Perth’s Newest Hotspots

And, yes, four of them are in Northbridge.

Toastface Grillah

Say cheese: this low-key café in Perth’s CBD gets the basics very right. In particular, it has toasted sandwiches of a higher order. Whether you make nice with the Danny Zuccho (brie, zucchini, prosciutto) or go classic Aussie with Vegemite and cheddar, count on great coffee, soulful tunes and warm, sincere service.

Alabama Song

Late nights are all about whiskey and country music. Or at least they are at Alabama Song, the new watering hole from serial publican Clint Nolan. Distressed surfaces and Americana galore form a nifty backdrop for an outing that’s high on merriment but low on pretence.

Level 1, rear 232 William Street, Northbridge

Safari’s Record Shack

What’s better than a well-stocked record store? A well-stocked record store hidden behind a florist. Run by prolific local disc jockey John Safari, the Northbridge store hidden away in William Street’s Arcade 189 houses one of Perth’s finest vinyl stockpiles, taking in everything from funk and soul 45s to rare rock albums and other collectables.

Rooftop Movies

Cinema is dead? The funsters behind Rooftop Movies must have missed that memo. Popping up in late spring on the Roe Street car-park rooftop, in Northbridge, this seasonal open-air cinema combines cult, art-house and blockbuster movies with kitschy décor (plastic flamingos, anyone?), good drinks and even better views of the Perth skyline.

Francoforte Spaghetti Bar

This cosy Northbridge bolthole, on William Street, serves spaghetti like Nonna used to make (if Nonna was a casual inner-city superstar who prized taste and value over bells, whistles and preciousness, that is). Kangaroo bolognese and kale pesto are typical of the fun house sauces, while the BYO policy suits Francoforte’s loyal diners to a tee.