The festive season is underway and our climatic advantage in sunny Perth means we can take full advantage of the range of small bars, cafes, restaurants, gourmet delicatessens and entertainment options our city has to offer this time of year. While northern friends stay indoors by the fire, we can swap between the beach and a bright new bar to mix with friends and associates during the holiday season.
Our team pulled our foodie-inspired heads together and have come up with a list of places - some out of the way and little known, some up-and-coming, and some dyed-in-the-wool foodie establishments always worth revisiting - that will be interesting, unique places to check out during the festive season if you like fine food.
In and near the city
As spirited newcomers to South Perth's Angelo Street, Halo's Marcus and Ange have created an espresso bar with a commitment to quality. It's the perfect spot to meet with friends for breakfast or grab a coffee this summer. But if you're in Northbridge our star picks are Little Willy's on William Street which is now open weekends. Watch out as it does close from Christmas Eve until 9th January - at which time you can pop in to enjoy their lovely fresh juices and lunch burritos in the little red booths all over again. Also on William is the ever-reliable, ever-good Bar 399. Their cocktails and small eats, good vibe and friendly barstaff are what we said for ages Northbridge could be - and now is. Joining them on William is Clint Nolan's new venture into Mexican. La Cholita on the corner of Aberdeen Street has an enviable tequila collection and if you are able to get yourself a seat order their authenticity-seeking approach to Mexican (leave your Tex-Mex cravings at the door).
Also new in Northbridge and tucked away between William and Beaufort Streets is Tuck Shop Cafe on Newcastle St. If you fancy a gourmet meat pie on the way somewhere or want to eat fresh food on a daily changing menu, go there. Getting toward the CBD is the perfect place for dim sum at Northbridge Chinese Restaurant on Roe St. Straight over the Horseshoe Bridge; we suggest heading just off the King St matrix to Queen Street. Venn combines a design studio, shop, cafe, small bar and excellent aesthetic values seamlessly. It's definitely worth a visit this summer to enjoy a gin and tonic in the courtyard that has brick walls so high the sun provides warmth without ever quite hitting the ground and burning your face. Ideal.
Further afield is Mangiare Bistro on Hampden Rd in Nedlands. They still serve up Borsalino's (its former formal dining incarnation) signature dishes in a revamped, casual bistro environment that is certainly worth visiting for excellent Italian food. Hot spots to visit in the heat are also Double Lucky on Newcastle St and Kitsch on Oxford St in Leederville that are both fabulous after dark. But if you're at the beach, why not check out Cimbalino's newest outlet on Eric St in Cottesloe for an espresso, latte or iced coffee on the way to the water.
Across the River
Looming across the Swan River are luminary culinary establishments amid the ever-increasing glitter of Burswood Entertainment Complex. Robert DeNiro's Japanese-meets-South-American fusion cuisine at Nobu simply can't go wrong. The same can be said for Modo Mio's exquisite Italian food from Milanese Michelin starred chef Giampaulo Maffini. Between Neil Perry's Rockpool Bar & Grill and these two exciting locations, there are plenty of good gastronomic reasons to spend a lavish evening at Burswood.
South of the River
Slouchy afternoons can be spent at Ootong & Lincoln on South Terrace in South Fremantle. Reviews of O&L often enthuse about its refusal of 'cookie-cutter' cafe chic. So, check it out. Similarly, Clint Nolan's other innovation this year has been the opening of cryptically titled Who's Your Mumma on the corner of Wray Ave and South Terrace in Fremantle. There is small food available, a longlist of wines, and exquisite lighting that softens the industrial feel of the place. It does breakfast on weekends too.
One of our staff highly recommends Blend on Marmion St in Melville. Blend is a former picture framing shop, and now the walls are anything but bare with a fun, counter-chic aesthetic that works well. The pizzas are excellent and worth ordering to take away with you if you're having a night out at the outdoor cinema or beach. Or, if your picnic hamper requires the gourmand's selection, Deli di Mondo on Hislop Rd in Attadale is well worth a visit on your way out.
North of the River
Our picks for the Northern suburbs begin with Bada Bing on Rosewood Avenue in Woodlands. Bada Bing overlooks the lake and is a lovely setting for a relaxed lunch. Also close to the water - in fact almost right in it - are excellent Italian kitchens Primo Cucina in Hillarys Shopping Centre at Hillarys and Mia Cucina along Northside Drive in Hillarys. Their Mediterranean food is fresh, delicious, and well worth a return visit this summer. Also make a visit to Passione Gourmet Deli in Kingsley Drive at Kingsley Shopping Centre which has a fast-growing range of gourmet lines hard to find almost anywhere else nearby. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic about fine food.
Our final pick is the newly opened Coventry Square Markets in Walter Road, Morley. The foodie's alternative to the Galleria, why not shop for a range of gourmet foods in the air conditioning? The range of stalls is promising with an emphasis on independently owned arrangements so you get to deal with the owner while you're haggling over the price of apricots.
There is so much to do in Perth this festive season. Our team wishes our fellow food and fine dining lovers a happy, healthy and gastronomic Christmas and New Year.