12 rooftop bars in Perth for summer hangs

Drinks under the sun or beneath the stars, these are the best rooftop bars in Perth.

Perth has its fair share of amazing bars, and in a place as warm and sun-drenched as it is, it would be almost criminal not to have an assembly of rooftop venues. From venues perched almost 20 stories high overlooking the glistening Swan River, to intimate terraces nestled amongst heritage rooftops, these are Perth’s most unmissable rooftop bars.

In short

If you only make it to one rooftop bar in Perth, let it be Folly for sky-high, panoramic views of the city, or Bob’s Bar if you’re chasing a lively party atmosphere with a cheeky dose of Aussie history.

1. Mechanics Institute

people enjoying drink at the lower deck of Mechanics Institute rooftop bar in Perth — Gather at the Mechanics Institute rooftop bar for after-work drinks. (Image: Ryan Cubbage)

Best for: Bold and bolshy cocktails

One of Perth’s original and iconic rooftop small bars, Mechanics Institute is tucked down a laneway in the inner-city Northbridge. Once you ascend the staircase, you’ll find yourself on their intimate alfresco roof deck that’s nestled amongst the city’s heritage rooftops. The talented team behind the bar craft unique and interesting cocktails, and also feature regular bar ‘takeovers’ with visiting mixologists who try daring and different things – including a cocktail served on fire.

Address: Rear 222 William St, Northbridge

Opening hours: Tuesday-Thursday 4pm-late; Friday-Sunday 3pm-midnight

2. Songbird Bar & Lounge

Ritz Carlton Perth's stylish rooftop bar at Songbird Bar & Lounge — Head to Ritz Carlton Perth’s stylish rooftop bar for sunset drinks with sweeping views of the city skyline. (Image: Songbird Bar & Lounge)

Best for: A glamorous experience

Perched on the rooftop of one of Perth’s best hotels, The Ritz Carlton, Songbird is a haven for delicious food, skilfully crafted cocktails and sweeping panoramic views of the Swan River. While their cocktail list is impressive, our hot tip is to go to the gin menu. The bar has 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.

Address: 1 Barrack Street, Perth

Opening hours: Monday & Thursday 3-9pm; Friday 3pm-midnight; Saturday 12pm-midnight; Sunday 2-9pm

3. Hello Rooftop

a crowded rooftop bar at Hello at The Rechabite, Perth — Hello at The Rechabite is a top spot for a boogie. (Image: Marcos Silverio)

Best for: A beer and boogie

Hello Rooftop is the rooftop venue of Northbridge’s The Rechabite, an emporium of entertainment, good food and great drinks. The space is fun and unpretentious, with seating options being a bunch of colourful retro lawn chairs that sit beneath a canopy of vibrant plastic lanterns. The DJ behind the decks will have you toe-tapping and the team behind the bar serve up classic cocktails, wine and tap beer.

Address: 224 William Street, Northbridge

Opening hours: Wednesday-Sunday 5pm-late

4. Terrarium

people enjoying drinks at the lush rooftop terrace of Terrarium, Perth — Drink award-winning cocktails on the lush rooftop terrace. (Image: Jay Turks)

Best for: Award-winning cocktails

Terrarium recently won the title of WA’s best cocktail bar. On the corner of Howard Street and St Georges Terrace, this place is a go-to for specialist cocktails, a comprehensive selection of spirits and a refined bar food menu. And what better way to enjoy all that than on their lush foliage-filled rooftop terrace. A stand-out cocktail is the Primrose – a lime curd margarita served with lemon myrtle salt.

Address: Howard St Entrance, 99 St Georges Terrace, Perth

Opening hours: Tuesday-Thursday 4pm-midnight; Friday 2pm-midnight; Saturday 4pm- midnight

5. The Standard

Mediterranean-inspired food at The Standard, Perth — Perth favourite The Standard elevates your experience with a Med-inspired menu.

Best for: Med-inspired drinks and food

One of the earliest venues offering a rooftop bar experience, Perth favourite The Standard offers European charm in the heart of Northbridge with a Mediterranean-inspired menu and charming med-inspired space. Set on top of a shipping container, the venue’s rooftop deck is by no means the highest in the city, but the lush and rustic terrace still offers some fantastic views over the city skyline.

Address: 28 Roe Street, Northbridge

Opening hours: Wednesday-Friday 4pm-late; Saturday & Sunday 12pm-late

6. AGWA Rooftop

the city skyline as seen from the AGWA Rooftop bar, Perth — AGWA Rooftop features an open-air sculpture walk. (Image: Robert Frith)

Best for: Drinks with a side of art

The Art Gallery of WA (AGWA) has merged art and entertainment at this unique rooftop space. Architecturally designed, the AGWA Rooftop is the largest rooftop venue in Perth and features an open-air sculpture walk featuring works from the State Art Collection, an internal gallery space and two rooftop spaces with brilliant city, hill and museum views. The food and drinks lists are tinged with a distinct WA flavour, and local DJs will set the soundtrack to your night.

Address: Perth Cultural Centre, Perth

Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm in spring and summer months

7. Tiki as FK

Best for: Mad Men meets tiki vibes

It goes without saying that Tiki as FK is a tiki bar, however, it’s a tiki bar with a difference. A bit tiki, a bit ’60s, the cocktail lounge and rooftop bar give a self-proclaimed “Mad Men meets Shag" vibe. Step through the tiki door on Northbridge’s James Street to be transported to a different world, with palm tree wallpaper, retro furniture and artisan beaded door curtains adorned with toucans. The rooftop bar boasts shimmering city views, live DJs, and (as you expect) exotic tropical cocktails. Plus, if you’re peckish you can order a mouth-watering toastie from Perth’s iconic toastie joint, Toastface Grillah.

Address: 91A James Street, Northbridge

Opening hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 4pm-midnight

8. Bob’s Bar at Print Hall

people gathering under a giant orange tree at Bob’s Bar, Print Hall — Share a pint beneath the giant orange tree. (Image: Bob’s Bar at Print Hall)

Best for: After-work sundowners

Perched above the heritage-listed Print Hall, Bob’s Bar is a rooftop dedicated to one of Australia’s most iconic larrikins, former Prime Minister Bob Hawke. Named after his famous encouragement for Aussies to “have a sickie" following Australia’s America’s Cup win, the bar embodies that same spirit of cheeky celebration. It’s a favourite CBD spot for after-work drinks, with WA craft beers, crisp wines, and playful cocktails – the Bob’s Famous Lagerita is a must-try. Add in wood-fired pizzas and share plates, and it’s the kind of place where knocking off can easily roll into night.

Address: Level 1, Print Hall, Brookfield Place, Perth

Opening hours: Monday–Saturday 12pm–late

9. Rooftop at QT

the rooftop bar at QT Perth — Enjoy a sophisticated soiree at the ultra-stylish QT rooftop.

Best for: Sky-high views

Rooftop at QT gets the bragging rights of being one of Perth city’s highest rooftops, soaring 18 stories high at the top of QT Hotel (which happens to be one of Perth’s best hotels). The bar is an aesthetic wonderland, with the space curated by local artists and designers, and it offers sweeping views of the cityscape. The wine, beer and cocktail list is extensive, while the Mediterranean food menu ensures you won’t go hungry.

Address: 133 Murray Street, Perth

Opening hours: Monday-Thursday 4-10pm; Friday & Saturday 2pm-late; Sunday 2-10pm

10. Folly

the rooftop bar at Folly, Perth — Imbibe elevated tipples on this sun-drenched rooftop. (Image: Folly)

Best for: Sunset drinks

Eighteen stories high, you’ll feel like you’re well and truly in the sky at Folly . In the eastern end of Perth city, this sun-drenched rooftop space serves a selection of Australian wines, local and international beers and signature cocktails – try the Cinnamon May, their surprising take on the classic margarita.

Address: Level 18/176 Adelaide Terrace, East Perth

Opening hours: Tuesday-Saturday during spring and summer

11. Lil’s Rooftop Bar

Lil’s Rooftop Bar in Perth as captured from above — Unwind with rooftop drinks in the heart of Perth. (Image: Shot by Thom)

Best for: Laid-back weekend drinks

Escape to the rooftop for sun-soaked sips and share-friendly plates at Lil’s Rooftop Bar , a vibrant open-air oasis in the heart of Perth. Sip on Lil’s signature Limoncello while grazing on wood-fired pizzas, grilled skewers and classic share plates. Come the weekend, grab the gang for Lil’s Long Lunch – the ultimate session for eating, drinking and soaking up the city skyline. Regular DJs keep the energy buzzing, making it as good for after-work drinks as it is for long, lively afternoons.

Address: 437 Murray Street, Perth

Opening hours: Wednesday-Tuesday 11:30am to late

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.

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.