You know when Nokturnl, the crew behind The Old Synagogue, The Beaufort and The Station, take on a revamp, it's going to be pretty massive. But Stories, the group's new drinking and dining precinct in Yagan Square, is the biggest yet.
Like every Nokturnl opening, there's so many venues within the venue to explore and here you've got nine bars, three restaurants, a speakeasy and rooftop bar, private dining space and the city’s biggest beer garden to explore across five levels. So look, we'll forgive you if you haven't had a chance to roadtest each one just yet.
Thankfully, that's kinda our job. So to guide your next dining adventure in the CBD's latest culinary behemoth we've made a hit list of the standout dishes and drinks you need to try from each venue.
alba
Image credit: Shot by Thom | Supplied
Handmade pastas and alfresco terrace vibes go hand-in-hand at alba, the chic new Italian restaurant located on the second level of the new Stories precinct.
Great For:
Date night
What To Order:
It'd be a crime not to get at least one pasta on your table at alba, and our pick of the bunch is the vibrant red tomato-y brilliance of their classic vodka rigatone. A little basic bitch? Maybe... but common, it's a classic for a reason. Backtracking for a second though, because you'll wanna order a serve of their iconic bread (try save a little to scoop up the sauce from the pasta) and a hot pizza cocktail (it's like a spicy marg, but the limoncello gives it an Italian edge) to start. After wiping your pasta bowl clean, follow it up with the snapper pie. Cracking into the golden flakey pie top is quite the moment, revealing a light yet creamy snapper filling. Trust us, it will quickly become your new comfort fave.
Ugly Baby
Image credit: Shot by Thom | Supplied
You might have seen Ugly Baby's signature baby bottle cocktails and boozy bottomless sessions in your feed already, but if not, let that guide you on the kind of outlandishly fun vibe this spot likes to exude. And to accompany the playful drinks? A Middle Eastern-inspired (and Halal-certified) menu that's perfect for group grazing.
Great For:
Long lunch
What To Order:
Starting strong with the one cocktail you need to try, the Funky Monkey. It's a passionfruit twist on the classic Amaretto Sour and one of our team's new favourites. Pair with a serve of the flatbread with whipped ricotta topped with harissa and warm honey—they've nailed the ideal ratio of sweet and spice, and the super soft texture of the flatbread is unmatched. From there, we'd recommend the shish toowook chicken and spanakoptita before moving onto the ridiculously good-looking (and equally delicious) baklava-inspired ice cream sandwich topped with pistachio fairy floss.
Fat Controller
Image credit: Shot by Thom | Supplied
Like all Nokturnl venues, there is a hidden cocktail bar for those who know where to look. At Stories it's the Fat Controller.
Great For:
Knock-off drinks
What To Order:
It's all about the drinks here, and for us, there was one that really blew us away. Let us introduce you to the Polar Expresso, featuring pavlova vodka, cacao nibs and a firey melted marshmallow. It's super decadent (you're probably not going to session these) but an absolute must-try for espresso martini fans.
KARLA
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If you've been to Tonic & Ginger or Lotus before, you'll know these guys are damn good at modern Asian fusion thanks largely to Executive Chef Sundoo Kim and KARLA Head Chef Ben Pienprasop (ex Chin Chin, Melbourne), and KARLA packs just as much of a punch.
Great For:
Group dinner
What To Order:
Alright, strap in, because we found it incredibly hard to pick faves from this flavourful menu. To start, get the prawn and pork doughnuts and scallops on your table asap. The doughnuts are delectably indulgent and naughty. The scallops are pure elegance. Both are essential. Back it up with the smoked brisket massaman (the true standout for us) alongside a spicy cauliflower masala and flakey roti to mop up all the delicious sauce. And please do try to save some room for dessert, because the sticky date is easily one of the best we've tucked into in Perth.
Main image credit: Stories | Supplied