If you grew up in Perth, chances are you’ve got sweet summer memories of day trips to AQWA followed by fish and chips at Hillarys Boat Harbour. Look, we'd still be happy with that combo to be fair, but there are plenty more spots to eat and drink that'll please your more adult tastes too.
Whether you’ve got your furry friend in tow and are hitting up Whitfords Dog Beach or taking a stroll around the harbour—we’ve got you covered with our wrap of the best places to eat and drink in Hillarys.
The Breakwater
It’s a no brainer this one tops the list. Sit back with a drink in hand and people watch as you enjoy the relaxed resort vibes of The Breakwater. Perfect for a Sunday sesh, you can while away a few hours over good chats and fresh bevvies.
Voyage Kitchen
A short stroll from the marina, Voyage Kitchen is a frequent haunt for most Northies. Dishing out the goods for a weekend brunch, sit with a coffee in hand breathing in the salty goodness of that Indian Ocean air whilst you peruse the huge menu. Our pick? The mozzarella corn fritters or 10-hour slow cooked pork with mac & cheese.
Eccolo
If you have a hankering for pizza or a ridiculously creamy gnocchi, the folk at Eccolo mean serious business. Perfectly crisp bases and authentic Italian ingredients mean you’re in for some of the best going round. Our fave? It has to be the self-named Eccolo with fior di latte, prosciutto and basil.
Lot One
Mornings at the dog beach followed by brunch at Lot One has to be one of the best ways to get your weekend going. Everything is delicious, and the menu changes seasonally. There’s brekky faves like nourish bowls, house crumpets and brisket benny, or for something more substantial the pancetta and clam linguine will hit the mark. Add a cocktail for extra Sunday goodness.
Dusit Dheva
Is there anything a good Thai meal can’t fix? We think not. Dusit Dhev By The Sea (aka in the harbour), boasts some incredible Thai cuisine. You’ll want to order one of everything but to get you started, opt for the soft shell crab with watermelon, roast duck red curry and twice roasted pork belly.
Alleycats Espresso
You’ll obviously need to start your Hillary’s visit with a good dose of caffeine and that’s where the crew at Alleycats Espresso come in. Good brew, tasty treats. What more could you ask for?
Bellisimo Gelato
What’s a visit to a boat harbour without a gelato in hand? There’s a ridiculous amount of flavours to choose from at Bellisimo Gelato—be thankful they offer samples. The dark chocolate sorbet paired with creamy pistachio has us screaming for summer.
Mia Cucina
This neighbourhood Italian is where you’ll want to go if comfort food is on the agenda. For entree, order the handmade Italian meatballs followed by freshly steamed chilli mussels and heaps of bread to mop up that sauce. The handmade gnocchi and seafood spaghetti also deserve a spot at the table.
Turkuaz Mediterranean
Turkuaz is home to authentic Turkish cuisine packed full of flavour and designed to share. We recommend heading there with a group so you can try heaps of the dishes on offer. Babaganoush with loads of bread, falafel, cheese pastries, zucchini pancakes—is your mouth watering yet?
Chopin Patisserie
Two words. Polish doughnuts. If you’ve never tried these bad boys, run, don’t walk to our all time favourite Polish bakery. Filled with homemade jam and glazed to perfection. It seriously doesn’t get any better.
Keep trucking down the coast and hit up these top Scarborough restaurants and bars.
Image credit: Eccolo