After a fix from a tried-and-tested favourite? Look no further.
So many treasures, so little time. Let’s start in Northbridge, a rich seam for continental offerings. We’re thinking The Re Store, where the standard- bearer is Western Australia’s renowned culinary offering, the continental roll. If it’s a slice of the sweet life that you’re hungry for, then Corica Pastries, a staple since 1957, will educate you on strudel, its apple iteration known well beyond the West.
In Chinatown, Billy Lee’s Chinese Restaurant is pushing legendary status, not least for its place in a thousand hazy late-night tales. Fortune Five, meanwhile, falls into the bracket of chef (and family) favourite. Go for the cured egg yolk custard bun, the pork and century egg congee, and any manner of offal dishes.
The Pizzale family’s eatery Capri feels like it’s part of the fabric of Freo’s main strip, the menu of Italian classics little changed since the 1950s. Then down on the waterfront, Little Creatures is still formative in the state’s craft beer story, a go-to for a weekend session. Kailis’ Fishmarket Café is proof that you can teach an old seadog new tricks, this fish and chip fixture getting a 21st-century revamp.
Burger culture seems to come in waves, but Alfred’s in Guildford has been in the game since 1946, with classic renditions of Australian burgers. A year-round destination, it comes into its own by the firepit with a serve of (almost as legendary) pea and ham soup. In Vic Park, The Prophet Lebanese Cafe has been serving up its Lebanese fare to all comers for decades, while in West Perth, Perugino has been doing the same with refined Italian fare.
Down south, there’s no beating Margaret River stalwart Settler’s Tavern on its trifecta of proper pub vibes, casual menu, and seriously epic wine list. As the adage goes: use them, or lose them.
