The Perth Hit List: What to do and where to go on a three or five day stay

Fremantle is renowned for coffee and colonial architecture; the Lodging exploits both. This contemporary guesthouse is a restored terrace with bones dating all the way back to the late 1800s, well positioned on bustling High Street and just walking distance to some of the suburb’s delicious and cosy cafés, bars and restaurants. Ten guests sleep comfortably inside the four suites that boast modern, monochrome décor thanks to ornate fireplaces and four-poster beds. The bathrooms all feature Grown Alchemist products while the walls serve as canvases for black-and-white prints of pop culture icons like Elvis and Sophia Loren. Book either one room and share the kitchen and living spaces with other travellers or take the entire house exclusively.

Situated right in the beating heart of Perth’s cultural hub is a hotel gaining a reputation not only for its exquisite breakfast buffet, Italian sheets and Turkish cotton towels, but for its roof top. Perth is blessed with some of the best weather in the country, so catch a glimpse of the sunset before it dips over the horizon during cocktail hour or hot desk with a coffee during the day in one of the many communal spaces. The rooms are small but functional, but why be inside watching Netflix when you can pop downstairs and catch a live show around the corner at the Black Swan Theatre Company or grab a world-famous toastie from Toastface Grillah, the sandwich shop just down the road that was rated third on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat list in 2016?

Ensconced inside a 1898 heritage-listed building on Freo’s bustling Pakenham Street, the eatery and bakery is not only for carb enthusiasts. While all dishes on the menu are designed to be paired with the bread made out the back, gluten-free and vegan dishes are plentiful. Crowd pleasers and tastebuds teasers like the black vinegar chicken and pork belly are popular, but be sure to order dessert: bread and butter pudding with condensed milk ice cream, or flourless chocolate cake with Oreos and burnt toast ice cream.

The casual cousin of Bib & Tucker is tucked off the beaten track down in East Fremantle. This café does everything from Soul Food to raw, paleo and organic options, and does them well. With items like CocoWhip, twice-cooked pork belly, gluten-free peanut butter waffles and smashed avocado on toasted cornbread, there will be no regrets in spending your house deposit here on a made-for-Instagram menu. Drown your sorrows in some kombucha (served on tap) or a soda made in house.

A little piece of Seminyak right on the Swan River is the perfect place to spend an afternoon west side. The Bali institution has launched in Perth and offers three distinct venues inside the one establishment. After something casual, some breakfast or just a quiet drink, head to the Deck for 270-degree views of the river. The menu changes at noon and slips into something more Mediterranean; the bigoli carbonara served with a duck egg and crab linguine are high-achievers, but the pizzas are A+, especially as they are cooked in a Pavesi oven, just like they do at Roberta’s in Brooklyn. Leave your Havaianas at the hotel though – the Perth chapter of the Bali bar demands more fashion-forward attire than flip flops.

Make the most of the warmer weather (year round) and head to Bathers Beach, just a short stroll from the Fremantle CBD. While most tourists love the sunset vista over Cottesloe, Freo’s local haunt is less crowded than the western suburbs but the seafood is fresher than the Fremantle Doctor (afternoon sea breeze). Bathers Beach House is a touch of the Hamptons right on the water, complete with a meandering boardwalk. Grab some local crunchy prawns or tempura squid from seafood institution Cicerellos just before dusk for one of the best al fresco experiences in Perth.

The Messina of the west is becoming just as popular as its east coast counterpart. Gusto Gelato is all handmade in small batches using traditional artisanal production techniques learned by owner Sean Lee in Bologna. Flavours are made from scratch, with no commercial pastes or artificial flavours – which is why five scoops is a must. People line up in the two locations in Elizabeth Quay and Leederville for tastes like 3 Bears, honey gelato with dark chocolate sauce smashed with Tiny Teddies and Chief Wiggum, a coffee flavour mixed with a caramel sauce and pieces of cinnamon donut. The best bit? Stores are open seven days, 11am till 10pm.

The historic pub reopened in 2016 after it was partially destroyed by fire in 2008 and, like a phoenix that become a publican, it’s back better than ever. The lengthy restoration saved the majority of the shell: now, unrendered walls welcome clientele who are flocking to the northern suburbs hotspot for good old fashioned counter meals with a twist, like cheeseburger spring rolls and smoked pork bao, and a beer and wine list longer than the Great Northern Highway. Choose from more than 18 brews on tap or visit the specialist gin and whisky bar.

Rottnest Island – or Rotto – is an A-class nature reserve boasting 63 white-as-snow beaches perfect for snorkelling, diving, surfing off the back breaks and posting to Instagram with #nofilter. Jump on a ferry from Fremantle or Barrack Street Jetty, where the ride will take about an hour and either stay for the day lapping up the sun or overnight at one of the many chalets or inside Hotel Rottnest, the only hotel on the island for now. A new marina and luxury glamping experience, which is expected to open in late 2017, will no doubt attract more visitors “overseas”. One thing that won’t change is the quokkas. The marsupials are native to Rottnest and are heavily protected, yet love to investigate and mingle with new visitors, especially those who have visited Rottnest Bakery – be warned, your sourdough will not be safe. They are the main patrons of Hotel Rottnest’s beer garden so if you are lucky, expect meet the furry critters up close. Remember to always approach with caution when leaning in for a selfie.

Qantas flies daily to Western Australia.

What to do and where to go on a three or five day stay

What to do and where to go on a three or five day stay