With the 2024 AFL season delivering one of the most hotly contested finals periods in recent memory, and the imminent AFLW season full of renewed promise for the Dockers and Eagles women’s sides (with heaps of the action to take place at Mineral Resources Park in Lathlain!), there’s no better place to experience the action than in WA’s Home of Footy — Vic Park.
The destination is a hotspot for all thing’s entertainment, food, and leisure, brimming with a range of unique and culturally diverse hospitality offerings. If you ask us, there’s really no better place to grab a bite and a tipple before bounce-down and well after the final siren has sounded.
If you’re travelling en route to Optus Stadium, we recommend making a pitstop in Vic Park to explore all the best pre and post-game pubs, cafés, and restaurants. Whether you’re in the market for a casual pub feed or something more elevated, you’ll find it all. Here’s our guide to the ultimate night out at the footy.
Pubs for a casual, pre-game pint
The Camfield
The Camfield is Australia’s largest pub with five bars, 175 beer taps, an onsite micro-brewery, and a huge beer garden just 100 metres from Optus Stadium. Naturally, it’s our go-to before bounce down. If you’re feeling nibbly, the venue’s share-style menu champions crowd favourites like Amelia Park steak sandwiches, chicken parmigianas, and woodfired pizza.
Blasta Brewing
Heading to the game and keen to pop in for a pint nearby? Blasta Brewing is an epic spot to swing in for a munch and tipple. The name derives from Scottish Gaelic and translates to delicious in English, so it’s only fitting that the beers and bites live up to the hype. The new Blasta Collective spans across 4,200 square metres over two venues which are joined by a picturesque laneway, and boast Perth’s first world-class gastrobrewery, a beer hall, an alfresco area and playground, and Blasta Coffee café.
Balmoral Hotel
Vic Park’s treasured local pub, Balmoral Hotel, has plenty of screens and a gorgeous beer garden setting that’s just perfect for a pre-game beverage. If you want to get fired up before cheering on your team, you’ll need to get your hands on a Spicy Tommy’s Margarita made from in-house chilli tequila.
Vic Park Hotel
Set in the heart of Victoria Park, the Vic Park Hotel has been standing since 1927 and recently underwent a massive $2.3 million revamp including a brand-new beer garden. It’s the ultimate place to pull in for a pint and lip-smacking Brazilian-inspired eats among an aesthetic blend of modern and heritage architecture. Think salt and lemon pepper calamari, cauliflower bites, classic cheeseburgers, steak sandwiches, and the iconic chicken parmigiana. That’s a big yes from us.
Boston Brewing Co
The team at Boston Brewing Co are guaranteed to keep you fed and watered with a killer range of its own brews, wines, and cocktails. Food-wise, expect share plates including crispy Brussels sprouts, baked brie, and Moroccan lamb meatballs. As well as more substantial offerings like pan-fried gnocchi, roast pork belly, and char-grilled porterhouse steak. Say no more.
Fox Friday Perth
One of Perth’s newest editions is the Tasmania-based craft brewery Fox Friday which opened its Perth taproom doors in April. The brewers took over the former Blasta space in Burswood, following Blasta’s move down the road at the start of the year. In terms of food, you’ll find everything from Nashville hot chicken burgers to chargrilled Fremantle octopus and steak sandwiches so you can tuck into a feed before the action.
The Carlisle Hotel & Distillery
From hearty pub meals and ice cold beers to daily specials and weekly entertainment, there’s something for everyone at The Carlisle Hotel. With a new-look beer garden and big screen, plus new outdoor furniture and a pizza oven, this place sports one of Perth’s best beer gardens. If you’re a fan of the steak sandwich, The Carlisle has had its iteration nominated for WA’s best in 2017, 2018, and 2019. You could resist, but why would you?
Empire Bar
Whether you’re looking for an expansive outdoor garden bar to sink a couple of pints or an energetic sports hub, the Empire Bar has it all. Every Friday night, the venue comes alive with electric performances from live bands, then the house DJs bring the party on Saturdays. Not to mention weekly Sunday Sessions, complete with cocktail and food specials, to finish the weekend off. Plus, they also host pre-game panels with player appearances from the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers, so what’s not to love? The best part? Optus Stadium is only a 1.5-kilometre walk away.
Brew Garage
Brew Garage is a suburban brewery built upon years of homebrewing experience. As the name suggests, the venue operates out of a garage in an industrial pocket of East Victoria Park. Oozing a rustic and relaxed feel, this craft brewery and urban winery is open Thursday through Saturday serving perfected drinks and everyone’s favourite game day snack, pizza.
Palace Arcade
From Space Invaders to Donkey Kong, get retro with a round of pre or post-footy games at Palace Arcade, Perth’s first arcade bar. With three locations including one in Vic Park, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to whiling away the hours on original arcade machines from the 80s and 90s. If you’re feeling fruity, indulge in a Cookie Dough Old Fashioned or Princess Peach from their groovy cocktail selection, paired with a giant New York-style 22-inch pizza.
Restaurants and bars for a dinnertime bite
Although, we’ll never say no to a bucket of chips, sometimes stadium food just doesn’t do it for you. If you’re keen for a more elevated dinnertime feast before the big game, Vic Park is host to a variety of bars and restaurants that will please any appetite.
Cosy Del’s
Tucked tidily in the heart of Lathlain, Cosy Del’s is a quaint neighbourhood wine bar with a whole lot of charm. Inspired by the north of Italy, the menu is ever-rotating with both new and old-world bottles. Food-wise, expect the romance of homemade focaccia and handmade duck ragu pappardelle, alongside burrata, cured meats, and charcoal fish. The tiramisu is a must and trust us when we say you’d be crazy to leave without trying it. Delizioso!
Panchos Mexican Restaurant
For more than 40 years, Panchos has been the place to go for laid back Mexican fare. Sporting a buzzing atmosphere and generous servings, it’s a great place for a casual feed and irresistible midweek specials. Whether you’re a fajita fiend or eyeing the nachos, you’ll find it all here. We recommend grabbing one of the lusciously moreish frozen cocktails while you’re at it.
Catalano’s Cafe
For casual Italian eats, the family-owned Catalano’s is a winner with generous portions and affordable options. You’d be mad to look past the extensive selection of pasta and woodfired pizza. But if meat is more your thing, there’s rib eye, chicken schnitzel, and veal parmigiana, too.
Three B’s
Only a short eight minute stroll from Optus Stadium, Burswood Bar & Bistro is an epic place to park up for pre or post-game bites. Starring a range of tapas share plates and main meals, top-shelf house pours, premium cocktails, and wine, there’s something for all tastes and preferences.
Good Fortune Roast Duck House
Good Fortune Roast Duck House is a traditional Chinese restaurant specialising in roast duck and seafood dishes. Its menu features the likes of the cult favourite peking duck, san choy bow, pork wonton dumpling soup, braised lobster noodles, crispy chicken, and hokkien noodles. We could say no, but we don’t want to.
Decanter
Smoked meats, soufflé brunches, and cocktails. You’ll find it all at Decanter in Vic Park. For great service and cosy vibes on game day, look no further.
Dragon Hot Pot
With a range of locations dotted around Australia and the world, East Vic Park’s Dragon Hot Pot is the place to go for a one-of-a-kind hot pot experience. Here, the century-old soup recipes are made to order with more than 100 ingredients to choose from. You can even opt for your preferred level of spice. It’s guaranteed to be delicious, every time.
Frank’s Texas Smokehouse
Frank’s is an East Vic Park hard-hitter known for plating up Texas-style barbeque dishes like brisket and pulled pork. Expect all things smoked meats, burgers, sandwiches, and wings. It’s the ultimate location for a pre-game feed with the boys.
Getting to the game
Public transport is by far the easiest way to get to and from Optus Stadium, which is merely a nine-minute drive from Vic Park. Event buses are scheduled to start arriving at the stadium up to two-hours prior to the start of the event and run for 45 minutes after the final siren.
Just note that for weekday games, services differ and there are no suburban event buses. Instead you’ll need to catch a regular timetabled bus.
So why not make a day of it and plan your journey to and from the world-class stadium to include a visit to the heart of Vic Park.
