Perth’s dining scene has never been more exciting. While its East Coast counterparts vie for the limelight, the city confidently holds its own thanks to a slew of new restaurants opening their doors, from refined beachy haunts putting the West Australian coastline front and centre to upmarket Mediterranean restaurants dripping in glamour.
Whether you’re looking for the latest restaurant opening for your next date night, on the hunt for that special-occasion booking, or simply enjoy being the first in your group to be in-the-know, these are the best new Perth restaurants worth crossing off your list in 2026.
Il Santo, Claremont
From the team behind Perth venues Il Lido and Canteen Pizza, new neighbourhood osteria Il Santo pairs relaxed Italian dining with warm, travertine-lined interiors. Executive chef Nicola Lunardi leads a menu centred on seasonal plates and daily-made pasta. Rotating pasta dishes are joined by share-style offerings such as Shark Bay prawn sandwiches with house-made tartare, mortadella skewers with quince, and local octopus finished with gremolata.
Wine, however, sits firmly at the heart of the experience. Overseen by group wine director Michael Mori, the list draws on the depth of the Il Lido cellar — recently awarded Australia’s Best Italian Wine List 2025 — and features more than 100 predominantly Italian labels, with over 30 available by the glass. The drinks list extends beyond wine, with local and imported beers, premium spirits and cocktails including a Lemon Drop Martini and a Milano Torino made with Campari and Punt e Mes.
To finish, guests are encouraged to embrace a Tuscan ritual: cantucci e vin santo. The classic pairing of almond biscotti dipped into sweet dessert wine is, according to the team, “the best way to end a meal”.
Brighton Wine Bar, Scarborough
Fremantle octopus, Shark Bay prawns and Abrolhos Island scallops star on the menu at new beachfront venue Brighton Wine Bar, where the entirely Australian wine list focuses on WA producers. Steps off the Scarborough sand, the sunny European restaurant and bar has small plates along the lines of market fish crudo with bottarga, avocado, capsicum and cucumber; larger dishes like house-made seafood ravioli with vongole, saffron foam and burnt caper butter sauce; and a knafeh dessert with pomegranate rose syrup, buffalo mozzarella and pistachio. A recycled brick bar curves through the space which features bespoke, hand-sculpted light fixtures, while streetside seats catch the Indian Ocean breeze.
Pearla & Co., North Fremantle
Chef-owner Scott Bridger’s new Leighton Beach restaurant may have opened on the same day that the demersal fishing ban was announced, but that hasn’t stopped the former Bib & Tucker ex-chef from expertly curating a menu for Pearla & Co that makes local seafood shine. Together with head chef Pablo Gosteli, the pair have pulled together a tight menu that puts the Western Australian coastline front and centre. That might look like fish that’s been dry-ageing in twin fridges in the dark-hued dining room grilled over charcoal and dressed in sauce; sustainably sourced shellfish finished in an earthy fermented chilli butter, or freshly shucked oysters. Whatever your order, Bridger and Gosteli make good on the saying, “there’s plenty more fish in the sea”.
The coastal restaurant and bar takes over the former Al Lupo site and sources everything from local growers and fishers — forming the “co” part of the restaurant’s name. Inside, the space nods to its surroundings, with upholstery the colour of the ocean and branches of foliage hanging on the walls.
Tigerfish, Cottesloe
Part of The Cottesloe Beach Hotel, Tigerfish is the design-forward waterfront bar and restaurant bringing Southeast Asian verve to the neighbourhood. Designed by the team behind Chin Chin’s flagship in Melbourne, it buzzes with the bright energy Asia evokes. Bold striped banquettes, coastal furnishings and terrazzo floors add to the ambience without distracting from the dining experience.
The cocktails list offers sweet, sour and salty combos, while the share-style food menu features smaller bites as well as more substantial classics. Standouts include crispy prawn toast in spring roll form; laksa prawn shumai reminiscent of Ho Jiak’s laksa bombs; and wonton tarts with a zingy kalas spiced tuna and West Coast fish crudo served on betel leaves. For bigger feeds, opt for the more traditional char kway teow and rendang elevated with wagyu brisket.
Avalon, Claremont
This modern Mediterranean restaurant inside The Grove Residences in Claremont is the latest offering from the Cup & Co team in Floreat. Avalon delivers moodiness in spades, from the dark timbered furnishings and dim lighting to the sultry jazz nights you can expect three times a week.
The food itself draws on Greek and Italian influences, with the menu swinging from more traditional Mediterranean dishes to experimental ones. Spanakopita and charcoal eggplant hummus might feature, for example, alongside Wagin duck breast served with a smattering of green pea purée, roast carrots and a pool of veal jus. The wine list is led by local drops, while cocktails range from fresh and fruity to smoky and savoury.
Light Years Perth, CBD
The nationally loved Asian diner hailing from Byron Bay has crossed the border, bringing its punchy twist on Asian cuisine to the heritage-listed Mitchell’s Buildings in Perth. The West Coast outpost of Light Years sees its signature casual-coastal aesthetic updated with terracotta tones, sleek archways, modern fixtures and chic banquettes – courtesy of the team’s collaboration with Studio Plenty and furniture designer, Sarah Ellison.
The menu is designed to be shared, with fan favourites – including corn ribs brushed with miso butter and sticky pork belly baos – making its way onto the Perth menu. Exclusive to the 140 William Street location are smaller bites like steak tartare fired up with a red dragon sauce and balanced with pickled pear or barbecued scallops gently swimming in Kombu butter. Cocktails lean tropical like the Netflix & Chill which sees zingy passionfruit and lemon meet a popcorn-spiced Bacardi topped with a cloud of foam.
Anglesea, Fremantle
Set within the Garde Hotel in Fremantle, Anglesea is a modern Australian restaurant with strong Japanese-Korean influences. Crafted by hospitality stalwart Stuart Laws of Brown Street Grill, the menu is shaped entirely around a teishoku – a Japanese “set meal” served on a single tray typically comprising of a main dish, rice and sides.
In Laws’ version, diners choose one item from the main or raw section of the menu, to be complemented by sides such as a spicy ssamjang-glazed eggplant, tofu bites with gochujang aioli and puffed sesame crackers. The drinks program has been curated by another heavy-hitter, sommelier Foni Pollitt, and features a mix of inventive cocktails and leading drops. The Banana-Umami is a must-try, mixing Bourbon, miso caramel, banana and chocolate.
Roma Robby, CBD
Known for its 50-layer lasagna smattered with wagyu ragu, this casual Italian restaurant dishing up Roman-style woodfired pizzas, saucy pastas and vino is the answer to Northbridge’s call for a good time.
From the team behind Margot’s Wine and Oyster bar (and conveniently located next door), Roma Robby is all about relaxed dining. Snack on fried mozzarella sticks with a silky alla vodka dip before diving into thick-crusted, charred-edged pizzas kissed by the wood-fired oven, or comforting baked pastas.
Bert’s, City Beach
City Beach locals will know that the iconic Bert’s kiosk in the old Odyssea diner has had a glow-up. While it’s kept its signature laid-back spirit, Bert’s 2.0 has more of a contemporary slickness to it, courtesy of the team’s collaboration with architectural studio, Woods Bagot. The menu carries on this easygoing coastal feel, with executive chef Matthew Rogers and head chef Patrick Curran building an offering around European flavours and local produce. It starts with breakfast staples – breakfast burgers and acai bowls galore – before veering into happy hour territory. Expect prawn and lobster rolls, oysters and gochujang prawns, as well as your pub classics like schnitzels, pizzas and burgers. Drinks star local wines, as well as coastal Martinis made with Papa Salt Gin.
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