12 of the newest bars and restaurants in WA

Dine on Italian food in Margaret River, enjoy pan-Asian flavours in Perth, and savour a few top drops.

1. Frui Momento, Perth

Frui Momento means ‘enjoy the moment’. Just under three hours from Perth in the Margaret River region is where you will do just that at one of the most exciting destinations for dining in Australia right now. While the region has had gastronomic credibility for decades, restaurateur Seth James has upped the ante in Wilyabrup with his collab with winemaker Larry Cherubino, creating a venue that is as much about the wine as the food.

Food at Frui Momento, Western Australia — The venue is as much about food as the wine. (Image: Frances Andrijich)

The space includes a 50-seat restaurant and a raw bar and Champagne lounge where you can get a bump of caviar and glass of bubbles. The venue will have more than 200 wines from the Cherubino vault, as well as a selection of local and international drops. James spent eight years cooking at the critically acclaimed Wills Domain before decamping to Frui Momento. Expect local Albany scallops and scampi sourced from the state’s northwest at the destination diner – all rustic timbers and sandstone – which overlooks the stunning vineyard, lake and rose garden.

Flat lay of food from Frui Momento, Western Australia — Enjoy the moment at Frui Momento. (Image: Frances Andrijich)

2. Pirate Life, Perth

Known as ‘Architects of Revelry’, local hospitality group Sneakers & Jeans have flung open the doors to Pirate Life Perth , one of the city’s most vibrant new venues. The tribe at Sneakers & Jeans joined forces with Pirate Life co-founders Michael Cameron, Jack Cameron and Jared ‘Red’ Proudfoot to open Pirate Life Perth in the old Sony Centre, minutes from the city’s CBD. The sprawling space also serves great food and cocktails, some of which are flavoured with hops.

Drinks from Pirate Life Perth, Western Australia — Pirate Life Perth, one of the city’s most vibrant new venues. (Image: Pirate Life)

3. Old Young’s Kitchen, Swan Valley

It’s customary to corkscrew around the Swan Valley to sample wines grown in WA’s oldest wine region. But the state has a reputation for its premium spirits, too, with distilleries such as Old Young’s shaking up tradition while showcasing WA’s bounty. Chef Rohan Park (ex-Leeuwin Estate, Wills Domain) has been lured in to lead Old Young’s Kitchen , the diner adjacent to the distillery. And just like the old-meets-new approach in the distillery, Park experiments with ingredients infused with Old Young spirits and native flavours. Try the crocodile chorizo or burnt meringue with spent botanic crumb.

Top view of food, Old Young's, Western Australia — Old Young’s shakes up tradition while showcasing WA’s bounty. (Image: Danica Zuk)

4. Gage Roads Brew Co., Fremantle

Gage Roads Freo now has a new HQ in Fremantle port where the views match the pours. In addition to a solid selection of beers, foodies will also feel the pull of a pilgrimage to the new brewpub for dishes such as kingfish tacos and lobster rolls. Over $10 million has been spent to spruce up the cargo shed which was, up until recently, a ramshackle site – built in 1926 – on the Walyalup waterfront. Kick back in the revitalised space, made from jarrah and sandstone, to enjoy beers such as the Single Fin summer ale and Pipe Dreams coastal lager, which are both nods to Freo’s surfing culture.

Gage Roads, Fremantle, WA — The views in the new Fremantle Port HQ match the pours.

5. The Dam & Cannabis Botanical Distillery, Denmark

The grass is greener at Raintree, the 356-hectare property that is the new drawcard in Denmark thanks to its dynamic distillery and farm-to-table restaurant, The Dam . As well as being a working farm with 200 black Angus cattle, black truffles and marron, the diverse agri-business uses regenerative practices to harvest cannabis sativa (hemp) for its CBD Spirits that, despite being THC-free, are still pretty potent. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the venue, which has been constructed out of heritage timbers, hardwood sleepers and granite stone sourced from the Rainbow Coast.

The Dam & Cannabis Botanical Distillery, WA — The grass is greener at Raintree. (Image: The Dam & Cannabis Botanical Distillery)

5. Jetty Bar & Eats, Fremantle

Jetty Bar & Eats is all corrugated iron, sustainable lumber and concrete, a nod to the shipping containers that are so emblematic of the famous Fremantle port. The 120-seater bar is located on Fremantle’s East Street Jetty and the cool, timeless interiors designed by Kate Archibald celebrate that lovely locale. Prepare to see a mix of men with man buns, cute couples, and families at the vibing venue, located on the Swan River between the bridges overlooking the port.

Sit outdoors under a metal and bamboo-clad awning festooned with fairy lights or inside the light-filled space to enjoy bang-on bar bites such as patatas bravas or polenta and parmesan crispy whitebait and a substantial range of wines and cocktails.

Jetty Bar & Eats in Fremantle Perth — Enjoy a meal and a drink at Jetty Bar & Eats in Fremantle overlooking the Swan River. (Image: Danica Zuks)

6. Will St., Leederville

Kelp-aged kingfish, behl puri of charred broccoli, green mango and avocado, smoked eel betel leaf. If you were to scroll through the menu at Will Meyrick’s newest restaurant, Will St., you might think it’s tethered to his sister restaurants Sarong and Mama San, located on the tropical island of Bali. But the Scottish-born restaurateur has recently relocated from Indonesia to Leederville in Perth, opening Will St. in the former La Vida Urbana site, which has been reimagined by Paul Lim of Mata Design Studio. The 120-seater space mirrors the earthy tones of the Australian landscape, with grand sandstone walls, blackbutt timber floorings and artful displays of wildflowers.

Interiors of Will St, Western Australia — Will St. restaurant is a 120-seater space that mirrors the earthy tones of the Australian landscape. (Image: Shot By Thom)

7. FOMO, Fremantle

FOMO is a Russian Babushka doll of sorts, revealing different layers as you delve deeper into the labyrinth of atmospheric laneways. There’s an American-style bar, Australia’s first-ever dedicated fried ice-creamery and a mini golf course on the ground floor of the $270 million redevelopment of Walyalup Koort (Fremantle’s Kings Square). There’s also a games arcade for adults, dumplings and ramen, and a New York-style cookie joint. No need for fomo; park yourself on a bench and take in a slice of daily life as Freo locals parade along the pedestrianised mall.

Food at FOMO, Western Australia — FOMO reveals different layers as you delve deeper into the labyrinth of atmospheric laneways. (Image: Shot by Thom)

8. Isola Bar e Cibo, Rottnest Island

Rottnest Island has got a lot to offer beach bums, from its cute-as quokkas to its turquoise coves for swimming. And now visitors can let their salt-soaked hair down at Isola Bar e Cibo , where the après-beach scene is buzzing. Chill out with other bronzed and beautiful people at this toes-in-the-sand hang that takes its inspiration from the Isola di Capri on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Sit on the sprawling deck to enjoy easy beats from the house DJ while grazing on sublime WA seafood and sophisticated aperitivos. Reason enough to stay on Rotto until sundown.

View from the restaurant, Isola Bar e Cibo, Western Australia — Let your salt-soaked hair down at Isola Bar e Cibo. (Image: Isola Bar e Cibo)

9. Truffles, Pinot ’n’ Produce: Pemberton’s Earthly Delights

Gourmands visiting WA during truffle season are in for a treat with Earn Your Vino curating a series of Beneath the Surface events that give the prized fruit of the fungi top billing. Truffles, Pinot ’n’ Produce: Pemberton’s Earthly Delights is an all-inclusive package that includes four night’s accommodation at luxurious Stonebarn Lodge, as well as hands-on experiences such as a truffle hunt, a honey harvest and tastings and tours of local wineries, such as Picardy Estate.

Truffles, Earn your vino events, Western Australia — Earn Your Vino curated a series of events that give the prized fruit of the fungi top billing. (Image: Cassandra Charlick)

There are also guided hikes through towering karri forests where you will well and truly ‘earn your vino’. Wine and travel writer Cassandra Charlick and experiential tourism expert Stepan Libricky designed the series, held from 25–29 July, 8–12 August, and 22–26 August, to honour the premier food and wine producers in the state.

Earn your vino events, Western Australia — There are also guided hikes through towering karri forests where you will well and truly ‘earn your vino’. (Image: Cassandra Charlick)

10. The Beaufort, Perth

The Beaufort is a hip and happening hybrid hospitality venue that spans three levels and includes a beer and wine garden with rooftop terrace, modern Asian restaurant Lotus, and hidden cocktail bar, Cypher . Start with hot, sour, salty and sweet pan-Asian plates from the Lotus Feed Me banquet, before accessing the playful Candy Bar on the rooftop for a few cocktails and boogaloo on a dance floor surrounded by a tiered jungle. And, just when you think you’ve seen it all, stumble down to the subterranean speakeasy with your favourite squeeze via a secret entrance to enjoy live music and libations from one of the most extensive spirit lists in Perth.

The Beaufort outdoor dining, Western Australia — The Beaufort is a hip and happening venue for hybrid hospitality. (Image: Shot by Thom)

11. The Great Australian Red at Coward & Black

The Winston Cabernet Shiraz claret-style wine, which won Silver at the 2021 Decanter World Wine Awards, is a blend of 70 per cent cabernet sauvignon and 30 per cent shiraz. It was made using hand-harvested fruit sourced from the Wilyabrup vineyard and aged for 18 months in French oak barrels. Cabernet shiraz is often referred to as ‘The Great Australian Red’ and the 2019 vintage is a great example of this rich, flavourful blend: think dark berries, plums and cedar notes with a lovely lingering finish.

The Great Australian Red at Coward & Black, Western Australia — Cabernet shiraz is often referred to as ‘The Great Australian Red’.

12. Bar Rogue, Perth

Bar Rogue has colonised the two-tiered space once home to Jungle Noir and Mykonos and given the Beaufort Street building somewhat of a grungy glow-up, adding to Mt Lawley’s status as one of Perth’s corners of cool. The newly realised bar is popular with Mt Lawley locals who head here for lobster tacos and cocktails. Brought to you by Liam and Sarah Atkinson of Le Rebelle, also on Beaufort Street, the dark, snug bar presents like a scuffed-up speakeasy with exposed brickwork, a mix of concrete and timber flooring and a cool statement chandelier.

Food items at Bar Rogue, Mt Lawley, Western Australia — The newly realised bar is popular with Mt Lawley locals. (Image: Jaqueline Van Grootel)

This remote corner of Australia is one of the world’s last frontiers. This is how to see it properly.

Vast, rugged and deeply spiritual, the Kimberley coast in Australia’s North West feels a world away from everyday Australia – and there are countless ways to explore it. But if you want to reach ancient rock art, hidden gorges and lonely waterfalls, it has to be by boat. Whether you’re aboard a nimble expedition vessel or a luxury yacht with all the trimmings, exploring by the water brings exclusive experiences, shows unique views and makes travel easier than any other mode. And that’s just the beginning of Australia’s North West cruises.

The True North Adventure Cruise in between sandstone cliffs. — Adventure starts where the road ends.

1. Discover Broome, and beyond

Explore your launchpad before you set sail: Broome. Here camels and their riders stride along the 22 kilometres of powdery Cable Beach at sunset. That’s just the start.

At Gantheaume Point, red pindan cliffs plunge into the turquoise sea, whose low tide uncovers fossilised dinosaur footprints. Broome’s pearling history runs deep. Japanese, Chinese, Malay and Aboriginal divers once worked these waters, and their legacy lives on in boutiques where South Sea pearls still shine.

If the moon’s right, you may catch the Staircase to the Moon over Roebuck Bay. Or simply kick back with a cold beverage and a film under the stars at Sun Pictures , screening since 1916.

Ride a camel along Cable Beach as the sun sinks into the Indian Ocean, casting golden light across the sand and sea. — Ride a camel along Cable Beach. (Image: Nick Dunn)

2. Unmatched access to The Kimberley

Once you’re onboard, expect a backstage pass to some of the most isolated places on Earth. No roads. No ports. No phone reception.

At Horizontal Falls/ Garaanngaddim, 10-metre tides surge through twin gorges like a natural waterpark ride that’ll make your palms sweat. Then there’s Montgomery Reef/ Yowjab: a giant living platform of coral and seagrass, where the sea pulls back to reveal waterfalls, sea turtles and ospreys.

Up north, King George Falls/ Oomari rage 80 metres down red cliffs. Zodiac boats often nudge in closer so you can feel the spray on your sun-warmed cheeks. You might even fly in to reach Mitchell Falls/ Punamii-unpuu, a four-tiered cascade where you can swim in freshwater pools above the drop.

Come spring, some itineraries veer west to Rowley Shoals: an atoll chain of white sand and reef walls. Then it’s up the winding Prince Regent River to King Cascade/ Maamboolbadda, tumbling over rock terraces, and into a Zodiac to view the Gwion Gwion rock art, whose slender, ochre-painted figures are older than the pyramids.

A cruise drifts beneath King George Falls, where sheer sandstone cliffs frame the thunderous plunge into turquoise waters. — Get closer to the Kimberley than ever before.

3. Taste the Kimberley with onboard hospitality

You might spend your days clambering over slippery rocks or charging past waterfalls. But when you’re back on the water, it’s a different story. Meals are chef-prepared and regionally inspired: grilled barramundi, pearl meat sashimi, mango tarts, and bush tomato chutney. One night it’s barefoot beach barbecues with your shipmates; the next, alfresco dining on the ship.

Small expedition ships each have their own personality, but many carry just 12 to 36 guests, making being out on the water a whole other experience. You might sink into a spa on the foredeck or sip coffee in a lounge while watching crocodiles cruise by. It’s choose-your-own-relaxation, Kimberley style.

4. Expert-led excursions through the Kimberley

These voyages are led by people who know the Kimberley like the back of their sunburnt hand. Attenborough-esque naturalists might gently tap your shoulder to point out rare birds or tell the story beneath a slab of rock. Historians can explain exactly how that rusted World War II relic came to rest here.

If your ship has a helipad, you might chopper straight to a waterfall-fed swimming hole. If not, you’ll still be hopping ashore for that wet landing at a secret creek.

Then come the evenings: songlines shared by Traditional Owners under the stars, or astronomy sessions that link what’s overhead with what’s underfoot and what’s within.

A small group glides through Kimberley’s rugged coastline by boat, passing ancient cliffs. — Explore with naturalists and historians by your side.

5. Relax in luxurious lodgings

Just because you’re off-grid doesn’t mean you have to rough it. These Kimberley vessels are small in size, but mighty in luxury. True North’s ships come with their own helicopters and a no-sea-days policy, so you’re always in the thick of it. Try the luxurious offerings from Ocean Dream Charters for exploration in style. Kimberley Quest offers a fast boat for easy, off-ship adventures. On the larger end of the scale, Coral Expeditions has open-deck bars and curated wine cellars. And then there’s Ponant’s luxury yachts – sleek and incredibly stylish French sailing yachts.

A helicopter soars above the sea, with a sleek cruise ship gliding in the distance. — See the Kimberley from sky to shore.

6. The adventure continues with pre- and post-cruise experiences

You’ve already come this far – so, why not go further? Broome makes it easy to ease in before you board, or wind down when your voyage ends, and there is no reason to stop there.

Head an hour and a half south to Eco Beach to stay off-grid and off the clock. Join a Yawuru guide for a mangrove walk or ocean forage. Dive even deeper into Broome’s pearling past at Willie Creek or Cygnet Bay, where divers and craftspeople still pull the seawater-slicked gems from the deep.

If you’re still craving adventure, it’s time to go further. Soar over the Buccaneer Archipelago, or detour inland with a 4WD trip along the Gibb River Road. Book a scenic flight over the Bungle Bungles. Or – because you never know when you’ll be back – do all three.

aerial of people walking on eco beach in the kimberley western australia — Stay off grid at Eco Beach. (Image: Tourism WA)

Find out more about your trip to Australia’s North West at australiasnorthwest.com .