Leave your ‘mainstream’ bars behind you and head on underground for some of Perth’s finest hidden drinking establishments.
That’s right, we’ve rounded up the best of this city’s alleyway, basement, attic and side street bars for all your covert drinking ops, many of which you'll easily miss unless you know where you're going.
Here are Perth's most hidden bars.
DEADBEAT
440 Murray St, Perth WA 6000
Image credit: DEADBEAT | Supplied
Combining dive bar aesthetics and high technique cocktails, DEADBEAT is the anything-can-happen cocktail bar hiden out back of the Pirate Life precinct. It’s got the bones of a classic dive bar - red leather banquettes, low-slung velvet armchairs, some glam-rock zebra print, neon signs, refracted lighting from a low hung mirror ball, and a Harley Davidson mural - and is operations manager Adi Ruiz's homage to dive bar greats, and in particular to Sydney’s one-time rock n’ roll bar icon, Frankie’s Pizza, his favourite bar of all time.
“I used to go after work all the time and it was so much fun, really kind of dirty, but also a little bit of polish as well. We want this place to feel super divey and super trashy, but there has to be, for me, a lot of counterpoints of polish that are just sprinkled through it as well.”
Expect worldclass cocktails (Adi's last venue, Bulletin Place, scored a coveted spot on the World’s 50 Best Bars list five times) that lean into creatively nostaligic takes on classics - think a negroni spider - and drool-worthy late night bites like cheesy French onion toasties and bacon and jalapeno loaded tater tots. Read more about DEADBEAT here.
Toots
38 Roe St, Northbridge WA 6003
Toots is the sassy disco bar hidden WITHIN a secret bar, located somewhere in Northbridge’s Chinatown. Once you think you have it, chuck on your brightest and best 70s fit, stomp right up to the bar and ask “Is Toots in?”. If you’re in the right spot, you’ll be handed a golden ticket that will get you in via the secret door.
Foxtrot Unicorn
101 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000
Taking up space in an old bank vault below St Georges Terrace, Foxtrot Unicorn is the perfect city hideaway for a few laid-back tipples in dark and moody corners. Even better, they’re also slinging some very sexy cheese jaffles with “jaffle crack” seasoning, garlic butter and crusted parmesan.
Sneaky Tony's
38 Roe St, Northbridge WA 6003
Any good booze hound knows about this sneaky little rum joint. Get your hands on the password, find Sneaky Tony's clandestine entrance and all the rum will be yours.
Alfred's Pizzeria
37 Barrack St, Perth WA 6000
Tucked away from the city shoppers, Alfred’s Pizzeria is an underground bar perfect for late night eats, cocktails, rock and roll and outlaws. Let the red neon sign lead the way.
Alabama Song
232 William St, Perth WA 6000
Slinging greasy American fare, cocktails and rye whiskey, Alabama Song is the most satisfying legal thing that can be found in an alleyway. Throw in some honky-tonk and you'll well and truly feel like you've landed in Alabama for the night.
Joe’s Juice Joint
232-234 William St, Northbridge WA 6000
The final destination of any Northbridge bar crawl, Joe’s Juice Joint is the place to make mistakes. Or dance. Whatever you fancy. Slam down a pickle back and let the good times roll.
Mechanics Institute
222 William St, Northbridge WA 6000
Mechanics Institute is hardly a secret these days. Anyone who knows their bars knows that Perth’s best small bar is but an alleyway entrance away. Head upstairs for expert cocktail creations on the rooftop deck.
Goody Two's
40 Irwin St, Perth WA 6000
Whether you’re looking for an insane collection of Japanese whiskey, a place to dance the night away or some out-of-this-world bar snacks, Goody Two's in Hibernian Place is where you need to be. Once you've found the place, check out the risque vending machine in the bathroom.
Ezra Pound
189 William St, Northbridge WA 6003
Urban laneway drinking at its finest, Ezra Pound is still the best place to brown-bag a beer on the down-low. And with 15 years in the biz under their belts, the Ezra Pound team is a well oiled machine!
The Jazz Cellar
139 Buxton St, Mount Hawthorn WA 6016
Perth’s best cloak-and-dagger jazz venue is still as awesome as ever. Enter the hidden red phone booth at The Jazz Cellar and be transported to the jazz age.
Varnish On King
75 King St, Perth WA 600
Beneath stylish King Street, Varnish on King is a sophisticated underground whiskey den that packs a serious punch. Grab a seat and order a bacon and whiskey flight to kick things off right.
Bobeche
131 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000
A prohibition-style basement bar underneath St George’s Terrace, Bobeche is a dimly lit drinking haven with sultry charm and loads of popcorn.
Caballitos
26 Queen St, Perth WA 6000
Hidden away underneath the old 1907 on Queen Street, Caballitos is mixing some of the best cocktails in town alongside scrumptious Mexican food. Get yourself a lagerita and some tacos and call it a day.
Want more? Check out these Perth Bars You Should Have Been To.
Image credit: Toots