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Perth restaurants with a view: from Cottesloe Beach to the CBD

Kirsty PetridesBy Kirsty Petrides
Whether you’re after beach, river or city views, Perth has a growing number of restaurants that are a treat for both the eyes and the taste buds.

Perth has some of the world’s most pristine beach scenes, so it’s no surprise to see a slew of vibrant restaurants and cafes hugging the coastline. What you may not know though, is in addition to the seaside eateries capitalising on views of the Indian Ocean, there are also city restaurants offering views of the mighty Swan River and bustling city streetscapes. Here are 10 of the best restaurants in Perth with a view.

The shortlist

Best for long lunches: Cooee
Best fine dining: Gibney
Best wine list: Il Lido
Best family-friendly spot: Tom’s Italian
Best for late-night dining: Lil’s Rooftop Bar

Cooee

outdoor seating at Cooee, Perth
Pull up a chair and enjoy a picture-perfect lunch at Cooee.

Set on the banks of the Swan River, Cooee is one of Perth’s most picturesque restaurants. The outdoor seating overlooking the glistening Swan River makes it one of Perth’s best spots for laidback lunches, long afternoons, drinks with friends and idyllic dinners. The menu is mod-Aus restaurant, so expect contemporary dishes paired with a thoughtful drinks list filled with contemporary classics. Dogs are welcome on their riverfront outdoor terrace.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Hip and sunny

Address: 171-173 Mounts Bay Rd, Perth

Gibney

alfresco dining at the terrace of Gibney, Perth
Soak up pristine views of Cottesloe Beach at the alfresco terrace. (Image: Gibney)

Gibney is a sophisticated brasserie grill overlooking the pristine beaches of Cottesloe. Guests can dine in the stately main dining room, formal alfresco terrace, sun-drenched outdoor lounge or at the high tables of the grandiose main bar. The service is impeccably personal, with chefs emerging from the kitchen to present dishes to guests, and the bar director mixing drinks – like the Gibney Gibson or Smoked Negroni – tableside. The seafood bar and caviar bar add a whole new level of opulence to the already luxe experience.

Cuisine: Oldworld brasserie

Average price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Sophisticated seaside

Address: 40 Marine Parade, Cottesloe

Il Lido

an Italian dish at Il Lido, Perth
Il Lido serves up excellent Italian fare. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Once a seaside 1930s art-deco cabaret hall on Cottesloe Beach, Il Lido is now an Italian-inspired espresso bar and restaurant – with one of the best views in Perth, no less. Hot tip: book one of their ‘Twenty Regions of Italy’ dinners where the chef offers four local dishes from one of the 20 regions of Italy, and the restaurant sommelier pairs each dish with a glass of wine from the region – all while the talented service team guides you through the journey.

Cuisine: Italian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Breezy artdeco

Address: 88 Marine Parade, Cottesloe

Indigo Oscar

dining at Indigo Oscar Perth restaurant with a view
Sip on refreshing cocktails at this sun-drenched spot. (Image: Indigo Oscar)

Latin eats, flowing fizz and sunny tunes all day is how Indigo Oscar describes themselves – and they’re not wrong. This sun-drenched spot is literally on top of the white sands of Cottesloe Beach, and it capitalises on that enviable location with a vibrant Latin-influenced menu, fresh drinks list (including crisp cocktails, spiced sangria and Spanish/South American wines) and floor-to-ceiling windows to catch the sunset.

Cuisine: Latin-inspired

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Vibrant and energetic

Address: 99 Marine Parade, Cottesloe

Folly

the Folly rooftop bar with city views, East Perth 
The sky-high Folly rooftop bar rises 18 stories above the city. (Image: Tori Lill)

Eighteen stories high, you’ll feel like you’re well and truly in the sky at Folly rooftop bar. In the eastern end of Perth city, this sun-drenched rooftop space offers views of the Swan River and serves up laidback Italian dishes, alongside a selection of Australian wines, local and international beers, cocktails and a dedicated Spritz menu.

Cuisine: Relaxed Italian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Intimate elevated lounge

Address: Level 18/176 Adelaide Terrace, East Perth

Songbird Bar

the Songbird Bar and Lounge at Ritz-Carlton Perth
The stylish Songbird Bar and Lounge is perfect for sunset drinks.

Perched on the rooftop of one of Perth’s best hotels, The Ritz Carlton, Songbird Bar is a haven for delicious food, skilfully crafted cocktails and sweeping panoramic views of the Swan River. The tight menu features dishes like glazed WA lamb ribs, grilled WA octopus and a grilled Black Angus steak sandwich. The bar has also partnered with Rainfall Distillery to create a bespoke gin that is exclusively available at Songbird. The specialty gin has been distilled with native WA botanicals of pink finger lime, Geraldton wax, pepi leaf and sea parsley to produce a balanced mix of playful and zesty flavours.

Cuisine: Mod-Aus bar bites

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Urban wine bar

Address: 1 Barrack Street, Perth

Bathers Beach House

a couple enjoying drinks set against panoramic sea views at Bathers Beach House, Perth
Bathers Beach House is a prime spot to perch with a sundowner in hand. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

As the only place in WA where you can enjoy a cocktail on the sand, Bathers Beach House has Europeanised the charming port of Fremantle, holding its place as the only absolute beachfront venue in Perth. With panoramic views, and a delicious and diverse menu of quality seafood, it’s an iconic spot to grab a bite on a hot summer’s day.

Cuisine: Coastal pub-grub

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Laid-back beachside vibes

Address: 6/47 Mews Rd, Fremantle

Lil’s Rooftop Bar

the restaurant exterior of Lil’s Rooftop Bar, Perth
The dreamy Lil’s Rooftop Bar is the ultimate spot for sunset drinks. (Image: Supplied)

Perched high above Perth, Lil’s Rooftop Bar brings playful sophistication to the skyline. The all-day menu leans into elevated share plates – think prawn casarecce, zucchini tagliatelle plus an enticing pizza list; paired with a stellar list of local and international wines, craft beers, and signature cocktails. Sundown is when Lil’s truly shines, with golden light bouncing off the cityscape and DJs playing into the night.

Cuisine: Contemporary share plates

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Skyline-chic buzz

Address: 437 Murray Street, Perth

Tom’s Italian

Overlooking the famed Tom’s surf break, this North Beach favourite pairs elevated ocean views with generous Italian classics. Settle in for woodfired pizzas, house-made pastas and seafood-leaning specials, best enjoyed as the sun sinks into the Indian Ocean. It’s relaxed, lively and tailor-made for long, wine-soaked lunches or sunset family dinners.

Cuisine: Italian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Relaxed coastal trattoria

Address: 1 North Beach Road, North Beach

Kirsty Petrides
Kirsty Petrides is a writer, wine-lover and cheese enthusiast. Whether she’s hunting down the best restaurant in Albania, foraging the Marrakech markets for spices or camping in the middle of Patagonian wilderness, she loves to seek out the authentic side of the places she visits, and share that with readers through her writing.
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6 reasons the best way to experience the Kimberley is by cruise

    Kate BettesBy Kate Bettes
    Continue
    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 .