Top Cocktail Bars in Perth for a Properly Made Drink
Words by
Olivia Bennett
Top Cocktail Bars in Perth for a Properly Made Drink
Perth has quietly built one of the most impressive craft cocktail scenes in Australia, and if you know where to look, you will find bartenders here who treat mixology with the same seriousness that Melbourne and Sydney have enjoyed for years. The top cocktail bars in Perth are not clustered in one strip. They are scattered across Northbridge, the CBD, Highgate, and Leederville, each one reflecting a different mood and a different chapter of this city's drinking culture. I have spent the better part of three years working my way through them, sometimes three in a single night, and what follows is the list I hand to anyone who asks me where to get a properly made drink in this town.
Perth's cocktail identity is shaped by isolation. Being the most isolated major city in the world means that bartenders here cannot easily fly in guest speakers or attend international festivals on a whim. They have had to develop their own language, their own techniques, and their own sense of what a great bar should feel like. The result is a scene that is less trend-chasing and more genuinely inventive. You will find native Australian botanicals in syrups, locally distilled gins from the Margaret River region, and a willingness to experiment that comes from having to entertain yourself.
What surprised me most when I first started exploring Perth's bars was how many of them are attached to restaurants or hidden behind unmarked doors. There is no single "bar street" the way you might find in Fitzroy or Newtown. You have to know where to go, and once you do, the rewards are significant. The following eight venues represent the best of what Perth has to offer, from tiny six-seat cocktail dens to sprawling rooftop terraces with Indian Ocean breezes.
1. Bar Lafayette, Howard Street (CBD)
Bar Lafayette sits behind a nondescript door on Howard Street, and the first time I walked past it, I thought it was someone's apartment entrance. That is part of its appeal. Once inside, you find a narrow, moody room with dark timber, low lighting, and a bar that seats maybe fifteen people. The cocktail list changes seasonally, but the house specialty is a clarified milk punch that they batch in advance and serve from a glass bottle with a handwritten label. It is silky, complex, and unlike anything else on the Perth menu.
The best time to visit is on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening, before the after-work crowd from the nearby office towers fills the place. I once went on a Friday at 6 PM and waited twenty minutes just to get a seat at the bar. The bartenders here are genuinely knowledgeable. If you tell them what flavors you enjoy, they will build something on the spot that is not on the menu. Last month, I mentioned I liked bitter citrus and smoky spirits, and the bartender made me a mezcal sour with charred grapefruit and a rosemary smoke rinse that I still think about.
Local Insider Tip: "Ask for the back corner seat at the bar, the one closest to the speed rail. That is where the head bartender usually works, and if it is quiet, they will walk you through the entire cocktail list and let you taste the house syrups before you order."
One thing most tourists would not know is that Bar Lafayette sources its citrus from a single farm in the Perth Hills. The owner drives out there every Monday morning to pick up the week's supply, which is why the freshness of the juice in every drink is noticeably different from what you get at bars that use commercial suppliers. The only real complaint I have is that the ventilation is not great. On a busy night, the room gets warm and a bit stuffy, especially if you are seated near the back wall.
2. Varnish on King, King Street (CBD)
Varnish on King is a whiskey bar first and a cocktail bar second, but the cocktails they do make are exceptional. Tucked along King Street in the heart of the CBD, it has the feel of a Prohibition-era speakeasy without the gimmicks. The walls are lined with bottles, the lighting is amber, and the music is always jazz or blues at a volume that allows conversation. Their old fashioned is the benchmark in Perth. They use a house-made demerara syrup, Angostura and orange bitters in precise ratios, and a single large ice cube that they cut by hand from a block.
I recommend going on a Thursday evening, which is when they run a whiskey flight special that pairs three pours with small bites from the kitchen. The bartender who runs the Thursday shift, a woman named Jess, has been there for over four years and can tell you the provenance of every bottle on the shelf. She once spent fifteen minutes explaining the difference between Tasmanian and Scottish peat to me while I sipped a Laphroaig 10, and I left knowing more about whiskey than I had in the previous decade.
Local Insider Tip: "If you are ordering the old fashioned, ask them to make it with the Four Roses Single Select instead of the standard pour. It costs a couple of dollars more, but the spice profile is significantly better, and it is the bottle the bartenders drink themselves after close."
What most visitors miss is that Varnish on King has a small back room that is not visible from the main bar. It seats about eight people and can be booked for private tastings. I discovered it by accident when a staff member opened the door to grab a bottle while I was in the restroom. The room has its own mini-bar and a completely different cocktail list focused on pre-Prohibition recipes. The downside is that the main bar area is quite small, and if you arrive after 8 PM on a weekend, you will likely be standing shoulder to shoulder with other patrons, which makes it hard to enjoy a slow, contemplative drink.
3. The Aviary, James Street (Northbridge)
The Aviary is Northbridge's answer to the question of what a modern craft cocktail bar in Perth should look like. Located on James Street, just a short walk from the Perth Cultural Centre, it has an open kitchen, a long marble bar, and a cocktail program that leans heavily on house-made ingredients. Their shrub sodas, fermented in-house, are a standout. I particularly like the apple and fennel shrub paired with gin and a splash of soda water. It is refreshing without being sweet, and it is the kind of drink that makes you rethink what a non-alcoholic-adjacent cocktail can be.
The best night to visit is Saturday, when the bar runs a late-night menu until midnight and the energy in the room shifts from after-dinner drinks to something more lively. I have spent many Saturday nights here, and the crowd is a good mix of locals and visitors who have done their research. The bartenders are young, energetic, and not afraid to experiment. On my last visit, I watched a bartender muddle fresh bush tomato into a vodka cocktail with lemon myrtle syrup, and it worked beautifully.
Local Insider Tip: "Sit at the far end of the bar, near the kitchen pass. That is where the experimental drinks get tested before they go on the menu, and if you are friendly, the bartenders will sometimes slide you a taste of something they are working on."
The Aviary connects to Northbridge's broader identity as Perth's cultural and nightlife hub. The neighborhood has transformed over the past decade from a somewhat rough area into a destination for food and drink, and The Aviary is one of the venues that helped drive that change. The one issue I have encountered is that the sound levels can get quite high on weekends. The open design and hard surfaces mean that conversation becomes difficult once the room fills up, so if you want to actually talk to your companion, aim for an early evening seat.
4. Tellers Notchers, Highgate (Parry Street)
Tellers Notchers is a small bar on Parry Street in Highgate that most people walk right past without noticing. It is the kind of place that thrives on word of mouth, and once you have been, you will tell everyone you know. The cocktail list is short, maybe ten drinks, but every one of them is executed with precision. Their negroni is the best I have had in Perth. They use a house-made amaro that they infuse with local wattleseed, giving it a nutty, slightly earthy depth that you will not find anywhere else.
I suggest visiting on a Sunday afternoon, when the bar is quiet and the bartenders have time to chat. The owner, a former hospitality worker who spent years in Melbourne's bar scene before returning to Perth, is usually behind the bar on Sundays and has stories about every drink on the menu. He once told me that the wattleseed amaro recipe came from his grandmother's kitchen, where she used to make bush tinctures for colds. That kind of personal connection to the ingredients is what makes this place special.
Local Insider Tip: "Order the negroni, but ask for it 'up' instead of on the rocks. The bartender will serve it in a chilled coupe with a dehydrated orange wheel, and the dilution is perfectly balanced because they stir it to order rather than batching it."
What most tourists would not know is that Tellers Notchers shares a wall with a Vietnamese restaurant next door, and if you mention to the bartender that you are hungry, they will let you order food from the restaurant and eat it at the bar. It is an informal arrangement, not advertised anywhere, but it works perfectly. The only drawback is the size. With maybe twelve seats total, you cannot bring a group larger than four without taking over the entire space, which feels a bit awkward if there are other patrons.
5. Long Chim, Murray Street (CBD)
Long Chim is primarily known as a Thai restaurant, but the bar program deserves its own recognition. Located on Murray Street in the CBD, the ground-floor bar serves cocktails that draw on Thai flavors in a way that feels authentic rather than gimmicky. The lemongrass martini is the signature drink, made with fresh lemongrass syrup, vodka, and a squeeze of lime. It is light, aromatic, and dangerously easy to drink. They also do a tamarind whiskey sour that balances sweet, sour, and smoky in a way that I have never encountered elsewhere.
The best time to visit is during the early evening, between 5 and 7 PM, when the bar is relatively quiet and you can grab a seat without a reservation. I have been here on busy Friday nights and the wait for a drink can stretch to fifteen minutes because the bartenders are also handling orders from the restaurant. On a quieter evening, though, the experience is completely different. The bartender last time took the time to explain how they make the lemongrass syrup in small batches every morning to preserve the freshness.
Local Insider Tip: "Ask for the 'off-menu' Thai basil gin and tonic. It is not listed, but every bartender there knows how to make it. They muddle fresh Thai basil with house-made gin and tonic water, and it is the perfect drink to have before your meal if you are dining upstairs."
Long Chim connects to Perth's growing appreciation for Southeast Asian cuisine and the way that culinary traditions from Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia have shaped the city's food culture. The bar reflects that same cross-pollination. My only real complaint is that the seating at the bar is limited, and the stools are not the most comfortable for a long session. If you plan to have more than two drinks, I would recommend moving to one of the low tables near the window.
6. The Stables Bar, Northbridge (Lake Street)
The Stables Bar is a Northbridge institution. Located on Lake Street, it has been serving drinks in a converted stable building for years, and the character of the original structure is still visible in the exposed brick walls and timber beams. The cocktail list is more approachable than some of the other places on this list, but the quality is consistently high. Their espresso martini is a crowd favorite, made with cold brew from a local roaster and a coffee liqueur that they source from a small-batch producer in Western Australia.
I recommend going on a Wednesday night, which is when they run a cocktail special that rotates weekly. Last month it was a passionfruit daiquiri for twelve dollars, which was arguably the best value cocktail I have had in Perth. The crowd on Wednesdays is a mix of hospitality workers from nearby restaurants and locals who know about the special. The atmosphere is relaxed, the music is good, and the bartenders are the kind of people who remember your name after two visits.
Local Insider Tip: "If you are there on a Wednesday, ask the bartender what the next week's special will be. They usually know by midweek, and if you like it, you can plan your next visit around it. The specials are never repeated, so if you miss one, it is gone."
The Stables Bar is a reminder that not every great cocktail experience in Perth requires a reservation or a dress code. It is a neighborhood bar in the truest sense, and it has survived the ups and downs of Northbridge's evolution by staying consistent. The one issue is that the restroom situation is basic. There is a single unisex toilet, and on busy nights, the queue can be frustrating. It is a small thing, but worth knowing before you settle in for a long evening.
7. Hadiqa, Hay Street (CBD)
Hadiqa is one of the newer additions to Perth's cocktail scene, and it has made an immediate impact. Located on Hay Street in the CBD, it occupies a beautifully restored heritage building with high ceilings, ornate plasterwork, and a bar that feels like it belongs in a much larger city. The cocktail program is ambitious, with a menu that changes every six weeks and features ingredients like Davidson plum, finger lime, and native pepperberry. The last time I was there, I had a drink that combined gin, Davidson plum syrup, and sparkling wine, and it was one of the most memorable cocktails I have had in Australia.
The best time to visit is on a Friday or Saturday evening, when the space is at its most atmospheric. The lighting dims as the night goes on, and the crowd shifts from business casual to something more polished. I went on a Saturday last month and the energy was electric without being overwhelming. The bartenders work in a coordinated way, almost like a kitchen brigade, and watching them build complex drinks with multiple components is genuinely entertaining.
Local Insider Tip: "Ask to sit at the section of the bar closest to the window. The natural light during the day and the streetlight glow at night make that spot the best in the house, and it is also where the most experienced bartender usually stations themselves."
Hadiqa represents a new chapter for Perth's CBD, which has been slowly transforming from a 9-to-5 office district into a destination for evening dining and drinking. The bar's commitment to native Australian ingredients also connects to a broader movement in Perth's food and drink scene toward celebrating what grows locally. The only downside is the price point. Cocktails start at twenty-two dollars and can go up to thirty for the more complex creations, which puts it at the higher end of Perth's bar scene. For the quality, I think it is worth it, but it is not a place for a casual cheap drink.
8. No Mafia, Northbridge (William Street)
No Mafia is technically a Sicilian restaurant, but the bar at the front of the venue on William Street serves some of the best cocktails in Northbridge. The drinks lean Italian, with a focus on amaro, aperitivo, and citrus. Their Aperol spritz is made with house-made Aperol that is less sweet and more bitter than the commercial version, and it is served with a generous pour of prosecco and a thick slice of orange. They also do a Negroni Sbagliato that uses a local sparkling wine instead of prosecco, which gives it a creamier texture.
The best time to visit is during aperitivo hour, which runs from 4 to 6 PM on weekdays. The bar offers discounted cocktails and complimentary snacks, and the atmosphere is exactly what you want from a late afternoon drink. I have spent many weekday evenings here, and it is the kind of place where you arrive planning to have one drink and end up staying for three. The staff are warm and unhurried, and they treat every customer like a regular.
Local Insider Tip: "If you are sitting at the bar, ask the bartender to make you a 'Benny Special.' It is an off-menu drink named after the owner, made with blood orange, Campari, and a splash of soda. It is tart, refreshing, and the perfect aperitivo."
No Mafia is part of a cluster of excellent small bars and restaurants along William Street that have turned Northbridge into Perth's most interesting dining precinct. The bar's Italian focus also reflects the strong Italian-Australian community that has shaped Perth's food culture for generations. The one complaint I have is that the bar area is open to the restaurant, and when the dining room is full, the noise level can make it difficult to have a quiet conversation. If you want a more intimate experience, aim for a weeknight when the restaurant is less busy.
When to Go and What to Know
Perth's cocktail bars are busiest on Friday and Saturday evenings, typically from 7 PM onward. If you want a more relaxed experience, weeknights are your best bet, especially Tuesday through Thursday. Most bars open around 4 or 5 PM and close between 10 PM and midnight, though some stay open later on weekends. Reservations are recommended for Hadiqa and Long Chim, particularly if you want a seat at the bar rather than a table.
Tipping is not expected in Perth, but rounding up or leaving 10 percent for exceptional service is appreciated. Most bars accept card payments, and some are moving toward cashless operations, so do not rely on having cash. The legal drinking age in Australia is 18, and venues are strict about ID, so bring valid photo identification if you look under 25.
Public transport in Perth is free within the CBD zone, which makes bar-hopping between the CBD and Northbridge easy and cost-effective. The train runs until about midnight on weeknights and later on weekends. Rideshare services like Uber and DiDi are widely available and generally affordable, especially if you are traveling between the CBD and nearby suburbs like Highgate or Leederville.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any specific dress codes or cultural etiquettes to keep in mind when visiting local spots in Perth?
Most cocktail bars in Perth have a smart casual dress code, meaning neat jeans and a collared shirt or blouse are perfectly acceptable. Hadiqa and Varnish on King lean slightly more formal, so avoid thongs (flip-flops), singlets, or beachwear. It is culturally common to greet the bartender when you sit down and to thank them when you leave, which is considered basic courtesy in Australian hospitality settings.
How easy is it to find pure vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based dining options in Perth?
Perth has a strong plant-based dining culture, and most cocktail bars that serve food, such as Long Chim and No Mafia, offer clearly marked vegetarian and vegan options on their menus. Dedicated vegan restaurants are concentrated in Northbridge and Fremantle, within easy reach of the main bar districts. Many bars also stock non-dairy milk alternatives like oat and almond milk for coffee-based cocktails upon request.
Is the tap water in Perth in Perth safe to drink, or should travelers strictly rely on filtered water options?
Tap water in Perth is safe to drink and meets Australian drinking water guidelines. It is sourced primarily from desalination plants and groundwater, and most bars and restaurants will serve it freely upon request. Some venues use filtered or carbonated water as their default, but there is no health reason to avoid the tap water.
Is Perth expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.
A mid-tier daily budget in Perth is approximately 180 to 250 AUD per person. This covers a mid-range hotel or Airbnb at 120 to 160 AUD per night, meals at 40 to 60 AUD per day, transport at 10 to 15 AUD per day, and two to three cocktails at 18 to 25 AUD each. Costs can be reduced by using free CBD public transport and taking advantage of aperitivo hour specials, which many bars offer between 4 and 6 PM on weekdays.
What is the one must-try local specialty food or drink that Perth is famous for?
The must-try local drink is a cocktail made with gin from the Margaret River or Great Southern region of Western Australia, which produces some of the country's most awarded craft gins. Many top cocktail bars in Perth feature these gins prominently on their menus. For food, the local specialty is marron, a freshwater crayfish found only in Western Australia, which appears on menus at higher-end restaurants and is best enjoyed simply grilled with butter and native herbs.
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