
Best Restaurants in Perth – 2025 Ratings and Top Picks
Perth’s culinary landscape has evolved significantly in recent years, transforming from a city once overlooked by food enthusiasts into a destination that rivals larger Australian capitals. The city’s restaurant scene now spans everything from beachside fine dining establishments to bustling inner-city eateries and hidden suburban gems.
Western Australia’s isolation has fostered a distinctive food culture that emphasizes local produce, innovative techniques, and a willingness to experiment. Chefs across the region have embraced the state’s exceptional seafood, premium beef, and diverse agricultural offerings to create memorable dining experiences that reflect both local identity and global sophistication.
This guide examines the restaurants that have captured attention from critics and diners alike, drawing on current ratings, recent openings, and established reputations to help navigate Perth’s diverse dining options.
What Are the Best Restaurants in Perth?
Several venues have distinguished themselves through exceptional food, service, and atmosphere. The West Australian’s STM food reviewers have published comprehensive ratings that offer insight into the current standouts across different categories and price points.
Bunker Bay
Rating: 18/20
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Scarborough
Rating: 17/20
Cuisine: Italian
Subiaco
Rating: 17/20
Cuisine: Italian
Leederville
Rating: 17/20
Cuisine: Korean
Key Trends Shaping Perth’s Dining Scene
- Western Australian seafood dominates menus at top-rated establishments, with coastal venues particularly prominent among high scorers
- Asian fusion concepts have gained significant traction, with Korean-Hawaiian hybrids and Japanese-inspired venues earning critical acclaim
- Beachfront and ocean-view locations are increasingly valued, with several new openings prioritizing waterfront settings
- Shared-plate dining has become the preferred format at newer venues, emphasizing social eating experiences
- Sustainability and local sourcing appear prominently in restaurant positioning, reflecting diner preferences
- The inner-city corridor between Scarborough and Fremantle has emerged as a dining destination in its own right
Restaurant ratings can vary significantly between publications. The STM scoring system uses a 20-point scale, with 18-20 considered exceptional. Other guides may use star systems or different criteria, so comparing across multiple sources provides a more complete picture of any venue’s strengths.
Snapshot of Top-Rated Perth Restaurants
| Rank | Restaurant | Location | Signature Approach | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ilma Beach House | Bunker Bay | Beachside fine dining | 18/20 rating, local seafood focus |
| 2 | La Capannina | Scarborough | Authentic Italian | 17/20 rating, coastal location |
| 3 | Cantina di Lulu La Delizia | Subiaco | Italian pasta specialists | 17/20 rating, handmade pasta |
| 4 | Seoul Hoppers | Leederville | Korean-Hawaiian fusion | 17/20 rating, innovative concept |
| 5 | Source Foods | Perth CBD | Modern Australian | 17/20 rating, city center location |
| 6 | Pearla & Co | Leighton Beach | Seafood-focused | New 2025 opening, oceanfront |
| 7 | Meelup Farmhouse | Dunsborough | Regional Australian | Owners of Ilma Beach House |
| 8 | Bertie Wine Bar | Bassendean | Wine bar with food | WA Good Food Guide listed |
What Is the Best Fine Dining in Perth?
Fine dining in Perth has undergone a transformation, with venues increasingly emphasizing the state’s exceptional local ingredients rather than mimicking metropolitan trends. The highest-rated establishments distinguish themselves through thoughtful menus that showcase Western Australian produce.
STM’s 2025 review identified Ilma Beach House in Bunker Bay as the standout venue, earning 18 out of 20 points from food critics. The beachside restaurant, operated by the same team behind Meelup Farmhouse, combines coastal atmosphere with refined cooking techniques.
Several 17/20-rated venues represent different approaches to upscale dining. La Capannina in Scarborough brings authentic Italian traditions to a beachfront setting, while Cantina di Lulu La Delizia in Subiaco has built its reputation on exceptional handmade pasta. Seoul Hoppers in Leederville takes an innovative approach with Korean-Hawaiian fusion that has earned critical recognition.
Top-rated venues typically require reservations weeks in advance, particularly for weekend dining. Peak seasons during school holidays and major events see increased demand. Direct booking through restaurant websites often provides better availability than third-party platforms.
The WA Good Food Guide Top 100
The Western Australian Good Food Guide’s Top 100 represents the most comprehensive ranking available for the state’s restaurant scene. The 2026 edition features venues spanning fine dining establishments to regional wineries and casual noodle shops.
Restaurants receive one to three stars based on three criteria: execution quality, vision and creativity, and overall dining experience. This system provides a framework for understanding not just whether a venue is good, but what makes it worthy of recognition. Bertie Wine Bar in Bassendean appears among the notable venues, representing the growing appreciation for wine-focused dining experiences beyond traditional fine dining formats.
What Are the Top Cheap Eats and Casual Spots in Perth?
Perth’s casual dining scene offers substantial variety without the premium price tags associated with top-rated establishments. The city’s multicultural population has driven demand for diverse affordable options, resulting in strong representation across multiple cuisines.
Budget-Friendly Dining Options
Indian cuisine has established a significant presence, with Stonewater Indian Restaurant in Mount Pleasant offering accessible dishes including paneer rolls and panipuri trio selections. These venues provide full-flavored meals at price points suitable for regular dining rather than special occasions.
Seafood chains like The Cray have expanded across the region, with over eight restaurant locations providing consistent quality for those seeking familiar options. The chain’s popularity reflects demand for reliable, family-friendly dining without requiring advance planning or premium pricing.
Affordable dining does not necessarily mean compromising on quality. Many casual venues offer comparable ingredients to higher-priced establishments, with savings achieved through simpler settings, counter service, or streamlined menus. Seasonal availability can affect both pricing and dish availability.
Value-Oriented Dining Strategies
- Early bird and happy hour promotions are widely available, particularly in inner-city and beachside areas
- Lunch menus at dinner-rated venues often provide access to quality cooking at reduced prices
- BYO policies at many restaurants eliminate markup on beverages
- Suburban venues typically offer better value than city center alternatives
- Food courts and markets provide authentic international options at minimal cost
- Several venues offer takeaway options matching dine-in quality
Best Restaurants in Perth CBD and Fremantle?
The Perth CBD hosts a concentration of restaurants catering to office workers, visitors, and residents. Source Foods earned 17/20 from STM reviewers, representing the inner-city fine dining option that has earned critical recognition for its approach to modern Australian cuisine.
CBD Dining Considerations
City center restaurants face different pressures than their suburban counterparts, including higher rent costs, commuter-focused meal times, and competition from numerous alternatives. These factors influence both pricing and operating hours, with many venues closing between lunch and dinner services on weekdays.
The corridor between Perth and Fremantle has emerged as a particularly dynamic dining area. Scarborough Beach has undergone significant redevelopment, attracting venues like La Capannina that combine quality cooking with accessible beachside locations. Leederville, positioned between the city and the coast, has developed its own identity with Seoul Hoppers representing the innovative Asian fusion approach that has found favor with critics and diners alike.
Coastal and Beachside Venues
Recent openings have prioritized coastal locations, with Leighton Beach emerging as a new dining destination. Pearla & Co exemplifies this trend, with chef-owner Scott Bridger (formerly executive at Bib & Tucker) partnering with head chef Pablo Gosteli to create a venue focused on Western Australian seafood.
The Pearla & Co menu emphasizes shared plates designed for social dining, including corn ribs with miso butter, sticky pork belly baos, steak tartare with red dragon sauce, and barbecued scallops in Kombu butter. The venue also features tropical cocktails and local wines, positioning itself as a complete experience rather than simply a restaurant.
Best Family-Friendly and Brunch Restaurants in Perth?
Family dining in Perth encompasses venues across the price spectrum, with breakfast and brunch representing particularly active categories. Parents seeking quality dining experiences that accommodate children have numerous options, though the experience varies significantly based on venue type and timing.
Brunch Culture in Perth
Cup & Co in Floreat represents the contemporary brunch venue, offering breakfast burgers and acai bowls alongside happy hour offerings, pub classics, and local wines. This hybrid approach appeals to multiple dining occasions, making it suitable for families seeking flexibility in their meal choices.
The brunch category continues to evolve, with venues increasingly incorporating health-focused options alongside traditional breakfast fare. Acai bowls, specialty coffee, and plant-based alternatives have become standard offerings at contemporary venues, reflecting broader dietary preferences among Perth diners. For those looking for the best restaurants in Perth for 2025, you can find A byadina sydney reviews.
Family-Friendly Dining Considerations
- Outdoor seating areas accommodate families with children more comfortably than cramped interior spaces
- Restaurants near parks and beaches allow families to combine dining with outdoor activities
- Shared plates and flexible menus accommodate varying appetites and preferences across age groups
- Weekday breakfast and early lunch services typically offer calmer environments than weekend peak times
- BYO policies at many venues eliminate concerns about beverage availability for younger diners
- Waterfront locations provide entertainment value beyond the meal itself
New Restaurant Openings: 2023-2025 Timeline
Perth’s restaurant scene has seen significant activity in recent years, with new openings bringing diverse concepts and established operators expanding their reach. Understanding this timeline provides context for the current landscape and emerging trends.
- 2023: Several mid-range venues opened across suburban locations, filling gaps in neighborhood dining options and establishing new casual dining corridors
- Early 2024: Coastal redevelopment projects in Scarborough and Leighton Beach attracted hospitality operators seeking beachside positioning
- Mid-2024: Asian fusion concepts gained momentum, with Korean-Hawaiian and Japanese-inspired venues opening in inner-city and suburban locations
- Late 2024: Pearla & Co opened at Leighton Beach under Scott Bridger’s direction, representing the new generation of seafood-focused beachside venues
- 2025: The STM Best Perth Restaurants review recognized Ilma Beach House as the top-rated venue, confirming beachside fine dining’s ascendancy
- 2025-2026: The WA Good Food Guide Top 100 for 2026 reflects updated rankings incorporating recent openings and closures
Restaurant availability and hours fluctuate significantly with seasonal demand. Summer months (December through February) see extended hours at beachside venues but reduced availability at suburban locations. School holidays create peak demand periods requiring advance booking. Some venues close entirely during winter, while others reduce hours and update menus to reflect seasonal produce.
What Is Clear and What Remains Uncertain?
Assessing restaurant quality involves distinguishing between established facts and subjective interpretation. Several aspects of Perth’s dining scene remain clearly documented, while others require individual verification.
| Established Information | Uncertain or Subjective Elements |
|---|---|
| Ilma Beach House achieved 18/20 from STM reviewers in 2025 | Whether specific ratings would match individual preferences |
| Five venues achieved 17/20 ratings from STM in 2025 | Current waiting times and availability at high-rated venues |
| Pearla & Co opened at Leighton Beach in 2024-2025 | Long-term sustainability of new openings |
| The WA Good Food Guide Top 100 exists for 2026 | How ratings might change in future updates |
| The Cray operates over eight locations across the region | Individual branch quality consistency |
| Several restaurants are closed between lunch and dinner services | Specific holiday and seasonal hours at individual venues |
Understanding Perth’s Culinary Context
Western Australia’s geographic isolation has shaped its food culture in distinctive ways. The state’s small population relative to its vast area means that restaurants operate in a different economic environment than venues in Sydney or Melbourne, influencing everything from ingredient costs to staffing availability.
This context has fostered creativity and self-reliance among Perth chefs. With limited access to the full range of international ingredients available in larger cities, cooks have increasingly turned to local producers, developing relationships that emphasize seasonal availability and regional identity. The result is a cuisine that feels distinctly Western Australian rather than derivative of eastern seaboard trends.
The dining public in Perth has responded to these developments with enthusiasm, supporting venues that demonstrate genuine investment in quality and innovation. High-rated establishments consistently share characteristics including strong ingredient sourcing, skilled cooking, attentive service, and environments that enhance rather than merely contain the dining experience.
Critic Reviews and Expert Perspectives
Professional food critics provide structured assessments that offer useful frameworks for understanding restaurant quality, though individual preferences inevitably influence any dining experience. The STM food reviewers have published annual rankings that identify standouts across the Perth dining scene.
The recognition of beachside venues like Ilma Beach House reflects a broader appreciation for dining experiences that combine quality cooking with distinctive settings. Western Australia’s coastline provides settings unavailable in other Australian cities, and operators have increasingly leveraged these assets.
The WA Good Food Guide’s Top 100 ranking offers additional perspective through its multi-criteria approach. By evaluating execution, vision, and overall quality separately, the guide provides more nuanced information than simple star ratings, allowing diners to identify venues that excel in areas particularly relevant to their priorities.
Summary and Practical Recommendations
Perth’s restaurant scene offers genuine quality across multiple categories, from the acclaimed fine dining at Ilma Beach House to the accessible pleasures of casual brunch venues. The city’s geographic isolation has fostered a distinctive approach that emphasizes local ingredients and innovative techniques rather than simply following trends from larger centers.
Visitors and residents seeking quality dining should prioritize advance planning for top-rated venues, consider beachside locations for the combination of setting and cooking, and explore suburban areas for better value without sacrificing quality. The diversity of cuisines available reflects Perth’s multicultural population, providing options across price points and preferences.
For those planning kitchen improvements to recreate restaurant-quality meals at home, understanding the equipment used by professionals provides valuable insight. A review of food processor options can help home cooks achieve results closer to what they encounter at their favorite venues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the newest restaurants in Perth?
Pearla & Co at Leighton Beach opened in 2024-2025 under chef-owner Scott Bridger, representing one of the most notable recent openings. The venue focuses on Western Australian seafood with shared plates designed for social dining.
Best restaurants with ocean views in Perth?
Beachside venues consistently offer ocean views, with Ilma Beach House in Bunker Bay, La Capannina in Scarborough, and Pearla & Co at Leighton Beach representing options that combine quality dining with coastal settings.
What is the number 1 restaurant in Perth?
Based on STM’s 2025 ratings, Ilma Beach House in Bunker Bay earned the highest score of 18/20, positioning it as the top-rated venue among critics. However, individual preferences may lead to different conclusions.
Best Italian restaurants in Perth?
Cantina di Lulu La Delizia in Subiaco and La Capannina in Scarborough both earned 17/20 from STM reviewers, representing the highest-rated Italian options. Both venues emphasize authentic approaches and quality ingredients.
Best cheap eats in Perth?
Stonewater Indian Restaurant in Mount Pleasant offers accessible Indian cuisine with dishes like paneer rolls and panipuri trio. The Cray operates over eight seafood locations across the region, providing reliable casual dining. Brunch venues like Cup & Co offer breakfast items at moderate prices.
Best brunch spots in Perth?
Cup & Co in Floreat represents the contemporary brunch venue with breakfast burgers, acai bowls, and flexible menu options. Many cafes across suburbs like Leederville, Subiaco, and Mt Lawley offer quality brunch experiences with specialty coffee.
Best restaurants in Fremantle?
While specific Fremantle venues weren’t among the highest-rated in recent critics’ selections, the coastal corridor between Perth and Fremantle includes numerous options. The WA Good Food Guide Top 100 provides comprehensive listings that extend to regional and outer-suburban venues.