Perth’s Optus Stadium is set to host a blockbuster Italian football match when AC Milan take on AS Roma on Friday, May 31st in an Asia Pacific exclusive. So it’s only right to celebrate the sporting spectacle with an Italian-themed long weekend visiting some of Perth’s best Italian restaurants. We’ve done the leg-work — so you don’t have to — and rounded up eight not-to-be-missed Italian restaurants, worthy of the bucket list.
Garum
Roll in for an aperitivo inside the Roman osteria born from a collaboration between Guy Grossi and The Westin Perth. Housed within the historic Hibernian Hall in the Perth CBD, Garum’s menu focuses on ancient Roman techniques and modern Italian classics. Settle in for the crowd pleasing tonnarelli cacio e pepe, rigatoni all’Amatriciana, and Arkady lamb shoulder.
Lulu La Delizia
Lulu’s is easily the crown jewel of Perth’s Italian dining scene, and for good reason. This small Subiaco-based eatery and wine bar specialises in the crème de la crème of fresh, handmade pasta. Named in honour of nonna Luigia Valvasori who emigrated to Australia in 1952 from the north eastern Italian town of Casarsa della Delizia, the neighbourhood restaurant has well and truly finessed the art of authentic Italian. You can expect a small but mighty menu of cured meats, cheeses, and olives, accompanied by nonna’s meatballs, and pawn gnocchetti. Celebrity chef Marco Pierre White also named the osteria his favourite Australian restaurant, while Nigella Lawson also raved about her visit last month.
Santini Bar and Grill
Inspired by the sun and seasons, the award-winning Santini at QT Perth celebrates classic Italian dining, paired back with everything that’s good about Western Australia. The open-plan kitchen shows off the smoky wood fire coals and hanging handmade pasta. While the bold terracotta and turquoise hues of the dining room add to the gorgeously Mediterranean feel. Curated by Creative Culinary Lead Nic Wood, the menu focuses on fresh seasonal produce, thoughtfully sourced, and simply cooked. Think local aged parmesan, custom-made burrata and freshly-picked San Marzano tomatoes. If you like the sound of rigatoni alla vodka, diavola pizza, and veal parmigiana, you’ll be in something like heaven.
alba
The newly redeveloped Stories mega-venue at Yagan Square is home to Perth’s newest Italian restaurant, alba. The name is synonymous with the cuisine of Piedmont — a region of Italy bordering France and Switzerland — and modern Italian cuisine. With options to dine both indoor and alfresco, the aesthetic is contemporary, bright, and airy with hanging pendant lights, blush and olive tones, and sprawling CBD views. Guided by the capable hands of head chef Adam Szymankiewicz and executive chef Sundoo Kim, the gorgeous open-plan kitchen also blurs the line between diners and chefs.
Vin Populi
From the ever-evolving menu etched on a central chalkboard to the excellent wine list and seasonal produce peppered across plates, Vin Populi is a shining light in the Fremantle food scene. Translated from Italian as “wine for the people,” Vin Populi opened its doors on the historic High Street in Fremantle in early 2023. Since then, it’s built an Instagram following of almost 19,000 and has quickly become a cult favourite for its dreamy aesthetic and legendary dishes. Pick a spritz or glass from the wine list which revolves around Italian varietals and small, family-run WA producers. Then pair it with olives and salumi while soaking up the bustling atmosphere of the kerbside alfresco. Or settle for the equally romantic mosaic-tiled interior, which conjures visions of traditional Italian trattorias, while remaining modern and oh so stylish.
Il Lido
What was once a seaside 1930’s art-deco cabaret hall perched on Cottesloe Beach, is now an Italian-inspired espresso bar and restaurant. With a killer wine list and banging cocktails, the Il Lido team are passionate about everything from pasta, to coffee and cheese — which is fabulous because so are we! We’re talking Abrolhos Islands scallops, cherry tomato and stracciatella gnocchi, mushroom and ricotta tagliatelle, charred Rottnest swordfish, and Margaret River wagyu flank steak. But whatever you do, save room for their ridiculously creamy tiramisu which is enough to render you speechless. It’s also an ideal location to channel the coastal towns of Italy with a coffee or aperitivo while gazing at the ocean.
POST
Nestled in what was once the franking room of the city’s General Post Office, the aptly named POST is all about platforming the tastes, tales, and traditions of Italy. Headed by Executive Chef Kim Brennan, the menu nods to European simplicity with jaw-dropping flavour combinations, and high quality local produce. To celebrate the Italian rivalry of AC Milan and AS Roma, POST will be offering Milan and Rome-inspired pasta specials from May 25th to June 14th. Think risotto Milanese with slow-cooked osso bucco and gremolata, and rigatoni cacio e pepe. If you need further convincing, the intimate, dimly lit restaurant also boasts one of our favourite wine lists in Perth — the perfect location for date night or a post-work catch-up.
Gino’s Café
A visit to Fremantle’s iconic Cappuccino Strip is also a must. Since the 1970s, many cafés and restaurants have come and gone, however, one has stood the test of time. Having operated on its corner location for an impressive 30 years, Gino’s Café is an institution. Hailing from a small Italian village, founder, and tailor Gino Saccone opened up the trattoria in 1983 after being fed up with the poor coffee in Perth. Gino’s is now one of the most popular cafés to stop for a coffee and soak up the atmosphere of the eclectic port city.
