Perth’s best restaurants for a leisurely long lunch

While during the week we’re often looking for a lunch that’s as fast as it is delicious, sometimes you want to lean into a long afternoon of eating, drinking and good times. Head to one of these picturesque eateries in Perth and surrounds for your next leisurely, long lunch.

Old Young’s Kitchen

Old Young’s certainly know how to make a splash – whether it’s their audacious manifesto (“don’t be sh*t”), bevy of awards or their bold flavours. A must-visit next time you’re in the Valley, the distillery has a steadfast commitment to high quality ingredients, and innovation which they’ve now applied to their food offerings. Their kitchen opened in December of 2021 and has since become one of the Swan Valley’s (and Perth as a whole’s) most delicious – and picturesque! – destinations. Helmed by Chef Rohan Park (formerly of Fleur, Fervor and Santini), the menu features bold share dishes, like kangaroo tartare served with youlk (a native root vegetable), kimchi and egg yolk udon, or crocodile chorizo with black garlic and wild rosella.

10581 W Swan Road, Henley Brook

Coogee Common

We’ll wax lyrical about Bread in Common all day long – so when they expanded their offerings to include Coogee Common, we couldn’t have been more pleased. The restaurant occupies the historic Coogee Hotel site; built in 1894, it includes extensive grounds which are now put to good use as veggie gardens for both restaurants – and are home to a resident hive of bees. This connection to produce is reflected in their menu, which is tangibly seasonal – a lot of it is grown on the Common’s doorstep, after all. Roasted zucchini with smoked yoghurt, North African-spiced lamb ribs and chargrilled pork chop with pomegranate and pickled cactus all feature on the autumnal menu, while butter lettuce with apple and whey vinaigrette or a broccoli and grain salad make excellent use of the garden’s greens. Before diving into your lunch, immerse yourself in the lush greenery and learn all about the hyper-local produce with one of their daily garden tours.

371 Cockburn Road, Coogee

Millbrook Winery

We consider it, quite genuinely, a personal failure that we haven’t shown more love to Millbrook Winery – not that they need it! One of the state’s most acclaimed restaurants, recognised locally, nationally and even by the New York Times, their one-acre garden and its 100 varieties of heirloom vegetables is a breathtaking achievement of hyper-locality. Set amongst the stunning surrounds of Chestnut Farm, the menu – created by Executive Chef Guy Jeffreys and Head Chef Justin Wong – is a true celebration of seasonality, particularly when enjoying their signature No Waste Monday offerings.

Old Chestnut Lane, Jarrahdale

Si Paradiso

Si Paradiso, under the guidance of chef Paul Bentley, just continues to go from strength-to-strength. Of course there’s the winning fluffy-edged, ferment-y pizzas ever present – but they’re accompanied by an array of share plates that have taken things up a notch (or ten). Lobster tramezzini, spiedini, fried zucchini flowers with stracciatella and spiced honey all spell out a good time – whether enjoyed in the seductively retro dining room, or enjoying the festive vibes of the courtyard.

1/446 Beaufort Street, Highgate

Madalena’s

We can’t help but wax lyrical when it comes to most things about South Freo… but Madalena’s has gotta be at the top of the list. Sitting outside, glass of wine in hand, octopus on plate, basking in the late afternoon sunshine is basically bliss. When the husband and wife team behind beloved Brazilian food truck Comida do Sul opened Madalena’s back in the tail end of 2018, it was no surprise that it became one of the most talked about restaurants in Perth, and Australia at large. This relaxed boteco has a menu that celebrates local seafood, as well as a wine list curated in conjunction with the guys at Wise Child. You’d think you were on the beach in Barcelona if it wasn’t so classically Perth.

406 South Terrace, South Fremantle

La Lune

Another eatery we could wax lyrical about endlessly! East Fremantle has gained a slice of Parisian glamour with the opening of La Lune. One part bright and eclectic, one part sultry and romantic, the all-day bistro is enticing diners with classics like steak frites, salade niçoise, or breakfast-ready tartines. Sitting à la terrasse for a leisurely afternoon truly has us transported to Paris – and we even dedicated a whole article to their all-time crab vol-au-vents.

71-75 George Street, East Fremantle

Jetty

Soak up the afternoon sun and take in the waterside views from Freo’s aptly-named Jetty. Snacks meander through the Mediterranean, from plates of mortadella or fried Padrón peppers, to more substantial offerings like their formidable lamb gyros or rotisserie chicken – whatever region you stumble into, it’ll happily accompany you through an afternoon with friends.

126 Beach Street, Fremantle

Lontara

While our state is certainly not short on picturesque spots to enjoy a meal, there’s something particularly magical about the crystal clear waters of Wadjemup/Rottnest. And we’ve got to say, a long lunch at Lontara is the perfect excuse for a day trip. Before you dive into the ocean, dive into a selection of South-East Asian-inspired plates made with some of WA’s best produce – think crispy pork belly with nam pla prik and quondong, charred octopus with sambal bajak and ikan bilis or miso glazed sword fish with amaranth leaves and shichimi togarashi.

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Header image: Millbrook Winery