A New Appetite: Perth City’s Most Exciting Restaurants to Try in 2025

Wildflower: A rooftop culinary journey revolving around the Indigenous six seasons

There’s something quietly confident about Perth in 2025. Once dubbed "Australia’s sleepy west coast cousin," our capital has hit its culinary stride—with restaurants that are grounded in local produce, global in outlook, and distinctly Perth in flavour.

This isn’t about fine dining that whispers or street food that shouts. It’s about places with purpose—where the chefs care, the lighting flatters, and the wine list remembers we live in the sunniest capital city on earth.

Here are five standout restaurants I’m setting my sights (and fork) on this year—each worth booking ahead, lingering longer, and ordering dessert. Who wants to join me?!

1. Dune (Cottesloe)

Where lunch becomes a state of mind.

Technically coastal but close enough to the CBD for a long Friday lunch, Dune has become the kind of place that locals whisper about with reverence. The menu leans Mediterranean—with a WA soul.

Expect Shark Bay scallops with burnt butter and lemon aspen, Fremantle octopus skewers, and a glass of something crisp from the Great Southern.

The interiors are breezy and pared back, in that effortless way only the truly confident can pull off. Yes, you’ll see linen shirts and sunglasses on heads. But somehow it never feels showy—just sunny.

Location: Marine Parade, Cottesloe

Bookings & Info: facebook.com/dunecottesloe

Why I’m Going: To see how far a good martini and a sea breeze can carry you.

2. Neon Yakitori (Northbridge)

Skewers, sake, and serious flavour.

If Northbridge has always been a little bit neon, then this place leans in—and then some. Neon Yakitori is a compact izakaya that brings Japanese street food indoors with no apologies.

The menu is mostly grilled—chicken thigh, pork belly, wagyu tongue—and deliberately minimalist. What makes it special is the precision. Every skewer is perfectly seasoned, every pour of sake chilled just right.

You’ll hear 90s R&B, see tattooed chefs working the flames, and find yourself eating three more skewers than you planned.

Location: William Street, Northbridge

Bookings & Info: facebook.com/NeonYakitori

Why I’m Going: For the rare joy of food that’s fun, fast, and thoughtfully done.

3. Wildflower Redux (CBD)

Fine dining with a West Aussie heartbeat.

Perched atop the COMO The Treasury, Wildflower remains one of Perth’s best-known dining rooms—but 2025 sees a new chapter. With a tighter, seasonal tasting menu and deeper ties to Noongar culinary traditions, this “redux” version is more confident, more local, and less showy than its predecessor.

Expect bush tomatoes, native herbs, and ingredients foraged from WA’s wild edges, served with polished calm and views across the city skyline.

It’s still special-occasion territory—but the kind you might invent an occasion for.

Location: 1 Cathedral Avenue, Perth

Bookings & Info: wildflowerperth.com.au

Why I’m Going: Because sometimes, the view and the food deserve equal billing.

4. Matilda’s Pantry (Fremantle)

Homestyle comfort, beautifully dressed.

Tucked in a heritage building just off the Freo strip, Matilda’s Pantry trades in comfort food with a modern conscience. Think lamb shank pies with rosemary gravy, roasted heirloom carrots with macadamia dukkah, and lemon myrtle pudding that tastes like a hug from your favourite aunt.

It’s the kind of place where the napkins are cloth, the water is infused with cucumber, and the music is just loud enough to talk over. No QR codes, no gimmicks—just real food made well.

Location: High Street, Fremantle

Bookings & Info: facebook.com/matildaspantryfreo

Why I’m Going: For food that feels like home—if your home had a chef.

5. Duck & Waffle Down Under (Subiaco)

High-end comfort, with a view.

London’s cult favourite has crossed hemispheres and landed in Subiaco. Duck & Waffle Down Under is open late and lives up to its namesake—serving crispy duck leg on fluffy waffles with spiced maple syrup and a side of “we dare you not to Instagram this.”

But it’s not just novelty. Local touches like Albany truffle chips, Margaret River wine pairings, and a tight dessert list make this more than just a name-drop location.

Location: Hay Street, Subiaco

Bookings & Info: duckandwaffle.com/perth

Why I’m Going: For late-night luxury and the excuse to have duck for dessert.

Final Bite

Perth’s dining scene in 2025 isn’t trying to compete anymore—it’s thriving on its own terms. We’ve got chefs making bold choices, restaurateurs betting on their vision, and diners (like us) who are finally spoiled for choice.