With the 2024 WAFL season heating up and the Grand Final just weeks away, 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 pit stop 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 best eats and drinks in Vic Park.
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.
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 big game.
Darren’s Small Bar
Darren’s is a cosy wine bar and restaurant all about serving delicious and seasonal fare, mouth-watering cheeses, and exceptional vino. Conveniently situated in Burswood, the small bar is right in the heart of the action, just minutes from Optus Stadium.
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!
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.
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.
Laika
Neighbouring its sister venue, Cosy Del’s, in Lathlain, Laika is a trendy and ever bustling café synonymous with everything from brunch to family gatherings. The spacious venue, basketball court, and open courtyard offer plenty of space for the little ones to roam and friendly pups to join you at the table. It’s a great pre-game pit stop, whether you’re refuelling with a quick coffee or settling in for a leisurely brunch.
Catalano’s
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.
Meet & Bun
We, along with many other Perth burger lovers, regularly frequent Meet & Bun. You’ll love every bite of their handcrafted burgers, with so much juicy goodness you’ll for sure need a handful of napkins. Our top picks are the Dark Knight, Chilli Chilli Bang Bang, and Danny’s Southern Fried Chicken. It would also be rude not to grab their cheesy fries on the side, but we don’t make the rules.
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.
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 Grand Final Day 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.
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.
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.
