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)

WA might be enormous, but the right insider knowledge brings its mysteries a whole lot closer.

“Western Australia is a land of record-breakers,” says Carolyn Tipper, a Travel Director working on AAT Kings Western Australia tours. “It has the second-longest fault line, the second-largest meteorite crater, the second-fastest flowing river—it just keeps surprising you. And every area has its charm.”

From tropics to deserts, Australia’s largest state is a land of extremes. You can’t see all of Western Australia in a lifetime, but with the right guide, you can discover its hidden pockets of magic.

Carolyn wishes to reach her guests’ hearts. “I want them to enjoy and be in awe,” she says. “I want them to have the holiday of a lifetime.”

1. Mimbi Caves

You wouldn’t expect a Great Barrier Reef in the outback – but that’s what you’ll find at Mimbi Caves. Once part of a 350-million-year-old reef, these caves hold marine fossils, ancient Indigenous rock art, and Dreamtime stories shared by a Gooniyandi guide.

“That’s when the real connection happens,” says Carolyn, who has taken guests through on the AAT Kings Wonders of the West Coast and Kimberley tour . “When guests connect, not just with the land, but with the people who have called it home for tens of thousands of years.”

Eye-level view of traveller exploring Mimbi Caves. — Walk through ancient limestone passages. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

2. Kalbarri National Park

Nothing prepares you for the Kalbarri Skywalk: a 25-metre platform jutting over Murchison Gorge, 100 metres above the red cliffs and river below. From July to October, join the AAT Kings Untamed Pilbara and West Coast tour to see over 1000 wildflower species paint the park, and listen as an Indigenous guide shares their uses, bush foods and medicine plants.

“I want our guests to have an emotional experience,” says Carolyn. “It’s not just about seeing the land, it’s about stepping into the stories.”

An aerial view of the Kalbarri Skywalk, one of the secret places in Western Australia, with visitors on the edge. — Stand on the Kalbarri Skywalk in Western Australia. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

3. Hamelin Bay Wines

Margaret River isn’t just a top wine region – it’s a winner in every category. Where the Indian and Southern Oceans collide, granite cliffs rise, limestone caves sprawl and Karri forests tower. It almost distracts from the world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.

Almost.

Out of over 100 cellar doors, AAT Kings pick Hamelin Bay Wines as a favourite. Hosted tastings of small-batch wines on the Western Wonderland tour end with a group meal. The menu shifting with the seasons.

“Get off the beaten track to one of WA’s most relaxed venues for some amazing red and white signature wines,” explains Carolyn, “accompanied with upmarket pub food.”

Spectacular views.

A person raising a glass of Chardonnay against a glowing Western Australia sunset. — Sip world-class wines at Hamelin Bay in Western Australia. (Image: Getty)

4. Wildflower Guided Walk, Kings Park

Western Australia is home to 12,000 native plant species – 3000 bloom in Kings Park’s Botanic Garden. Stroll past Kangaroo Paw, Banksia and blooms from the Goldfields, Stirling Ranges and Kimberley. “The diversity of Western Australia is immense,” says Carolyn, who leads guests through on the South Western Escape tour .

Couple enjoying the view from the Lotterywest Federation walkway at Kings Park and Botanical Garden. — Wander among thousands of native plant species. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

5. Hoochery Distillery

Did you know that between Kununurra and Emma Gorge lies the state’s oldest continuously operating distillery? Well, the oldest legal one. Set on a family farm, Hoochery Distillery was hand-built using materials found on the property, conjuring up award-winning rum from local sugarcane, wet season rainwater and yeast.

Today, visitors can sample a hearty nip of rum, along with whiskies and gins – all crafted using traditional, labour-intensive methods. It’s the ideal way to soak up the ‘spirit’ of the Kimberley on the AAT Kings’ Untamed Kimberley tour .

People enjoying a rum tasting at one of the secret places in Western Australia. — Sample award-winning rum. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

6. Geraldton

The wildflowers of the Midwest will make your heart blossom. In Geraldton, the Helen Ansell Art Gallery brings the region’s botanicals to life in vivid colour and intricate detail. In nearby Mullewa, wander bushland trails lined with everlastings and native blooms. Further afield, Coalseam Conservation Park bursts into carpets of pink, white, and yellow each spring. Do it all on the Wildflower Wanderer tour with AAT Kings.

woman walking through Wildflowers, Coalseam Conservation Park — Chase vibrant wildflower trails. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

7. El Questro

Wake up after a night under the stars at Emma Gorge Resort, ready to explore the mighty beauty of the El Questro Wilderness Park. With deep gorges, thermal springs, and cascading waterfalls, time slows here.

Join the AAT Kings’ Wonders of the West Coast and Kimberley tour to drift through Chamberlain Gorge, where sheer sandstone walls glow burnt orange in the sun, archer fish flick at the surface, and rock wallabies peer down from ledges above. Then, step into Zebedee Springs, a secret oasis of warm, crystal-clear pools among prehistoric Livistona palms – a moment of pure, wild stillness.

Emma Gorge Resort at El Questro. — Wake to adventure at Emma Gorge Resort. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

8. Lake Argyle

Once vast cattle country, Lake Argyle now sprawls like an inland sea – Western Australia’s largest freshwater lake, created by the damming of the Ord River. Scattered with over 70 islands, its glassy waters teem with life, like freshwater crocodiles, barramundi, bony bream, sleepy cod and over 240 bird species. That’s nearly a third of Australia’s avian population.

Glide across the lake’s surface on a cruise as part of AAT Kings’ Untamed Kimberley tour , where the silence is only broken by the splash of fish and the call of birds. For Carolyn, this place is a perfect example of how WA’s landscapes surprise visitors. “Lake Argyle is a big puddle of water that became a game-changer,” she says. “Seeing it from a boat, coach, and plane is mind-blowing. It puts time, isolation and the sheer scale into perspective.”

Aerial View of Triple J Tours on the Ord River, near Kununurra. — Glide past islands on Western Australia’s largest freshwater lake. (Image: Western Australia)

Discover more of Western Australia’s hidden gems and book your tour at aatkings.com.