After a shaky couple of years there Mount Lawley is so back – the suburb returning to fine form as a bustling hub of eating, drinking and shopping.

Cool new laneway precincts like the Alexander Buildings have paved the way for more cafes and restaurants, and an area that began to feel like a ghost town for a minute there has now roared back to life – here’s why:

EAT & DRINK

Kub Kao

We first spied this new Mount Lawley Thai spot on a foodie friend’s feed, and we were immediately intrigued. While the recommendation immediately put Kub Kao in our brain’s “cautiously optimistic” category, when we finally got there ourselves we were immediately on board. A pared-back menu means it’s chock-a-block with heavy hitters – like the deliciously crispy salt and pepper roast pork belly, served with green peppercorns and aromatic kaffir lime leaves. (We also couldn’t resist swiping the crispy pork crackling through the creamy Choo Chee curry sauce, which was served with tender slices of grilled beef rump.)

568 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

Chicho Gelato

Ultra-cool “new-wave” gelateria Chicho Gelato has been churning some of Perth’s best gelato since opening their Northbridge store in 2016. Merging old-school techniques with new-school flavours and top-tier produce, its easy to understand why. As well as timeless classics, Chicho excel at unique and refined flavour combos – lavender and honeycomb and malted milk cornflake cookie are oft-returning superstars – but their collabs and limited edition flavours are a particular treat.

556 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

Stampede Gelato

Since their early days at Freo’s Sunshine Harvester Works, we’ve loved Stampede Gelato’s boundary-pushing approach to flavours, which explore every facet of deliciousness – think Frosties cereal milk, Sour Patch Kids, salted Tim Tam, or even miso soup with Red Velvet cupcake! Now, they’ve not only expanded with a new Mount Lawley store, but a sweet South Freo shipping container outpost as well.

664 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

El Público

A stalwart of the area, El Público, is a Mexican joint that has stood the test of Beaufort Street’s time for a few key reasons: its authentic feel is backed up by staff who know and love the food and drinks on offer, and will always help you through their extensive tequila offerings. The food menu hasn’t changed a whole lot over the years, but it hasn’t had to; their tacos are perfect, their street corn should be named desire and those beef mogo mogo balls…yum! Just take it easy on that dangerous cocktail list.

511 Beaufort Street, Highgate

Testun

We can’t get enough of Testun’s irreverent attitude and big flavours. Combining Italian nostalgia with a new-wave Australasian approach, the neighbourhood osteria is quickly making its (neon green) mark.

12/760 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

Threecoins & Sons

While Threecoins is technically the elder sibling of Testun, its recent-ish relaunch has given us a reinvigorated enthusiasm for the more traditional, ten-year-old trattoria – although more traditional can only be defined in relation to its irreverent sibling down the road. Comforting Italian classics are melded with that signature bold flavour and high voltage approach… Think pinsa topped with mortadella, pineapple salsa and pickled peppers, a linguine served with prawn bisque and lemon-spiked mascarpone or lamb chops with a pistachio and mint agrodolce.

12/776 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

Chu Bakery

The almost-constant line out the door will attest to the fact that Chu has been killing it since opening their William Street bakery in 2015. You need to be an early bird to be sure to get one of their amazing loaves of bread, but luckily, their picture-perfect pastries, loaded toasts and donuts are equally delish – but even without those, Chu would be worth a visit just for their coffee. (Best enjoyed laying on the grass in Hyde Park, soaking up the sunshine.)

498 William Street, Highgate

Bossman

Speaking of coffee (promise these segues aren’t as intentional as they seem), head to the back of the arcade near the Astor for Beaufort Streets secret caffeine killer – Bossman. Their cosy, dimly lit surrounds will make you feel safe after one of those big nights where you’re a bit dusty, and just need a friendly smile to go with that sweet, sweet coffee hit. You can also head across the road to Lady Annie, their sister café with the same great coffee, plus more eats and a cute courtyard.

3/669 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

Twenty Seats

After closing shop at Shenton Park’s iconic Petite Mort, chef Todd Stuart has opened a new venture in Highgate, Twenty Seats. As its name would suggest, the restaurant only hosts 20 diners each night for its meticulous 10-course tasting menu, allowing for a phenomenal level of attentiveness from the entire team that takes Twenty Seats to an all-time great.

301 Lord Street, Highgate

Tommy Tacos

Tomas Bidois brought his humble taco pop-up to its Highgate laneway home in 2023 and it’s been a hit ever since. A must-visit for any taco enthusiasts, Tommy Tacos is an especially great spot to bring your gluten free friends as Bidois’ Mexican cooking techniques means the entire menu is gluten free!

448 Beaufort Street, Highgate

‘Lo

That’s not all, though: 2023 also saw Bidois expand next door, transforming the space formerly home to Homme into ‘Lo. Situated in arguably one of Perth’s most beautiful dining rooms, the restaurant riffs on southern American classics like tea and apple juice-brined pork chops, devilled egg hash browns, southern grits with Skull Island prawns or fried chicken and biscuits. Yee-haw!

448 Beaufort Street, Highgate

Molly’s

Opening just a year ago, Molly’s has been welcomed with wide arms by Perth’s army of Guinness fans. Whether you’re popping in for a quick creamy pint (perhaps with a photo printed on it?), one of their classic pub meals, a trad sesh or an iconic spice bag – you’re sure to be in for the craic.

488 Beaufort Street, Highgate

Messina Gelato

A year after opening their first WA store, Messina‘s cult status as one of Australia’s favourite gelatos hasn’t let up. Serving an impressive selection of 40 gelato flavours, 35 are permanent crowd-pleasing classics and five are delicious weekly rotating specials.

497 Beaufort Street, Highgate

Mary Street Bakery

Another joint that’s managed to hold firm through darker days, Mary Street Bakery has become so successful it’s spun off into a practically endless number of locations around Perth! Their fried chicken buttermilk pancakes are basically legend at this point, but basically everything on the menu is delicious (and sometimes a little decadent), and they sling a mean coffee.

507 Beaufort Street, Highgate

Butter Crumbs

After a brief 18-month stint in Inglewood, Butter Crumbs has finally moved into a permanent space in Mount Lawley – and it couldn’t have come soon enough. Baking in small batches, there’s a reason they’ve been a cult hit since their early days at the Mount Claremont Farmers’ Market. Comforting pies (both sweet and savoury) are a must, as is the burnt Basque cheesecake – although you’ll also see some pretty tempting seasonal offerings.

1/669 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

Madeleine

This French café is as charming as they come. Alongside a cabinet of baked treats and sandwiches, indulge in a French-style breakfast – croque monsieurs, eggs benedict and pain perdu all make an appearance, and are best enjoyed in the sun-filled dining room or cute blue courtyard. You can now also visit Madeleine after dark, with a brand new bistro-style dinner menu on offer!

487 Beaufort Street, Highgate

Daily Dose

In spite of its limited size, Daily Dose has been gaining a fervent following with their friendly service, takeaway coffees and legendary toasties – not to mention their hangover-busting Saturday morning birria tacos. These guys really prove that you don’t have to complicate things, you just have to be good.

1/500 Beaufort Street, Highgate

The Beaufort

This behemoth on Beaufort Street has made a huge impact since its opening in March of 2022. Like its sister venue, The Old Synagogue, The Beaufort spans multiple levels – each with something different to offer. Hit up the beer garden for drinks in the sunshine, venture into hidden speakeasy Cypher for late night libations, or dive into Lotus’ flavour-packed pan-Asian menu.

521-525 Beaufort Street, Highgate

Ischia

We’re not short on authentic Italian dining experiences around Perth, and Ischia would easily be up there with the best of ’em. Their wood-fired pizzas are un-beatable, along with their wonderfully warm service, one trip to Ischia is all you need to see why they’ve remained such a popular restaurant in Mt Lawley for so long. We may not be able to go to Italy any time soon, but Ischia will do a good job of placing you right in the gulf of Naples.

500 Beaufort Street, Highgate

Don Birria

Succulent beef between a rich, consommé-dipped tortilla? Gooey, toasty quesadillas? Our mouths are watering just thinking about it. Popping up at Scarborough Sunset Markets and the Scarborough Farmers Market, Don Birria has been the word on everyone’s lips since opening in 2020. Two years later, they expanded to their Mount Lawley location – so it’s even easier to get your hands on that succulent goodness.

3/80 Walcott Street, Mount Lawley

Solo Pasta

Serving pasta by the metre, Solo Pasta is one of the busiest joints along the top of the Beaufort Street strip. You can put that down to a simple way of ordering, and letting the flavours do the talking. All you gotta do is order your flavour (classic, beetroot, spinach), pick the length (3m is the standard) and choose a sauce (tomato base, cream base or olive oil). The real secret weapon here is the plethora of gluten free and growing vego options – things we don’t always get to see when it comes to pasta places.

628 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

Si Paradiso

It’s hard to go past Si’s stunning amphitheatre, which will transport you to the Amalfi coast with not only their décor, but love of fine wine. It can be easy to lose a day here, sipping on wines and dining on delicious breads and pizza in the afternoon, before switching into Italo disco mode when the sun goes down.

1/466 Beaufort Street, Highgate

Bar Vino

Since opening back in 2019, Willing Coffee’s Mount Lawley outpost has become a favourite for locals to swing by for a coffee and a croissant. But as the sun sets, the evening hours sees the bustling café transform into a somewhat more sultry proposition – one with an expansive, Italian-leaning wine list and similarly Italian-leaning menu, whether you’re nibbling on cacio e pepe flatbread and salumi, or diving into a sumptuous bowl of pasta.

181 Central Avenue, Mount Lawley

Get Chunky

You have not lived until you’ve had one of Get Chunky’s sweet-as-hell cookies, warmed up and pumped full of ice cream and all the other toppings in the world. They’ve got vegan and gluten free options too, so now everyone can feel guilty after indulging in some of Perth’s sweetest treats.

7/81-83 Walcott Street, Mount Lawley

Mack Daddy’s New York Slice

They say New York is home to the best pizza in the world, and Mack Daddy’s do a pretty terrific job of bringing that vibe to little old Perth. Their pizzas are huge, with a big slice option to go with 16″ and the monster 22″ offering – the same size as four regular pizzas. It makes Mack Daddy’s an awesome spot for group dinners, especially thanks to their well-stocked bar and an awesome cocktail list.

560 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

Le Rebelle

And speaking of far away places, you’ll feel like you’ve popped into a little Parisian haunt after stepping into the unassuming surrounds of Le Rebelle. A bistro, wine bar and restaurant all wrapped snugly into one (just check out this article’s header image for the vibe), you’ll regularly find Le Rebelle mentioned amongst Perth’s best restaurants. Once again (and an obvious feature of all good restaurants), it’s their warm, friendly, attentive service that really seals the delicious deal. The end of 2021 also saw the addition of Bar Rogue to Beaufort Street: Le Rebelle’s walk-in-only, culinarily adventuring little sister just down the road.

676 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

Soho Lane

Soho Lane‘s all-day brunch menu has plenty of surprises in store for the adventurous eater (Ox Tongue Pastrami Bagel anyone?), along with great staples and bread from the legends at Miller+Baker.

Alexander Buildings, 13/649 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

Fez

The quirky surrounds of Fez Cafe just behind Fresh Provs have been a popular choice for breakfast and lunch for yonks – and a change of hands in 2023 saw a pivot towards Indonesian flavours alongside their Australian brunch classics. Sambal-spiked chilli scramble, comforting bubur ayam (a Jakarta-style rice porridge), pandan waffles all make an appearance – but you can also head to Fez on select nights for their newly-launched all-you-can-eat Indonesian buffet. Plus, they’ve also launched a special offer for anyone wanting to escape the office or WFH slump: pre-book for $40/pp and you’ll not only have a space to work, but your choice of main meal plus unlimited hot or iced drinks!

83 Walcott Street, Mount Lawley

The Queens

One of the last remaining taverns around Perth that haven’t gone for the full white wash makeover that so many of this size seem to do, it maintains that ethos throughout with a healthy tap selection, modern pub fare and a rowdy beer garden on the weekends. If you’re looking for a no frills, fun and easy-going afternoon at the pub – bend the knee (and the elbow) at the Queens.

520 Beaufort Street, Highgate

Local & Aesthetic

Local & Aesthetic is a mixed cafe and retail space that puts a big emphasis on local suppliers, local ingredients and basically local legends in general. It’s always a great vibe for coffee and some eats – they’ll make you a polony and sauce sanga that’ll even make ya mum blush along with heaps of other awesome “bush-food” inspired offerings.

769 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

Modus Coffee

Since opening the doors to their Mount Lawley store at the tail end of 2016, Modus have really set the standard to what exciting things a teeny tiny coffee shop can do. From their steadfast commitment to quality coffee, their ethical roasting operation, their sustainable practices, to their refined food offerings, to their collaborations with other top local producers…it was only a matter of time before they had to take it to another level. If their expansion into two more locations means we can get our mitts on their coffee all the more easily, we’re on board – but the Mount Lawley original will always have our heart.

35/602–610 Beaufort Street

Sunshine Cafe

This low-key Mount Lawley lunch bar has been a pho and banh mi favourite of locals for years. Tucked away on Beaufort Street in between Walcott Street and Queens Crescent, and with no online presence to speak of, Sunshine is about as unassuming as it comes – but their flavourful menu has meant a loyal following of devotees. Generous sizes at reasonable prices make it an all round hit.

683A Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

Nazzar

Nazzar has flown a little under the radar since opening in 2023 – but we think the word is well and truly out these days. Located in the heart of Mount Lawley, they’re serving up their signature Mediterranean(ish) twist on brunch three days a week, with a new evening menu from Wednesday-Sunday. Tempting morning menu highlights include the Nazzar take on Turkish eggs, Persian corn fritters – while evenings offer options like harissa-fried squid, sticky lamb ribs or grilled zucchini souvlaki.

539 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

Cafe Guilty Pleasure

Those with a sweet tooth are well represented in Northbridge – especially at the aptly named Café Guilty Pleasure. This charming Korean café only opens in the afternoon, but you can stay into the evening and spend some quality time with plenty of adorable desserts, from cakes that go perfectly with a cosy cup of tea or some refreshing bingsu. It’s been earning a legion of fans for good reason, and at the end of 2021, expanded into a second Mount Lawley location that’s just as cute as the Northbridge OG.

634 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

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SEE & DO

Chatsworth Flowers

Budget-conscious flower lovers will need no introduction to Chatsworth. Perched on the corner of Beaufort Street and open since 1995, you can’t miss the huge collection of fresh flowers that wind around the storefront – nor the competitive pricing!

475 Beaufort Street, Highgate

Planet Books

While the loss of Planet Video years ago still hurts, Planet Books has remained an incredible Mt Lawley mainstay. Bursting at the bookends with collectables, giftware and literature that spans all genres, it’s the book store for book nerds. They’ve got you covered for quirky, left-of-centre and last minute gifts, and will be able to find you anything you need. It’s done so well they’ve got a second store down on William St in Northbridge.

638 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

Cool Cats Vintage

Perth’s got a healthy little vintage store community that continues to grow, and Cool Cats Vintage is absolutely worth a visit if you like your clothing to come with a bit of pop culture history. From old school wrestling and Rodman shirts to other weird and hard-to-find items, there’s plenty to love in Cool Cats.

557 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

Beaufort Street Books

While Planet may be a powerhouse in Mount Lawley, a little trip down the road to Beaufort Street Books will net equally awesome results. Not only do they have an extensive selection in store, they’ve also got a huge online selection to look through, and anything they don’t have they’ll find for you quick smart.

567 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

Retro Collect

One of the coolest little shops in Perth and a gamer’s paradise, Retro Collect stocks a heap of old consoles and games. N64s, Playstations, Xboxes… They’ve got ’em all. They’ve also got a bunch of cool collectible figurines, and plenty of other fun and games to geek out on, and a handy online store if you can’t make it IRL.

5/665 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

Mount Lawley Art Framers

As far as great art framing places around Perth go, Mount Lawley Art Framers is right up there with the best – super friendly and helpful whatever it is you’re looking for, and won’t financially cripple you for the trouble. They’ve also got a fantastic selection of art pieces to buy in store, some larger feature pieces along with plenty of smaller options that make great gifts.

477 Beaufort Street, Highgate

Astor Theatre

The Astor Theatre has been occupying centre stage of this busy locale since 1919. This multi-purpose facility hosts live music, comedy shows and community events all throughout the year.

659 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

Ware Gifts

Tucked away down that Astor-neighbouring arcade, Ware is, pardon us, where you ought to go. With goodies for every age and interest, from homewares to gardening to fashion and kids, they’ll have you sorted for all your gift-giving needs… plus a few bits and pieces for yourself, of course. (Make sure to grab one of those Bossman coffees on the way out, too.)

Shop 2, 665 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

Catch A WAAPA show

The West Australian Academy of Performing Arts is nestled right in Mount Lawley. This means there is a plethora of highly skilled creatives putting on shows all the time. Enjoy anything from live music to theatre and dance. Head on over to their website and pick up a ticket.

Building 1/2 Bradford Street, Mount Lawley

Normcore Fragrances

Located just off Second Avenue, the Normcore’s store puts fragrance firmly at the forefront, with a refined, minimalistic design. Showcasing niche fragrance for you and your home, their range includes a range of perfumes, candles, diffusers, room sprays, incense and more. The range is predominantly Japanese, with brands such as Sholayered, Kitowa and Riraku well represented – although you’ll also see Melbourne-based Mihan Aromatics, northern Italian historic perfumer Acca Kappa, and Parisian Essential Parfums.

Shop 2, 63A Second Avenue, Mount Lawley

Header image: Le Rebelle