Perth’s food game has come a long way over the last several years, to a point where we legitimately have some of the best restaurants in the country and are challenging for the title of Australia’s Foodie Capital.
As the calibre of restaurants has improved, more and more conversations have been sparked debating Perth’s best restaurants. So to get a more balanced take on the debate, we asked some of Perth’s biggest foodies for their two cents on the who’s who of the Perth dining scene. Here’s what they said:
Taylor James
Instagram: @taylorrjames
A spot I’m loving at the moment is Bar Vino. It’s a cosy wine bar that ticks perfect scores in my world. Being the new local, it’s my go-to relaxing spot when I want to add some extra magic to my week. Walking inside, the rich burgundy interiors and old-world charm make it feel authentically Italian, yet you’re in the leafy streets of suburban Mount Lawley. We love Bar Vino for all its little details: soft linen napkins, beautiful big wine glasses, and perfectly curated music — all run by a skilled team who are excellent at their job. The food and wine are a bonus. Our dining ritual begins with the Bar Vino Spritz and Bar Vino Negroni — we love their take on the classics. We usually have the crudités, market fish crudo, and tomato crostini with anchovies. Pasta is always a must and you can’t go past their famous light and fluffy ricotta gnocchi. Their prawn pasta is possibly the best seafood pasta in Perth right now. Then if you have room, the lamb cutlets with Jerusalem artichokes and zucchini are perfection. Finally, no meal at Bar Vino is complete without treating oneself to their heavenly tiramisu!
Lauren Dunn
Instagram: @so.cooked
In the heart of Fremantle, Capri is a family-owned and operated restaurant that hasn’t changed since 1954. I love that they serve complimentary homemade minestrone soup with every meal and you can often see the Nonna in the kitchen cooking, with the aromas flooding the dining room. I love going there with my Mum and Dad and a nice bottle of Shiraz. The Cotoletta alla parmigiana is the meal I order every time, without fail.
Food And I
Instagram: @food_and_i
Our all-time favourite is Balthazar — we have been returning there for years to celebrate our special occasions. The food is always beautifully presented and delicious and the cocktails are so good, too! We always have to order the cruller doughnut to finish the night!
Bernadette Maree
Instagram: @bernadette_maree
One of my absolute favourite restaurants is Nobu at Crown Perth. The innovative Japanese cuisine crafted by renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa is simply exquisite. While it’s nearly impossible to choose just one standout dish from their incredible menu, a few that I always crave are the melt-in-your-mouth yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño, the decadent black cod with miso, and the addictively crunchy and spicy tuna crispy rice. Each bite is a flavour explosion that transports me to culinary nirvana. Dining at Nobu is a truly unforgettable experience.
Perth Food Gram
Instagram: @perthfoodgram
My favourite place to eat in Perth is the modern African restaurant, Peasants Paradice. I love it because every item on the menu is packed full of flavour and cooked with heart. Many of the dishes are inspired by family recipes but with a modern spin. The team is so friendly and inviting, and they’re also involved in the Northbridge community which, as a local, is great to see! When it comes to what to order, everything is delicious, so you can’t go wrong.
Courtney
Instagram: @foodieguideperth
I love Manuka Woodfire Kitchen in Fremantle because the vibe is cosy and casual but the food is astronomically good. Everything melts in your mouth and the service is top-notch. The menu changes seasonally but a must-order is the flatbread with a range of their dips. Then any of the meat options are divine, and don’t sleep on the vegetables, either. It’s definitely my favourite restaurant in Perth!
Jason Balchand
Food editor at So Perth
The title of Best Restaurant In Perth is a constant and hotly contested debate in our office. There are so many great places to choose from, depending on your mood and what you’re craving. From some of the more well-known places like Lulu La Delizia to those hidden places that few people know about like Haku, a secret six-seater omakase restaurant that will have you wishing you could eat there every day.
At the moment, though, I have to choose Santini Bar & Grill; for the ambience, the years of consistency, and the attention to detail. Stand-out dishes for me are the wood-fired Abrolhos Island scallops and wood-grilled Abrolhos Island octopus for starters; followed by the squid ink risotto. Santini also has a well-curated wine list that will satisfy even the most discerning of tastes — from WA masterpieces like the entire Leeuwin Estate Art Series range and Swinnet Farvie Syrah to some of the best Italian and French drops.
Carly
Instagram: @perthmunchkin
There are so many lovely spots in Perth, but Spritz Spizzicheria in Mt Hawthorn has long sat very high on the favourites list. It’s also the place I eat at more than any other. It’s had the same menu since it opened and every visit is so consistently delicious! Their Aperol Spritz is the best in town, with the soda water added with a dramatic flourish at your table. And it’s the team that makes the place as special as it is. They make everyone feel so welcome — it’s such a warm and lively vibe. The two go-to pasta dishes I alternate between are the slow-braised beef cheek ravioli in a classic arrabbiata sauce and the veal, mushroom, and truffle agnolotti with sage, butter and cream. So darn good!
Anastasia
Instagram: @perth_foodies_checklist
My favourite place is hands down Seven Sins in Roleystone! I have loved this place from the first time I visited and when asked where to go for dinner, I recommend it everytime. Chef Sebastian and his team cannot be faulted — the food is absolutely sublime so they are often booked out on weekends! The sunsets on that hill are also absolutely exquisite. Pair that with the live music and fairy lights and it really is such a beautiful spot for dinner. Everytime I go, I always opt for the crayfish pasta, I can also recommend the pork knuckle.
Perth Feast
Instagram: @perthfeast
My favourite place to eat in Perth is currently Myaree’s General Store. I eat a lot of acai which goes down a treat after working out. If that’s not your jam, they do some of the best continental rolls in Perth. Wash this down with a coffee and you’re set. I love how relaxed it is and the strong community and local vibe about it. The staff and service is always fabulous and they make you feel part of the family.
Lil Perth Foodie
Instagram: @lilperthfoodie
Sundays Everyday in Myaree has a special place in my heart because I’ve been going there for basically 10 years and the food hits the spot every time. It’s one of those simple and yet super delicious lunch options for under $20.00! The karaage chicken is super good but the karaage chicken udon has been my go-to since day one.
Perth Food Adventures
Instagram: @perthfoodadventures
My favourite restaurant in Perth is Ya Kwang Singaporean Hawker. Located at Spencer Village Food Court in Thornlie, it has such an authentic vibe, transporting you right back to the hawkers in Singapore. When I’m craving something tasty and delicious, it’s the perfect comfort food! The Singapore fried hokkien noodles and ban mian are signature dishes I always go back for.
Perthfoodette
Instagram: @perthfoodette
As an Asian foodie my favourite everyday eatery would be Bateman Chinese Eating House. It’s good value, tasty, and has operated there for more than 20 years. It also has the best fish head noodle soup in Perth!
Perth Dude Food
Instagram: @perthdudefood
Mama Mahoneys at the Malaga Markets reminds me of the food I ate growing up as a young kid in the midwest USA. I order either the Patty Melt or Reuben Sandwich and I don’t leave without key lime pie – or something similar – by the slice. Root beer floats (spiders), legit chicken fried steak, and white gravy, it’s comfort food to the max. The staff are super nice and laid-back even though it’s super busy.
