10 Best Bars in Perth, Western Australia

If you don't know any better, you'll never find this supercool basement bar hidden among the tall buildings of Perth's central business district. Once hidden, always hidden—this place has history as an old bank vault in 1887. Today, you'll find a crowd of booze-thirsty corporate-types eager to shed the stress of the day, and further into the night, hipsters who just like the moody atmosphere and quality creations of the career bartenders. You can also nibble on stuffed jaffles (toasted sandwiches) when the mood strikes. 

Inspired by the New York jazz scene, The Ellington is the place for jazz in Perth. It may not have curb appeal but this place hops seven nights a week in an intimate and sophisticated setting. A low-key tapas menu, including buttered paprika popcorn, is available; be prepared to share a table with other patrons for sold-out performances. Entrance fees apply and it's best to reserve your tickets online in advance.

Eve is a glitzy, two-story venue done up with stainless steel and retro fittings. Thursday through Sunday, the five bars, cozy lounge areas, stage, and dance floor with sound-and-light show reverberate to the sounds of renowned DJs spinning the latest dance tunes. Doors open at 9 pm. There's free entry Friday through Sunday before 10 pm.

This sexy little number is as sultry as the jazzy tunes that fill the discreet laneway space each night. A number of the cocktails use smoked ice cubes—not to be confused with tacky dry ice—giving the liquor a heavenly, charred dimension. There are live jazz performances most nights.

The bar is accessed down a laneway off Murray Street—look out for the "red carpet" painted on the pavement.

This rooftop haunt is furnished with market umbrellas and upcycled bench tables, which make it both welcoming and hip. Access to this happening bar is via a rear lane coated in street art, adding to the intrigue. With upward of 30 craft beers, a rotating cocktail menu, and creative bartenders that know how to make just about any mixed drink known to man (maybe not creamy cocktails), it's a surefire bet for a good time. Owners, a husband-and-wife team, aimed to create a neighborhood atmosphere when they moved into the gritty urban suburb of Northbridge, and they have.

The Queens, as it's known locally, resides in an attention-grabbing colonial-style property that was built in 1899 and offers an excellent, thriving outdoor beer garden that features plenty of local and international craft brews. The upstairs bar has a relaxed lounge vibe, with DJs on Friday and Saturday. There is also free Wi-Fi throughout, leather sofas, and fireplaces burning in cooler months. 

This is not just any bar, it's a multitiered layering of watering holes, funky saloons, and restaurants. Start in the Front Yard or Pourhouse for craft beer on tap and snacks. From there, head to the Fat Controller, a hidden bar within the Pourhouse, dedicated to all things railway for G&Ts and fancy cocktails. Once you're feeling a bit groovy, dance off any excess energy at the rooftop club, which surprisingly is teeming with a wide range of ages, so don't be shy. If you're feeling peckish in between venues, dine in at one of the three eateries, each with its own style and cuisine.

Known as the Subi, this gastropub attracts a lively after-work crowd during the week—especially on Friday—and has an excellent, busy restaurant that serves sophisticated pub grub from the bar menu and elegant cuisine at the bistro. Built in 1897, this much-loved establishment is rich in history and drenched in true-blue Aussie vibes. Look for A$25 meal specials every day except Friday and Saturday.

American whiskey is the specialty at this hard-to-find basement bar that hums to old-fashioned rock and roll and the smells of bacon floating in the air. There's not many bars in Perth that offer whiskey and bacon flights or picklebacks, so it's worth the search along King Street. This venue with an artisan grunge theme is also known as a foodie heaven but be prepared for it to be busy, especially on Friday night.

This is Perth's number one gay-friendly nightclub, but it's far more dimensional than its drag queen shows, party beats, and mirror balls. The venue has a classy, industrial-chic lounge bar within the club that opens two hours earlier, at 8 pm. It's like a small bar hidden in the busy core. The bar opens out to a fantastic open-air deck that has whistle-worthy views of the CBD. It's a great place to marvel at the skyline with a bespoke cocktail in hand. The club and lounge bar stay open till 5 am on Friday and Saturday nights, making it one of the latest late-night venues in Perth.