Bert’s Is Back, And It’s The Coastal Classic Perth Has Been Waiting For

With its sun-washed tones and retro nods, Bert’s feels like it’s always been part of City Beach. Maybe that’s because, in a way, it has. Light, breezy and effortlessly timeless, it’s got the kind of ageless coastal cools that could belong to any decade, where salty-haired surfers drift off the sand and straight to the bar.

Given the lore of Bert’s, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. While the name now fronts a slick new white-washed beachside restaurant, it’s a throwback to a different era of City Beach. In the ’60s, this was home to the City Beach Tea Rooms, affectionately nicknamed Bert’s Shop by locals after a one-time owner. A no-frills hangout where surfers could roll in straight from the waves for a cold beer. Bert’s, in its new iteration, borrows from not just the name, but also the DNA of the original. 

Image credit: Bert's City Beach | Supplied

“We wanted to bring a lot of that old nostalgia back into the venue,” Hannah Selbie, Head of Brand and Marketing, tells us. “It was where you came off on the beach after a surf, grabbed a bottle of beer and hung out with the crew, and that's what we kind of wanted here, and the vision.”

And honestly, they’ve pulled it off. Despite the stunning fitout and sweeping ocean views, there’s no pretence. It’s an approachable, come-as-you-are type venue, where early morning beachgoers can grab coffee and cinnamon scrolls from the kiosk window, dogs lounge at their owners’ feet on the patio, and families can keep the kids happy with a fresh pizza while mum and dad share a bottle of local vino.

Image credit: Bert's City Beach | Supplied

With the pedigree behind it, it’s no surprise Bert’s has nailed coastal casual right out the door. Led by The General Public Group’s Mark Pearn, Evan Hewitt and Nic Strachan, the team has taken the winning formula behind The Rowing Pavilion and General Public Food Co. and layered in seaside flair and nostalgic nods.

The result is a breezy beachhouse, refined but relaxed, airy but elegant. Think pale timbers, soft textures and linen touches, sandy neutrals and muted tones with shades of blush pink and terracotta, all inspired by the iconic WA sunset you’ll catch through the windows each night. 

Image credit: Bert's City Beach | Supplied

There are nostalgic nods in spades, from the retro fonts printed onto frosted glass over the main bar, to the black and white surf club prints lining the entrance. 

“The framing of the bar is something that we wanted to put into there, so it looks like a shop,” explains Hannah, a reference, again, to the original Bert’s. 

Image credit: Bert's City Beach | Supplied

Long tables are made for sharing, and are perfectly reflective of how the team has designed the menu. It’s food built for sharing, light enough to tackle in sandy feet, but with just enough polish to warrant a bottle of WA chardonnay on the side.

Order plates like cured salmon with miso passionfruit and roe, wagyu beef tartare and sweet and sour cauliflower popcorn, rounded out with a few rounds of tacos or housemade pizza, with sourdough bases made from a ten-year-old starter courtesy of General Public Food Co. Add on a few rounds of some signature cocktails and you’ve got the makings of a pretty perfect beachside eatery.

The Details 

What: Bert's City Beach
Where: 187 Challenger Parade, City Beach 6015
For more information, click here. 

Image credit: Bert's City Beach | Supplied