One of Perth’s best cocktail bars is all about retro vibes and cocktails that never let their creativity get in the way of enjoyment.
If bars in the ’20s can be measured by the quality of their martinis, then Bar Love is right up there. Order the Dirty Little Grot Martini, and it’s a straight-up Tanqueray-vermouth combo, ice-cold and balanced. The twist, though? A house brine – a mix of pickle juice, onion and pepper brine – that enlivens the palate, plus a skewer of pickles riffing on a Gilda. Good start, but it’s only the beginning. Take in the retro decals on the windows, the peachy glow of the interiors, the ’70s tiles and textiles. Thoroughly charming service feels like a throwback, too, but there’s nothing outdated about the cocktails, straight from the minds of gun bartenders Pippa Canavan and Murray Walsh. Instead, they’re up-to-the-minute concoctions rammed with poise and technique. Go the Peaches and Cream Negroni, and it’s clear as day thanks to a clarified milk punch. Order a Man Goes to Mexico and what reads like a tropical blast is surprisingly restrained, with makrut lime accenting a tequila and mango liqueur base. Specials prop up a short-but-sweet list of craft wine and beer, snacks come from the excellent Peasants Paradice next door, but more than anything you’re here for the vibes, which are warm, welcoming and when the time’s right, just a little rowdy.
