For those chasing a little extra culture in their day, look no further than Northbridge – our small inner-city gem featuring some of Perth’s best up-and-coming restaurants, boutiques and street art. It’s seriously perfect for a later afternoon stroll down William Street and China Town before getting stuck into seasonal menus and well-deserved beverages at one of the many emerging restaurants. Northbridge is also home to the state’s newest prized possession – the WA Museum Boola Bardip and is currently going through a pretty big cultural gentrification moment with the Roe St connection to the city well underway. This area is our pick for an awesome afternoon and is a must-visit if you are coming to the wild west.
What to See and Do
Northbridge Piazza
Hosting almost-weekly events, live music and cultural activities, the Northbridge Piazza is the beating heart of the area. Here you’ll find large screens to watch performances or even sports, while the kiddos have space to run around. We recommend checking out the Northbridge Piazza schedule to see what’s coming up. All that’s left to do is secure a spot on the grass and watch the world go by for a couple of hours.
WA Museum Boola Bardip
Our newest and greatest addition – the WA Museum Boola Bardip is a very swish, beautifully designed space that really leans into the Northbridge energy. Featuring a neverending list of new displays, installations and artwork from our First Nations People, this is a must-do when visiting the area. We recommend a couple of hours for this one so you can truly take in the artistic prowess and the architecturally designed building.
Shop along William Street
Home to Perth’s best local designers and boutiques – a stroll down William Street is a quintessential addition to any Northbridge experience. There is a neverending list of great designers, such as William Top, Periscope Clothing, and Oli. If reclaimed and vintage clothing is more your thing, make sure you check out Retro Boutique, which has taken all of the hard work out of thrifting, where all the pieces are unique and one of a kind.
Planet Books
Planet books, originally located up the road on Beaufort Street, has opened down on William Street and is worth a look for all of your literature needs. Loaded with local and international authors, you can literally spend hours here browsing the shelves and discovering new ideas and concepts. If you are also chasing a unique gift for a loved one, Planet Books is your answer with great one-of-a-kind gifts and cards.
Palace Arcade
Gamers and big kids look no further than Palace Arcade – a labyrinth of arcade machines from the 80s and 90s and not to mention top-notch pizza and gin. This place can get jam-packed, so we recommend booking where possible. If you time your run right on a Sunday, they also offer a Bloody Mary special for $10 to cure the Sunday blues.
Northbridge Art Walk
As we know, with any inner-city gentrification project comes an array of murals and public art. Northbridge is no different, with some of the best street art to be seen throughout our state. They are easy to spot, such as the lifesize mural on the side of the TAFE building on Aberdeen Street. But, for a complete list, a Perth local has created a walk for you to follow. Make sure you add this one to your Northbridge itinerary to truly sink your teeth into the area.
Where to Eat
La Cholita
Specialising in all things Mexican and tequila – La Cholita is a Northbridge institution with a heap of authentic options and an awesome space to match. On the corner of Aberdeen and William St – La Cholita serves up all your classics, such as tacos, quesadillas, corn on the cob and, not to mention – a spicy margs. This place is ALWAYS packed, so we recommend booking in or coming down early. If you are also a small party, sometimes you can jag a spot at the bar, too.
Ruin Bar
A crowd favourite and also a new addition to the area – Ruin Bar is a must-do. Serving unique drinks from distillers all across the country, the venue itself is a pretty great photo opportunity. The best bit? It has excellent aircon (perfect for Perth’s scorching days), and you can order pizza from next door and eat it on the premises (a double win if you ask us).
Chico Gelato
Chico Gelato, as the name suggests, specializes in our favourite dessert – gelato. The perfect addition to post-dinner and drinks, Chico is your one-stop shop specialising in unique and crowd-favourite flavours. We couldn’t go past lavender and honeycomb and the salted caramel! If there is a line, do not fret; it moves fast, and the reward is worth it!
How to Get to Northbridge
Located so close to the city, means it’s a hop, skip, and jump from Perth Train Station and can be accessed by all major train lines. There are also options for Uber and buses which run down Roe Street or William Street for those coming North. Finally, we can also help with transport, especially if you don’t want to designate a driver. We can organise you, and your friends with custom pick-up and drop-off locations, a minibus and dedicated drivers. Chat with one of our sales team today, who can build an itinerary!
And there we have it! The perfect Northbridge itinerary with the very best things to do, eat and see! Go forth and conquer.