How to spend a romantic staycation in Perth

There may be more and more of us working from home right now, but who said the city was all work and no play?

If you’re feeling like a night out on the town with your boo, there’s plenty to see and do – from decadent fine dining to pinball, pizza and pubs. And it’s never been cheaper to make your way into the city at night and on weekends, with free night time parking from 6pm, and three hours free parking all weekend – perfection!

Pub Classics Done Right

Start off your city explorations with a familiar sight: a classic pub. Ain’t nothing more comforting than a hearty pub lunch to get you fuelled for an adventure – and the city’s got ‘em in spades. Perched on the corner of William and Wellington Streets and built in 1882, The Royal is the city’s grand dame – with unique takes on pub faves like schnitties, burgers and steaks, in a schmick, refurbished fit out suitable for your beloved.

If you fancy a taste of the Emerald Isle, venture down Shafto Lane for a Guinness and some mighty craic at Durty Nelly’s:

Score Big At Flight Club

Can’t get enough of the pub vibes? For a game of darts without any suspiciously sticky floors, aim for the west end of Murray Street and you’ll find Flight Club – revolutionising the game for a new generation of fun, they’ll convince even the most steadfast skeptics.

Get Your Mind Out Of The Gutter

Continue the old-school theme with a game or two of ten pin bowling at Strike. The classic bowling alley is conveniently situated amongst all the action of Forrest Chase, and part of the exciting arcade hub of B. Lucky & Sons. You can also take advantage of the retro pinball and arcade action at Palace Arcade (pictured below), just a short skip up Beaufort Street – unleash your competitive side with an absolutely ginormous slice of New York-style pizza in hand.

Cruise Down The Swan On A Venetian-Inspired Gondola

Perhaps you prefer to get into the great outdoors? Take in sweeping views of the Perth skyline with an oh-so-romantic gondola cruise on the river – sit back, relax, and of course enjoy a cheeky glass or two of champagne.

Go Highbrow With Some Fine Art

If you’re after a bit of culture, Perth’s home to an impressive array of art galleries, no matter your taste  – from the impressively vast collections of AGWA, to the ground breaking works you’ll find at PICA (pictured below), support emerging artists at Cool Change Contemporary or check out some major local and international works at Moore Contemporary. It’s easy to forget about some of our city’s art institutions, but a romantic weekend in the city is the perfect time to rediscover what’s been right under our noses.

Or Some Theatre!

Similarly, you don’t have to wait ‘til Fringe comes around to enjoy a show – while we love festival season, the Blue Room, State Theatre Centre and His Majesty’s theatres all have year-round programs where you can take in some of Perth’s best performances. Powerful contemporary dance, interactive murder mysteries and classic operas – these diverse theatres cover it all.

Fine Food And Even Finer Wine

The perfect pairing with all this culture? It’s got to be cuttin’ loose over a cocktail or a glass of wine. The CBD is practically overflowing with spots to bend the elbow – from hidden speakeasies and izakayas (like Sneaky Tony’s or Goody Two’s), European-inspired wine bars (like Shadow Wine Bar, Lalla Rookh’s Wine Store and The Heritage) or classic, award-winning cocktail joints (such as Bar Lafayette (pictured below) and Foxtrot Unicorn).

Follow it up by treating your honey to a meal at one of our favourite CBD restaurants – which includes everything from ultra schmick fine dining at Wildflower, Fleur and Balthazar (pictured below) to the most extravagant surf and turf we’ve ever seen at TOMA.

Sleep In Style

After all this excitement, you’ll probably be ready to hit the hay, right? Make it a proper staycay and sleep in style at one of the CBD’s beautiful hotels. You can get right amongst the drinking and dining of Northbridge at the ultra-cool Alex Hotel or DoubleTree By Hilton Northbridge. Meanwhile in the CBD we can confirm the Parmelia Hilton is a delight, QT Perth has stunning designer rooms and one of Perth’s best rooftop bars, and the Melbourne Hotel is full of old school charm. Finally in some great news for the Perth hotel scene, The Adnate (pictured below), has finally reopened meaning you can head back and enjoy its beautiful art deco design, poolside bar and restaurant and more!

For more inspiration on where to go and what to do in the CBD, head to the Visit Perth Website.

Header Image: Heritage Wine Bar