Perth CBD/Boorloo restaurants have been doing it tough the last few years, but with COVID in the rearview and people discovering the joys of actually getting dressed and going to the office again, things are looking up.
From cheap and cheery gems to all-out luxury, here are the best restaurants in the Perth CBD, handpicked by the local Urban List team.
Angel Falls Grill
Shop 16, Shafto Lane, 872-884 Hay Street, Perth, WA 6000
Image credit: Angel Falls Grill | Instagram
Tucked down Shafto Lane, Angel Falls Grill is the only spot in Perth where you can get a real-deal Venezuelan feed. For those unfamiliar, that means juicy hickory smoked and chargrilled steaks, chorizo, empanadas, arepas, mojitos and more. Everything here is gluten-free too, which makes it an easy win for groups with different dietaries.
If you're partial to a high tea-style eating experience, they also do these really amazing three-tiered share platters—except instead of cakes and scones, it's packed to the brim with the most amazing Latin American morsels. Coming in at $119 for two people, it's not cheap but it's a great way to sample a bit of everything.
Hifumiya Udon Noodle
Shop, 2, Ground Level, 100/104 Murray St, Perth WA 6000
Owned by a native of Kurashiki, the birthplace of bukkake udon—a delicious, cold udon dish with a variety of toppings and a dashi-based sauce—this place is a must-visit in the city. The experience is authentically Japanese, just like their noodles, with simple timber decor and heart-warming service that makes you feel right at home. On a cold day, the spicy miso pork udon is the answer to all your problems. In the hotter months, we’ll be going back to those refreshing cold udon bowls.
Rojiura Curry Samurai
4A Shafto Ln, Perth WA 6000
Rojiura Curry Samurai is the only place in Perth specialising in Hokkaido soup curry. Don’t miss out on their 17 Vegetables Soup Curry, featuring 17 different kinds of vegetables all in the one dish. Pair your meal with a glass of Hokkaido wine or beer for a genuinely authentic experience.
Balthazar
6 The Esplanade, Perth WA 6000
Image credit: Balthazar | Instagram
Located at the base of the original art deco Lawson apartment building, Balthazar is a ritzy restaurant with a modern menu brimming with artistic eats almost too attractive to eat. Rest assured, you can still get Bread In Common treats with house butter and some duck fat potatoes to start before you dive into something a little more swanky.
6Head
Shop 1, Ground Floor/One The Esplanade, Perth WA 6000
Say hello to the CBD's fanciest new dining destination, 6Head. Hailing from Sydney, the luxe new restaurant is best known for its premium steak offering. Think: rump, ribeye, T-bone, eye fillet, scotch fillet, and sirloin—most of which are designed to be shared, with large steaks cut and served theatrically at the table alongside seasonal sides and seriously indulgent sauces.
You might also like:
- The Best Restaurants In Northbridge
- The 50 All-Time Best Restaurants In Perth
- Perth's Best Japanese Restaurants
Alfred's Pizza
37 Barrack St, Perth WA 6000
Follow the neon light and walk your hungry, thirsty self downstairs to Alfred's small bar and pizzeria. If you're not super hungry, you can stick to whatever's on the 'by the slice' menu that night—the Suzi Quatro (their take on a four cheese) is always a good bet—but otherwise, go right ahead and drool over the full selection of whole pizzas. It's the Betty Rizzo that does it for us, made with buttered potato, prosciutto, garlic and parsley.
Garum
480 Hay St, Perth WA 6000
Image credit: Garum | Instagram
Garum is Chef Guy Grossi’s best gift to Perth. Think Roman classics with a touch of Grossi’s magic plus the moody cathedral-like atmosphere of the stunning dining hall, and you have the makings of one of the best restaurants in the city.
Santini
Level 1/133 Murray St, Perth WA 6000
One look at Santini and you will swoon. Featuring loads of warm terracotta tones and dreamy, bold turquoise, this jaw-dropping Mediterranean-inspired restaurant nestled at the base of QT Perth is dishing up a knock-out Italian menu featuring fresh seafood, moreish pastas and 45-day-aged steaks. Its shining star has to be the tiramisu though, so leave room for dessert.
Short Order
800 Hay St, Perth WA 6000
Rounding out our list with one of the best burger brands to come out of Perth: Short Order. Plenty of newbies have popped up since these guys first landed on the scene, but we'd still hold Short Order's classic fried chicken burger up in the god tier realm of good. The fact their CBD joint on Hay Street also happens to be BYO makes it the ideal spot for an affordable feed before heading out with your mates.
fleur
531 Wellington St, Perth WA 6000
Image credit: fleur | Instagram
Sitting pretty inside The Royal Hotel, fleur is as beautiful and as fancy as she sounds. With local produce front and centre, there’s plenty to get excited about when it comes to the French menu. Paired with a curated wine list, some stunning cocktails and equally lovely interiors, stop by on your next night out in Perth.
Petition
State Buildings, St Georges Tce &, Barrack St, Perth WA 6000
The team at Petition are big believers in supporting local so you can expect only the freshest of ingredients, prepared simply but bursting with flavour. The menu changes regularly—though the famous chopped broccoli salad always makes an appearance—but it doesn't matter what you order, you're guaranteed to love it. Whether it's a long lunch or a luxurious dinner, try to nab a seat on the long leather couch for ultimate comfort. Wine Merchant and Beer Corner are also just around the corner if you need somewhere for a pre or post-dinner drink.
Wildflower
COMO The Treasury Level 4, 1 Cathedral Ave, Perth WA 6000
Wildflower's multi-course menu draws inspiration from the Noongar calendar, with local, seasonal produce at the core of every dish. As soon as those elevator doors open, it's clear you're in for something magical. From the attentive waitstaff to the creative works of edible art, the fine dining experience here is unmatched.
Long Chim
Corner of Barrack street &, St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000
Image credit: Long Chim | Instagram
All hail the King of Thai food, David Thompson for bringing Long Chim into our Perth lives. Word to the wise: believe the wait staff. When they say the Chiang Mai larp of chicken is hot, they don’t mean Australian hot. They mean serious Thailand hot. So prepare yourself with all the napkins and all the beer. We’re also obsessed with the sour orange curry of fish and the green papaya salad, but everything here is insanely good and not too expensive.
The Heritage
131 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000
Maybe we love The Heritage because you immediately feel like you’re in a Parisian bistro along the Seine. Maybe it's because their martinis are some of the best in Perth. Or maybe we just love it because it’s done really remarkable things for Perth’s fine dining scene and has brought a piece of historic architecture along the terrace back to life. So let’s just go with d) all of the above.
Palsaik Namoo
78 Barrack St, Perth WA 6000
Korean BBQ with a slightly more up-market vibe, Palsaik Namoo has two levels but is still pretty much always packed so turns out we're not its only fans. Designate your barbecue driver, pick a set menu—they come with loads of condiments and side dishes to pair with the meats—then throw on a boozy Korean beverage or two and you're done.
Hearth
1 Barrack St, Perth WA 6000
Image credit: Hearth | Instagram
Hearth is the swanky restaurant attached to The Ritz-Carlton Perth at Elizabeth Quay. It's boasting a light, bright and uber-relaxing vibe thanks to the cool blue tones and views of our beautiful Swan River. When it comes to the food, expect only the best WA produce with a good smattering of native ingredients throughout. It’s the perfect spot to take your out-of-town guests, but we say don’t wait for them; get there and treat yourself now.
Tiny's
QV1 Plaza, Milligan St, Perth WA 6000
Who knew the humble rotisserie chicken could be so classy? Tiny's, obviously. The sophisticated CBD wine bar and rotisserie restaurant is undeniably cool thanks to its aesthetic interiors. Good thing they back it up with on-trend small batch wines and a food menu packed with modern family-style share plates. By day, you can't beat their hot rooster roll lunch deal with a chardy. By night, just go the $60pp feed me and be done with it—you'll end up ordering that much anyway.
Hadiqa
Hibernian Place, Top Floor, Cnr Hay Street, 40 Irwin St, Perth WA 6000
Hadiqa is your answer to innovative, refined Middle-Eastern dining. Head here for a Friday night drink sesh after work and you’ll surely score brownie points with your colleagues. From the decor to the food and drinks, everything has been carefully curated to give you a taste of Moroccan luxury. Round up your mates and order one of their spritz trees—nine spritzes with all the best mixers you could ever dream of.
Post
1 Cathedral Ave, Perth WA 6000
Image credit: Post | Instagram
Is our obsession with the State Buildings obvious yet? This is fancy opulence in its most justifiable form. Normally our hearts would melt at the words gnocchi, but at Post, we struggle to go past the orecchiette. Pretty much everything on the modern Italian menu showcases local purveyors and the wonderfulness that is WA. The newly refurbed dining space only adds to the fine-dining experience.
Lalla Rookh
77 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000
If you’re into homemade pasta, insanely good seafood and a banging salumi board then surely you’ve been to Lalla Rookh. Head Chef Alexandra Haynes has crafted a fresh modern Italian menu featuring the finest West Australian produce. And honestly, the hardest part is deciding which dish to pick. We reckon you'll never regret a hearty bowl of gnocchi, so just run with this if you get stuck.
Still hungry? Check out:
Image credit: Garum | Instagram
Urban List Best Of: has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.