hero media

16 of the best cafes in Perth

To make sure you get your day started right, we’ve found the best cafes in Perth.

If there’s one thing Aussies do brilliantly, it’s mornings: breakfast, brunch and coffee. Humble yet spirited, Perth brims with cafes that nail the art of morning fare – from inventive bakeries to laid-back neighbourhood haunts.

Here are 19 spots you absolutely must visit.

The shortlist

Best for dog-friendly dining: Mary St Bakery
Great for special occasions: Tiisch
Best design: Dine by Arrival Hall
Best for groups: Petition

1. Abacus Espresso

pouring milk into a cup at Abacus Espresso, Perth
Savour a top-notch brew. (Image: Abacus Espresso)

Tucked into Leederville’s Electric Lane, this laneway gem blends snug charm with buzzy community energy. Their loaded toasties, bagels, and brioches pair beautifully with perfect coffee – best enjoyed alfresco while people-watching.

Cuisine: Bagels, toasties and pastries

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Cosy and communal

Location: 10 Electric Lane, Leederville

2. Hemingway Cafe

a bright and spacious cafe interior at Hemingway Cafe, Perth
Indulge in Spanish pancakes in a sleek and chic space. (Image: Hemingway Cafe)

This sleek CBD cafe feels modern without pretence. Expect refined coffee, inventive savoury bites like crab BLTs or Spanish potato pancakes in a chic, industrial space. Note: open only weekdays.

Cuisine: Specialty coffee + inventive breakfast

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Contemporary and slick

Location: 152–158 St Georges Terrace, Perth

3. Tiisch

brunch at Tiisch, Perth
Enjoy in generous brunch plates at Tiisch.

Tiisch offers brekkie and brunch with a touch of decadence, with free-flowing bubbles and cocktails, and all-day bites like pan-fried gnocchi with butternut pumpkin, toasted pine nuts and sage. If you’re in the mood for indulgence, this is the place.

Cuisine: Brunch and bottomless cocktails

Average price: $$–$$$

Atmosphere: Fun and lively

Location: 9B, 938 Hay St (corner Milligan St), Perth

4. Deli Gabe

the pastry house exterior of Deli Gabe, Perth
Grab a seriously tasty pastry from Deli Gabe.

A toastie transcends its format when it’s layered with Manjimup black truffles, curing prosciutto, and four-cheese bliss on slow-fermented sourdough. This masterpiece alone is worth the trip to Deli Gabe , but there are also an enticing range of donuts and bagels on offer, too, as well as the much-loved strawberry matcha.

Cuisine: Gourmet breakfast

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Unpretentious and homey

Location: 97 Murray St, Perth

5. Dine by Arrival Hall

the aesthetic cafe interior at Dine by Arrival Hall, Perth
Settle into the aesthetic cafe and enjoy your brunch in style.

Part cafe, part design showroom, this Northbridge venue pairs kimchi and miso pork belly scrambled eggs with designer homewares – a match made for those who brunch stylishly.

Cuisine: Designer brunch

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Trendy and aesthetic

Location: 162 Aberdeen St, Northbridge

6. Forklore

a close-up shot of a vegetable sandwich at Forklore, Perth
Tuck into flavourful brunch classics with an Asian twist.

Folklore offers a serene setting with a playful edge. Minimalist interiors softened by lush greenery house creatively bold breakfast fare like udon with cod roe or croissants shaped like onigiri.

Cuisine: East-Asian-influenced brunch

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Calm and artful

Location: Suite 11, 102 Railway St, Perth

7. Mount Street Breakfast Bar

breakfast plates with coffee at Mount Street Breakfast Bar, Perth
Order one of the classics or something different like Shark Bay chilli crab scrambled eggs with sourdough.

Mount Street Breakfast Bar is a leafy oasis in West Perth’s Kings Park precinct. Local produce shines in dishes such as their standout Shark Bay chilli crab scramble that feels both grounded and unexpected.

Cuisine: Classic breakfast with local flair

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Quiet, leafy, relaxed

Location: 42 Mount St, Perth

8. Cafe Melograno

generous breakfast plates with coffee and juice at Cafe Melograno, Perth
Cafe Melograno serves up generous breakfasts all day.

Tucked into Subiaco’s Heytesbury Road, Cafe Melograno is a feel-good neighbourhood haven serving specialty coffee, hearty breakfasts and gourmet lunches like smashed avo, Turkish eggs and Korean steak rolls. Open early weekdays and weekends, its sunny outdoor seating and friendly service make it a favourite for locals and visitors alike.

Cuisine: All-day cafe

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Warm and homey

Location: 67 Heytesbury Road, Subiaco

9. Community Coffee Co

people dining outside Community Coffee Co, Perth
Make a beeline for egg sandwiches at Community Coffee Co. (Image: Helm Media)

A Subiaco local gem for sandwich lovers, Community Coffee Co offers nostalgic favourites like egg sandwiches or hearty vegetarian options, all served with expertly roasted Loot coffee.

Cuisine: Cafe sandwiches and quality coffee

Average price: $

Atmosphere: Friendly and neighbourly

Location: 292a Barker Rd, Subiaco

10. SHOP 1875

a person at the counter browsing the menu at SHOP 1875, Perth
SHOP 1875 is a reimagined corner store.

In a hurry? Nestled in the State Buildings, this cafe-meets-corner store serves smart grab-and-go fare like mushroom-provolone toasties and Miller & Baker pastries.

Cuisine: Takeaway cafe fare

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Compact and refined

Location: State Buildings (Barrack St & St Georges Tce), Perth

11. Mary Street Bakery

a cup of coffee at Mary Street Bakery, Perth
Grab a coffee to pair with your pastry at Mary Street Bakery.

Iconic across WA, Mary Street Bakery’s West Leederville outpost serves comforting brunch alongside inventive pastries. Doughnuts or buttermilk fried chicken pancakes, anyone?

Cuisine: Pastries and hearty brunch

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Spacious, casual, dependable

Location: 272 Railway Parade, West Leederville

12. Boucla

At Boucla , eclectic tapestries set the scene for Mediterranean-inspired breakfast (Think: Zucchini mint fritters with tzatziki, rose harissa, halloumi and rocket) and a sweet souffra custard cake that deserves its own Instagram follow.

Cuisine: Mediterranean brunch and sweets

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Artistic, welcoming, quirky

Location: 349 Rokeby Road, Subiaco

13. Hylin

a plate of smashed avo at Hylin, Perth
Smashed avo with ricotta, peas, spinach, lemon, mint and wasabi peas on toasted ciabatta.

Architecturally tailored and promising substantial breakfasts, Hylin offers a diverse menu that strikes the right balance between classic and bolder brunch ambition. Think: Hylin shakshuka with baked eggs, tangy tomato, roasted pepper sauce, feta, coriander, and garlic toasted sourdough or the Korean Sticky Chicken with chilli scrambled eggs, chilli crunch, Korean potato cake, coriander and lime dressing, sesame seeds and spring onions.

Cuisine: Brunch

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Sleek and polished

Location: 178 Railway Parade, West Leederville

14. Petition

Located in Perth’s historic State Buildings, Petition is a mod-Aus eatery serving breakfast through to dinner. The brekkie menu highlights local and seasonal produce, from simple porridge and toast to more substantial options. A standout is the breakfast burger – potato hash brown, fried egg, bacon, cheese, and smoky tomato relish in a soft bun – which has become a favourite among regulars.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Bright and social

Location: State Buildings, Cnr St Georges Terrace & Barrack Street, Perth

15. Sayers Sister

Northbridge’s laidback staple Sayers Sister delivers hearty portions – like grilled halloumi with dukkah-topped avo and poached eggs, served with that reassuring hometown embrace in an eclectic space.

Cuisine: Hearty, eclectic brunch

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Cosy and friendly

Location: 236 Lake St, Perth

16. Yefsi at Attika

a table-top view of brunch plates at Yefsi
Late risers unite for brunch at Yefsi.

Geared for late risers, this Northbridge cafe opens close to midday and pairs strong coffee with delightful Greek desserts like baklava or loukoumades in a Mediterranean-style space.

Cuisine: Greekinspired sweets and late brunch

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Casual and approachable

Location: 279 Newcastle Street, Northbridge

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.
See all articles
hero media

Your Mandurah guide: art, dining & dolphins await in WA’s coastal gem

Discover the perfect road trip stopover between Perth and wine country.

Western Australia punches above its weight when it comes to coastal hot spots, but no other town or city has seen a tourism boom quite like Mandurah. Named Australia’s Top Tourism Town in 2023 , it’s the relaxed, beachside break you’ve been searching for. And it’s perfectly placed, sitting between Margaret River and Perth, as it’s just a 55-minute drive from Perth’s CBD. Which is why we’ve put together your ultimate Mandurah guide.

Aerial view of Mandurah.
Plan your perfect coastal escape to Australia’s Top Tourism Town of 2023.

The best things to do in Mandurah

Wetlands and rivers, ocean and inlet; Mandurah’s laid-back lifestyle centres around the aquatic. Its waterways cover twice the ground of Sydney Harbour – measuring some 134 square kilometres in total – and form a unique environment for oceanic and estuarine flora and fauna to thrive.

In the city’s estuary lives perhaps the region’s most famed inhabitants – a resident pod of 100 bottlenose dolphins – and the inlet’s silty bottom is home to the prized blue manna crab. Spot the former breaching and playing on an hour-long dolphin cruise through the channels, or try your hand at catching the latter by wading through the estuary’s shallows with a scoop net in hand.

While swimming at the circular Kwillena Gabi Pool, chance encounters with the local wildlife aren’t uncommon. The sheltered estuarine pool takes its name from the traditional custodians of the land, the Bindjareb people, and directly translates to ‘dolphin waters’. Jutting out of the eastern foreshore, it’s enclosed by a ring of net-free floating pontoons, which allow the dolphins to swim freely through the attraction.

If that’s a little too close for comfort, book a kayak tour with Down Under Discoveries . The dolphins have been known to cruise beside the paddle-powered crafts, which are a fun, family-friendly way to explore the city’s inner waterways.

Dolphins swimming in Mandurah.
Watch dolphins glide by as you explore Mandurah.

You don’t have to be on the water to appreciate the coastal city’s aquatic beauty, with 600 kilometres of cycleways and scenic walking trails traversing Mandurah’s estuary, inlet and coast.

Follow the 30-kilometre coastal trail and you’ll come face to face with one of Thomas Dambo’s headline-making ‘Giants of Mandurah  sculptures, Santi Ikto, along the way. There are five sculptures around Mandurah in total, hidden among gum-filled reserves or sitting sentry over the water.

Head to the Mandurah Visitor Centre to pick up a map to pinpoint their exact location and download the traveller’s companion to learn more about the sights along the way. Or join a three-hour e-bike tour from The Bike Kiosk and you’ll stop by two of the giants – Santi Ikto and Yaburgurt Winjan Cirkelstone – as you sightsee central Mandurah.

 The towering Santi Ikto, one of Thomas Dambo’s iconic Giants of Mandurah.
Meet Santi Ikto, one of the legendary Giants of Mandurah.

Where to eat in Mandurah

Mandurah’s culinary scene reflects its laid-back lifestyle, with large, honest meals and locally brewed beer. After visiting Lake Clifton’s 2000-year-old thrombolites, head to the peppermint and gum-shaded beer garden at Thorny Devil Brewery . Tuck into a platter of house-smoked meats and an ale pulled fresh from the tanks. Closer to town and right on the waterfront is Boundary Island Brewery ; here, woodfired pizza, pub-style seafood dishes and easy-drinking brews are centre stage.

On a Murray River Lunch Cruise , the focus is as much on the environment around you as the food you’re filling up on. Help yourself to the colourful salads and freshly cooked meats on the buffet as you meander up the winding, jarrah tree-lined waterway, stopping at the heritage Cooper’s Mill for a quick walking tour along the way.

Keep your eyes trained on the Creery Wetlands as you pass – you’ll spot much of the region’s migratory birdlife, and, as always, might see the playful bottlenose dolphins in the inlet.

The most memorable meals aren’t necessarily always the fanciest, and lunch aboard a self-skippered Mandurah BBQ Boat is a testament to that. All food and beverage prep is left up to you as you cruise through the canals, sausages and steaks sizzling away on the central hot plate.

If seafood is more your kind of fare, board the Wild Seafood Experience , where dolphin cruise meets long table lunch. Eight courses of crab, crayfish and scallops await.

A table filled with plates of crab, crayfish, and scallops.
Dine on the water with eight courses of ocean-fresh fare.

Where to stay in Mandurah

With so many waterways comes abundant waterside stays. Like the self-contained Seashells Mandurah on the shores of Comet Bay. The calm, oceanic outlook from the one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and villas is as close to Maldivian as Mandurah gets. Families especially enjoy the property, bouncing between the protected cove and the beachfront pool for endless hours of fun.

Seashells Mandurah; on the shores of Comet Bay.
Stay right by the sea.

The Sebel Mandurah , just a hop, skip and jump from the Mandurah Ocean Marina, has a different outlook entirely, overlooking the estuary and lively foreshore on the other side. It’s also within walking distance of the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre , cinema and a swathe of waterfront bars and eateries.

But you can’t get any closer to the water than on a vessel from Mandurah Houseboats . You don’t need a skipper’s ticket to hire one, nor do you need comprehensive boating experience; just a full driver’s license and your undivided attention during the pre-departure tuition will do. Then you’re free to take to the estuaries and tributaries for a few nights of peaceful rest, surrounded by the very element that makes Mandurah so special.

A houseboat cruising in Mandurah along the river
Captain a houseboat to explore Mandurah at your own pace.

Plan your next WA getaway in Mandurah.