octopus with tamarind, chipotle and duck fat, as well as Abrolhos Islands red throat emperor with chamomile butter – simple yet effective. The wine list is always on rotation too, but you can expect to wind down on the weekend with a chardonnay off Madalena’s white marble bar or settle in upstairs for a well-shaken cocktail and fantastic sunset over the Indian Ocean horizon.

Time Out tip: Given Madalena’s extremely convenient beachside locale, you may as well make a day of it and soak up Perth's extended sunny afternoon with a swim followed by a refreshing curbside beverage.
Address: 406 South Terrace, South Fremantle
Opening hours: Wed 5pm-10pm; Thurs 4pm-10pm; Fri-Sat 12pm-12am; Sun 12pm-9pm

For the best cocktails in Perth, look no further than Foxtrot Unicorn. Descending the steps into the bar is like descending into another time period, one where decadence abounds and libations are liberal. The former bank vault that dates back to 1887 is now jarrah-clad and filled to the brim with up-cycled materials and vintage bits and bobs from Western Australia’s hospitality history. Despite the old-timey feel of the fitout, the cocktail list is surprisingly contemporary, finding creative uses for native flavours – but if you tend not to stray from tradition, Foxtrot Unicorn will fix you something that matches the decor (queue a Negroni). Inventive numbers might include a Strawberry Gum Gimlet, Quandong Native Blinker or perhaps a Fingerlime Breakfast Martini – all high on our rotation, that’s for sure. And as tempting as the drinks list is, the menu of cheesy jaffles you’ll find on offer is an incongruous pairing that somehow just makes sense. There’s a reason Foxtrot Unicorn comes in hot with a slew of awards behind it.

Time Out tip: Vegans look away – Foxtrot Unicorn doesn’t shy away from taxidermy (preserved animals), which can understandably give some people the heebeegeebees.
Address: Basement, 101 St Georges Terrace, Perth
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 4pm-12am; Sat 4pm-1am; Sun 5pm-1am

Located on the lower ground floor of the beautifully restored, heritage-listed 1910 Perth Technical School, Bar Lafayette is a moody and intimate bar for cocktail and whisky enthusiasts. The bar itself is tucked behind the city’s main drag, St Georges Terrace, among the office high rises of Brookfield Place – a pedestrian thoroughfare that’s nooked with eateries and other wee drinkeries. And while the yesteryear bar is seemingly out of place among the glitzy outdoor plaza – what with its stained-glass chandeliers, Chesterfield couches and gold-gilded artworks – the award-winning hideout just knows how to do it. The thoughtfully curated drinks list features options to please every taste, with cocktail favourites like the white Peach Bellini and herbaceous Alpine Ice Tea, alongside usual suspects like sparkling, beer, white, red and rosé. If it so happens to be a balmy evening, pull up a chair out front and enjoy live music in the alfresco area every Thursday to Saturday. If it’s a frosty Perth evening, however, the cosy interior is bound to help you get warm (and fuzzy). 

Time Out tip: If you’re one to get snacky while sipping, order cheese or charcuterie for the table from 4pm onwards.
Address: Lower level, 125 St Georges Terrace
Opening hours: Wed-Fri 4pm-11:30pm; Sat 6pm-12am

Offering a wine bar experience without any of the pretence and pretension, Vincent Wine is simultaneously upscale and rustic. The corner store is at it again with the ever-so-sought after exposed-brick and olive tree planter combo – you get the idea, it’s cute and a little bit European. Vincent’s bread and butter is charcuterie and by-the-glass vino. The rotating wine menu is hand-written upon the white subway tiles beside the bottle-lined bar, which alludes to the whole seasonality thing. Space is limited, and the venue only takes bookings sometimes, but a small wait is worth your while. The drinks menu is European wines-forward 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 drops and cocktails on offer. The fare is a no-brainer too, with French-esque bites plated up in style. Think freshly shucked oysters and a bistro classic, steak frites for the hungrier stomachs out there.

Time Out tip: If you’re committed to the hike between Mount Lawley’s hum and Northbridge’s light-night buzz, Vincent Wine is the halfway pitstop of dreams.
Address: 465 William Street, Perth
Opening hours: Wed-Thurs 5pm-11pm; Fri-Sat 12pm-12am; Sun 12pm-10pm

In the basement of a 1921 heritage building in the heart of Perth’s CBD is Varnish on King. The interior is a homage to the nouveau dive bars of the USA, while nodding to Perth’s own culture and history with sepia-toned images of the neighbourhood’s yesteryear lining the walls. In true dive bar spirit, Kentucky bourbons and American whiskeys line the shelves behind the bar. It’s a venue that “doesn’t play by the rules” and offers weird and wonderful perks for its customers, such as the ‘Bacon & Whiskey flight’ where four different styles of Whiskey are paired up with four different styles of bacon! Strange, but we like it! Speaking of eats, you’d be pleased to know that Varnish on King doesn’t hold back, with a fully stocked kitchen that churns out a finger-lickin’ combination of American classic with an Aussie twist. Think Portuguese-spiced half chicken straight off the grill, and mega Reuben sandwiches that feature house-made pastrami. You’d be silly to go past the fresh-baked bread with lemon myrtle salted butter, too.

Time Out tip: If you’re not so big on booze, but big on bacon just the same, you’re more than welcome to opt for a sizzling slice sans the whiskey.
Address: 75 King Street, Perth
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 4pm-1am; Fri 4pm-2am; Sat 12pm-2am

Since opening in mid-2023, Bertie Wine Bar has made a big splash on Perth’s bar scene. While the artfully curated wine list is reason enough to visit, the bar has quickly gained notoriety for its eccentric, Brit-centric food. Taking cues from London eateries, their comfort food has been given an upscale reimagining, with dishes like anchovy toast, steak and shoestring fries, and a moreish Scotch egg served alongside house-made brown sauce. It’s elevated pub fare that’s worthy of tip-top Australian wine pairings, aka the best of both worlds. 120 drops are listed on Bertie’s menu, alongside a cocktail list of serious, spirits-heavy tipples, which is equally worth a peruse. Monthly cocktails take turns to grace the specials board too, and refreshing numbers have seen the likes of the Blue Jasmine with hints of gin and blueberry. Nab a seat in the leafy, sun-doused courtyard to soak up all that is the north-east Bassendean neighbourhood, or settle in by the window and admire Bertie’s timber innards and subtle bygone details. Who doesn’t love a good globe luminaire?

Time Out tip: Bassendean is a fair way out of Perth's inner suburbs indeed, but thankfully Bertie Wine Bar is a mere eight-minute walk from Bassendean train station. Dinner and an adventure, anyone?
Address: 77 Old Perth Road, Bassendean
Opening hours: Wed-Thurs 4pm-10pm; Fri 12pm-10pm; Sat 12pm-11pm; Sun 12pm-9pm

Part wine bar, part fromagerie, Powells caters to Perth’s insatiable appetite for a grazing platter and a glass of vino. Tucked town Leederville’s abuzz Electric Lane that is scattered with little eateries and drinking houses, Powells brings a bit more of a refined edge to the precinct. Very French by nature, this fromagerie is petite, clean-cut and lets the fine products do the talking – whether that’s curbside or right up close to the cheese fridge where wheel-gazing is the way to go. Equally as important is the tipple, and the wine list here is both meticulously thought out and invitingly playful. The team keeps the catalogue fresh, rotating new wines to keep things interesting for regulars. And while there are a few comfort options on the menu, like Swan Valley rosé and Margaret River tempranillo, Powells isn’t the place to play it safe. Rather, let the venue tempt you to a pet nat in a can or a glass of Mediterranean-inspired orange wine.

Time Out tip: This spot really is a first for Perth as far as licensed fromageries go. So if you’re looking for something a little different than the local pub, Powells is well-worth a suss.
Address: 12 Electric Lane, Leederville
Opening hours: Wed-Thurs 4pm-9pm; Fri 4pm-9:30pm; Sat 2pm-10pm

Step out of the city and into suburbia – neighbourhood aperitivo bar Volare brings a touch of European wining and dining to Maylands. In the name of preservation, Volare has opted to pay homage to the 1920’s Art Deco interior – the cute-as-a-button light globes remain and vintage train seats turned cushioned vinyl booths amp up the yesteryear ambiance. Nods to the Mediterranean about the place with terracotta flower pots in action, a leafy courtyard that ensures sunlit liquids, and an open-kitchen for the sounds of sizzles. Local wine enthusiasts gather here midweek to make the most of the venue’s aperitivo offerings. House wine is up for grabs, 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.

Time Out tip: Volare is conveniently plonked a mere 30-second walk from Maylands train station, which is just four stops from Perth city. So while it might sound like a bit of a trek, in reality it’s just 15 minutes up the Midlands, Ellenbrook or Airport line.
Address: 198 Whatley Crescent, Maylands
Opening hours: Tues-Thurs 4pm-11am; Fri-Sat 12pm-11pm

Wine Merchant takes a similar approach to wine as its sibling Petition Beer Corner does to brews. Located in the heart of the historic State Buildings in Perth’s CBD, this hybrid bar and wine library makes it easy to enjoy an after-work tipple before grabbing a quality take-home. The focus here is on boutique labels from winemakers with an eye on hand-crafted techniques and organic methods that avoid chemical intervention. The mammoth bottle-lined wall is a testament to Wine Merchant’s seriousness about their mission to bring Perth drinkers the best of the best, with a Director of Wine telling tales of extensive wine lore to top it all off. Wine Merchant also offers a menu of small plates which includes freshly shucked oysters, ham hock croquettes and baked brie with honey and sourdough – perfect complements while exploring the lengthy wine list. 

Time Out tip: The State Buildings also happen to be home to top-tier restaurants, some of the best in Perth, namely Long Chim. So make sure to visit the multi-faceted venue on an empty stomach and ready to hop between eateries and drinkeries.
Address: State Buildings, Corner Barrack Street and St Georges Terrace, Perth
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12pm-10:30pm; Sat 3pm-12am

Both out of sight and out of the ordinary, Ezra Pound is a watering hole well worth seeking. The semi-clandestine speakeasy is sure to impress with its seasonally changing cocktails, plus local beers and wine. While the bar sits literally and laterally at Ezra Pound’s heart, the rest of the joint isn’t without its – admittedly grungy – charm. Well-weathered furniture, brick walls, candle-lit tables and fairy lights outside create a cosy atmosphere. With well-mixed drinks in hand, spaghetti to be scoffed and fresh tunes on constant rotation, life seems very Treasure Island down this graf-covered Northbridge laneway. As of March 2025, Ezra Pound celebrated 15 years of pourin’, dancin’, and general good times, so it’s safe to say the team know a thing or two about fostering fabulous nights out in Northbridge, whether that’s a glistening Spritz in the arvo, a post-dinner vino, or a late-night tawny to send you off the sleep.

Time Out tip: Ezra Pound laneway is a notorious haunt for mingling with the youngins of Perth. Expect to run into old friends, new friends, and everyone in between. 
Address: 189 William Street, Northbridge
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 4pm-12am; Sun 4pm-10pm