Perth’s best beachside bars

The only thing that can make Perth beaches better is downing a bevvie (or two) in the sunshine.

Fortunately for us we’re pretty spoilt for choice, and it feels like new joints are opening up all the time. Here’s a few of our faves, reaching from Rockingham up to Eglinton and just about everywhere in between:

Rustico

For some of the most legit tapas this side of Barcelona, you’ve gotta head to Rustico. The bar is perfectly positioned for a post-swim snack and sangria – especially during their happy hour specials on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays; where you can pick up both for a bargain. As they say: full stomach, happy heart!

19/61 Rockingham Beach Road, Rockingham Beach

Madalena’s

When the husband and wife team behind super popular food truck Comida do Sul opened Madalena’s a few years ago, it was no surprise it became one of the most talked about restaurants in Perth, and Australia at large. Sitting in the sunshine out the front of this relaxed boteco is basically heaven – especially when paired with a menu that celebrates local seafood and a wine list that focuses on natural and minimal-intervention drops – but they’ve now also got the bar upstairs to indulge in cocktails and bar snacks.

406 South Terrace, South Fremantle

La Cabaña

Madalena’s (slightly) newer neighbour, we can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon than soaking up the sunshine and good vibes in La Cabaña’s courtyard. Post-swim, taco in one hand, cocktail in the other, pooch by our side… bliss.

400 South Terrace, South Fremantle

Running With Thieves

Running With Thieves micro-brewery also contains a distillery producing both gin and vodka varieties, plus a retail outlet for you to take all those goodies home. While the warehouse doesn’t quite have the coastal vibes of some other bars on the list, its proximity to South Beach’s easy-breezy lifestyle makes it a necessary inclusion.

218 Marine Terrace, South Fremantle

South Beach Hotel

From the same team as the Fed and 8 Knots, South Beach Hotel keeps it simple with a little bit of added salty seabreeze from South Beach just down the road. Live music, quizzes, ace chasing and great meal deals are all on the ‘What’s On’ menu at South Beach – enjoy.

396 South Terrace, South Fremantle

Bathers Beach House

Australia’s first ever licensed true beach front bar, Bathers Beach House might be the only place you can (legally) enjoy a drink with the sand between your toes. If you really want to feel like you’re on holiday, book a couple of beach loungers for you and your mates to chill out on as the sun sets.

47 Mews Road, Fremantle

Il Lido

One of Perth’s best restaurants, period – this one’s gotta be at the high on the agenda for beachside eats. Right on Cott beach’s doorstep, Il Lido is all about a sense of European sophistication with a side of beachside relaxation – the perfect spot whether you’re dropping in for a post swim coffee (using locally roasted Mano e Mano beans) or a rustic Italian feast with friends. With a spritz in your hand, you’ll practically feel like you’re in Capri.

88 Marine Parade, Cottesloe

Indigo Oscar

Nestled inside the iconic Indiana Tea House Building and boasting sweeping views of the postcard-perfect destination, Indigo Oscar is as picturesque as it is delicious. The menu is built around Latin-American flavours, coupled with a beverage list fabricated for festivities – and if you’re there during the cooler months, a seat by their fireplace makes a perfectly cosy coastal nook to curl up in with a wine or two.

99 Marine Parade, Cottesloe

Cottesloe Beach Hotel

One of Perth’s OG beachside bars, the Cottesloe Beach Hotel may have had a glowup in recent times (and sadly ditched the astroturf beer garden of yesteryear), but it remains the pub of choice for the Golden Triangle’s bourgeoisie on a Sunday afternoon. The older we get, the more we’re all about just doing our best to nab a seat in the front bar and watch the sun go down.

104 Marine Parade, Cottesloe

Ocean Beach Hotel

A little further up the road but no less iconic, the OBH has a tidy little Sunday sesh of its own if you dare, while the front bar still bustles with folks from all walks of life trying to catch the sunset with a pint in hand. Make sure to pop upstairs for some unparalleled coastal views:

140 Marine Parade, Cottesloe

The Shorehouse

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: if Nigella Lawson rates it, that’s good enough for us. Sit under one of The Shorehouse’s charming striped umbrellas and peruse their extensive Bloody Mary menu, while taking in the gorgeous view of Swanbourne Beach. What could be better?

278 Marine Parade, Swanbourne

Odyssea

Odyssea’s expansive wrap-around deck offers one of the best beach views you’re gonna get, anywhere, anytime. With a menu that’s appropriately seafood-y, and draws from various coastal cuisines (it’s a little bit Mediterranean, and a little bit Asian, with a few tortillas here and there), you’re set whether you’re grabbing a quick post swim coffee from the takeaway window or a sunset cocktail.

187 Challenger Parade, City Beach

Little Wave

The latest edition to Scarborough’s sunset sips scene, Little Wave has very quickly carved out a big name for itself on the southern corner of the Esplanade strip. Open from early in the morning for coffee and brekky right through til Mediterranean sips and snacks at night, to the surprise of noone it’s very quickly become a popular spot amongst locals and visitors alike.

190 The Esplanade, Scarborough

Sandbar

A little further up you’ll find Sandbar, open from 7am every day right through until late serving up a mean breakfast, lunch and dinner. While the northern tip of the strip can get pretty rowdy, Sandbar keeps things cruisy with a more casual dining experience and regular acoustic acts.

1 Scarborough Beach Road, Scarborough

The Peach Pit

While it may be nestled right on Scarborough beach, The Peach Pit has anything but your beach bod on its mind. Their regular selections of smashed burgers are dangerous enough (the potato buns are a big plus), but it’s their burgers of the month that’ll haunt your dreams.

148 The Esplanade, Scarborough

El Grotto

A Scarborough strip staple for almost 10 years now, over the past couple of years El Grotto has shifted focused to food and drinks over party, and everyone’s a winner for the change. They rock a mean 4-6pm happy hour, quiz nights on Wednesdays, live music and still throw down a bit of disco on the weekends. Plus their menu is serving up some of the best Mexican in Perth, make no mistake.

5/148 The Esplanade, Scarborough

The Lookout Bar Bar Bowling & Bites

The Lookout ain’t just a huge bar on the beach in Scarbs, it’s also got some good time bowling alleys inside! Some may have laughed at the notion of converting the old Matisse Beach Club into a bar you can go bowling at, but it’s been a huge hit down on the Esplanade. With regular (and crazy) meal deals and bowling deals during the week, we recommend popping by then when it’s a bit more chill, although if you feel like turning it up it’s got the rowdiest Sunday sesh on the strip.

148 The Esplanade, Scarborough

Scarborough Beach Bar

We’re pretty spoilt for choice when it comes to bars along the Scarborough Beach foreshore, but it’s hard to go past the views at Scarborough Beach Bar. Perched upstairs you get a primo viewing platform of surfers over the hill all set to chilled DJs, a very tempting cocktail selection and relaxed coastal pub fare.

1 Manning Street, Scarborough

The Galway Hooker

Obviously, the first thing we think of when we think “traditional Irish pub”? A sweeping view of the Indian Ocean. We kid, but there’s something about the salty air at the Galway Hooker that adds a certain seaside charm to an afternoon. With a fit-out that was built in Ireland and shipped over, you’ll be singing sea shanties in no time.

3/148 The Esplanade, Scarborough

Froth Craft Beach

After running the game in Exmouth since 2017 and opening Froth Craft Bunbrewery in 2022, Froth Craft Brewery brings their patented laidback atmosphere to Perth’s northern coastal suburbs. Located at 1 North Beach Road underneath Tom’s Italian along West Coast Drive, its open at all comers, including kids (there’s a play area on site), all of your furry best friends, and their dogs. Serving its own in-house beers (across 16 taps) and seltzer, they’ve got guest taps, plenty of pizzas to choose from and a ripping sunset over the water every day.

1/1 N Beach Road, North Beach

Hillarys Beach Club

Hillarys Beach Club at Pinnaroo Point is a huge two-story venue, featuring multiple spaces and a diverse menu serving breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. The variety of unique spaces mean there is something for all-comers, starting with Bar Cicchettis and Bert’s Ballroom on the lower level and The Heart upstairs offering uninterrupted views over the beach. Finally a takeaway window near the entrance will be slinging 6am coffees, house-made pastries and more for you early-morning cyclists and beach-goers to get the ball rolling.

Mullaloo Beach Hotel

Continuing Perth’s proud tradition of just naming pubs after the beach they’re on, the Mullaloo Beach Hotel has been keeping things light and breezy for the kings (and queens) in the north since the ’70s. The menu is massive meaning there’s something for everyone no matter your dietary needs, and the iconic Mullas Beach is just a hop, skip and jump away across the road.

10 Oceanside Promenade, Mullaloo

The Beach House

Since opening at the end of 2019, The Beach House just 100m from the beach in Jindalee has fast become a real destination venue. The unmatched views are matched by the leafy, coastal interior decor, a cruisey coastal attitude and a big ol’ range of tap beers. Definitely worth jumping in the car for a northern road trip.

100 Aurora Esplanade, Jindalee

The Amberton

Another recently opened northern treasure, The Amberton is right on the beach in Eglinton in between Alkimos and Yanchep. Even if you’re a southsider, it’s totally worth it for the super friendly staff, fun, easy menu featuring all your faves and that specifically chilled atmosphere you can only find when you get away from the big smoke.

2 Idyllic View, Eglinton

Header Image Credit: The Sandbar Scarborough