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Here’s where to get the best coffee in Perth

You can’t plan a day of travelling and exploring without first finding your coffee fix.

Melbourne might be renowned for its vibrant coffee culture, but Perth certainly gives it a run for its money. From coffee bars tucked down laneways and arcades, to late-night coffee haunts serving caffeine by candlelight, Perth has some impressive places to get your coffee fix. Here are 15 you have to try.

In Short

If you only try one coffee spot in Perth, make it Vetrina Café for its combo of smooth brews and Mediterranean-style treats (the cannoli alone are worth the trip).

1. Giant Coffee

impressive latte art at Giant Coffee, Perth
A signature brew at Giant Coffee topped with impressive latte art.

Arguably one of the coolest coffee spots to grace this fair city. Perhaps an ironic name given its small size, Giant Coffee is a tiny coffee shop tucked down Kakulas Lane in the hip suburb of Northbridge. A few benches and milk crates line the alleyway for those who’d like to sit and enjoy their coffee. While still a good spot for winter coffee, their summer specials are where it’s at – they do cold brew and orange, and collaborate with local gelaterias for house-special affogatos.

Address: 109 James St 6A on, Nicks Ln, Northbridge WA 6003

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am-2pm, Sat & Sun 9am-2pm

2. Max + Sons

If you’re catching the train to Perth CBD, as soon as you emerge from the underground platform you’ll be greeted by Max + Sons . Pair your coffee with one of the delectable sweet treats from their cabinet and take a seat in their alfresco area.

Address: Gordon Stephenson House, 140 William St, Perth WA 6000

Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 6.30am-2.30pm, Fri 6.30am-2pm

3. Howard’s Groove

coffee at Howard’s Groove, Perth
Order special coffee blends at Howard’s Groove.

This underground coffee bar provides a quiet sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of the busy St Georges Terrace. A full array of hot and cold coffees are on offer, as well as some slick merch that the Howard’s Groove team collaborate on with local designers.

Address: 22 Howard St, Perth WA 6000

Opening hours: Mon-Fri, 6.30am-2.30pm

4. Parkside Coffee

This gorgeous little hole-in-the-wall coffee spot is a neighbourhood favourite. Perched on the edge of the lush Stuart Street Reserve, it has coffees, juices and freshly baked treats for you to sit and enjoy in the sunshine. Grab a milk crate, sit down and bask in the Perth sun with your coffee.

Address: 2 Church St, Perth WA 6000

Opening hours: Mon-Sun 7am-4pm

5. Smooth Operator

Smooth Operator coffee shop in Perth
Pop into this popular Perth coffee spot.

Smooth Operator is a specialty coffee shop located in one of Perth City’s beautifully restored character buildings. Their usual brew is local Twin Peaks coffee, but they also feature a carefully selected rotation of guest coffees. Unwind in their relaxing and friendly environment and enjoy your coffee alongside toasties, treats and some very good tunes.

Address: Shop 4 / 938 Hay St, Perth WA

Opening hours: Mon-Fri, 6.30am-2pm

6. Little Soho

coffee with pastries at Little Soho, Perth
Sip on brews perfectly paired with indulgent pastries.

The light-filled, pastel-hued Little Soho is a treat for the eyes and the taste buds. Their two intimate city locations pour Micrology coffee, plus have pastries, croissants and bagels. The spaces are small so are designed for takeaways, but they do have a smattering of streetside tables on the sidewalk to sit with your brew and watch the morning go by.

Address: 182 St Georges Terrace & 555 Wellington Street, Perth WA

Opening hours: Mon-Fri, 6.30am-2pm

7. Vetrina Cafe

making latte art at Vetrina Cafe, Perth
Vetrina Cafe is famed for its combo of smooth brews and Mediterranean-style treats.

A chic little espresso bar bringing Italian coffee culture to Northbridge. Vetrina Cafe serves strong, smooth brews alongside continental rolls, flaky pastries and its signature cannoli, which are filled fresh daily. Seating is limited to a handful of benches out front, so it’s best for a quick pick-me-up or a takeaway on the go. Hot tip: don’t leave without trying the classic ricotta cannoli.

Address: 180 Newcastle St, Perth WA 6000

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 6:30am–2pm, Sat 7am–2pm

8. Lowdown Espresso

coffee at Lowdown Espresso, Perth
Lowdown Espresso is well-loved by Perth locals.

The bustling Lowdown Espresso is one of Perth’s most popular coffee spots, loved by city-dwelling locals and CBD workers looking to start their day. You can grab a takeaway coffee (and a pastry from their cabinet) and stroll through the city or take a seat at one of their tables.

Address: 16a Cloisters Arcade, 865 Hay St, Perth WA 6000

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 6am-4pm

9. La Veen Coffee

La Veen Coffee now has four locations across Perth (an ode to its popularity) but the King Street venue is a favourite. Its exposed brick and industrial chic vibes make it an atmospheric and inviting place to sit and enjoy your coffee with one of their scrumptious morning treats. Hot tip: order their famous breakfast brioche, with bacon, egg, spinach, relish and pickles.

Address: 79 King St, Perth WA 6000

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 6.30am-2pm, Sat & Sun 7.30am-12pm

10. Voodoo Cafe

a hand holding a cup of coffee at Voodoo Cafe, Perth
Enjoy a nighttime coffee at Voodoo Cafe.

The team at Voodoo Cafe take their coffee very seriously. They create their own roasted blends which you can enjoy in all the usual ways, as well as via a siphon, pour over or cold brew. Plus, they’re one of the few Perth coffee spots open late (until 10pm) for those who enjoy a nighttime coffee – with the dim lighting and candles adding a touch of evening ambience.

Address: Wellington Street Entrance to Raine Square at, 10/300 Murray Street Mall, Perth WA 6000

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 6am-10pm, Sat & Sun 8am-10pm

11. Telegram Coffee

Inside the iconic State Buildings is Telegram Coffee . All the coffee they serve is roasted by the team themselves. It’s a small little set-up – actually like a tiny (but gorgeous) wooden box – but they still manage to have an array of coffee options on offer as well as a small cabinet of baked goods.

Address: State Buildings, Cnr St Georges Tce and Barrack St, Perth WA 6000

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 6am-4pm

12. Cheerio Coffee

In Perth’s west end is Cheerio Coffee , a humble little neighbourhood coffee window. It’s a family-run operation, and the team whips up fresh bread and baked goods on site each morning. Everything is designed to takeaway, or enjoy at the long table out the front (if you can nab a seat, that is.)

Address: 50 Cleaver St, West Perth WA 6005

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 5.30am-12.30pm, Sat 7am-12pm

13. DripHouse

pouring coffee into a cup at DripHouse, Perth
Get your caffeine fix at DripHouse.

Another hole-in-the-wall coffee spot, DripHouse’s Perth CBD venue is a popular place for a caffeine hit. The dark wood interior of the small space makes it a cosy spot to sit at one of the (very few) tables and enjoy your brew.

Address: 772a Hay St, Perth WA 6000

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am-2pm

14. Bench Espresso

A stalwart of the Perth coffee scene, Bench Espresso is an iconic spot for locals. They bake all of their treats fresh on-site, and have ample seating for those who want to sit and enjoy. Be prepared to wait a little because this popular spot gets busy.

Address: 191/471 Hay St, Perth WA 6000

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 6.30am-5pm

15. Standing Room Only Coffee Bar

pouring milk into coffee at Standing Room Only Coffee Bar, Perth
Indulge in barista-made coffee at Standing Room Only Coffee Bar.

Down Piccadilly Arcade is this hip coffee bar . If the pink neon signs and 70’s music don’t put you in a good mood, the coffee definitely will. As the name suggests, there is no seating – you stand at the spacious bar and sip your coffee (and nibble your croissant) Italian style.

Address: Picadilly Arcade 7, 700 Hay St, Perth WA 6000

Opening hours: Mon – Fri 6.30am-3pm, Sat 8am-3pm

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

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 .