BLACKBOOK While
BLACKBOOK While thousands of positions in the resources industry have been shed in the past two years, the redevelopment of the city, particularly along the Swan River at Elizabeth Quay and in the beachside suburb of Scarborough, continues apace, bringing with it a swathe of intriguing projects and an influx of eager visitors. WHERE TO EAT Odyssea Beach Cafe (odysseabeach cafe.com.au), with its stunning views of the ocean, is one of the new additions to Scarborough Beach. Grab a table on the deck for dishes like fish tacos made using snapper and tiger prawns with sambal chilli. After a stroll around Elizabeth Quay stop at Isle of Voyage (isleofvoyage.com. au), where fresh bistro fare like crab linguine is served in a historic kiosk. The art of pasta is practised with style at Lulu La Delizia (lululadelizia.com.au), a cosy eatery and wine bar named after chef Joel Valvasori’s nonna. If it’s on the menu try The Sage Hotel’s avant-garde façade A healthy start: chia and strawberry pudding from Tiisch From left: preparing a Cosmopolitan at Bali-inspired bar Ku De Ta; dark-chocolate morsels from Sue Lewis Chocolatier the chestnut cjalsons filled with smoked ricotta and finished with sage and sultana burro cotto. There’s something very now about Tiisch (tiisch. com.au), a daytime cafe where local produce and sustainability are packaged in a bright space festooned with hanging plants. This is a city that takes breakfast seriously, and Panda & Co (pandaandco.com.au) is doing it in an Asian-fusion style. Order the Sausage and Egg Bao-Nedict or the Korean Waffles of Mass Destruction. WHERE TO DRINK A little bit of Seminyak has hit the banks of the Swan River with the arrival of Ku De Ta (kudeta.com). Find a spot on The Deck, where you can order local craft beers, West Australian wines and innovative cocktails. Set in the new Crown Towers, The Waiting Room (crownperth.com. au) is certainly the city’s most opulent bar – look up to see the ceiling with its carved rose-gold detailing. If you’re looking to impress, start here with one of the cocktails, such as the Memphis Gospel, inspired by Elvis and made from Hennessy VS, honey liqueur, manzanilla, banana and peanut butter. For a completely different scene, check out Refuge Small Bar (refugesmallbar.com.au), where there are 12 taps of constantly changing ales and lagers, including, perhaps, a Belgian golden ale from Mash Brewery. It’s all about the almost 360-degree view at Henry’s Rooftop Bar at The Reveley (thereveleybar.com.au). Take in the river, Kings Park and the CBD from the sleek, modern space while sipping a sundowner. Reasons to Be Excited about Perth Slated for completion in 2019, architect Kerry Hill will design the next set of developments at Elizabeth Quay, including a hotel, residential and commercial complexes and a public art museum – the latter buttressed by the unveiling of Perth Cultural Centre’s New Museum for Western Australia in 2020. To boot, the country’s coolest hotel brand is coming to Barrack Street. The 21-level QT Perth is due to open next year. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: DION ROBESON, JESSICA SHAVER, © KUDETA, DANICA ZUKS 26 DEPARTURES-INTERNATIONAL.COM
Casualchic look by Wild Horses The Waiting Room’s plush interior CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: SANNY CHONG, © TWR, © THE REVELEY WHERE TO SHOP Get a fix of smart, sexy local label Wild Horses (wildhorseslabel. com.au) at its new standalone store in Cottesloe. Back inland, Pitz (pitz.com.au), which started as a bodyboard retailer, has more recently added vintage fashion to its wares. Owner Oli Callisto saw a market that wasn’t being filled in Perth, so has been scouring far and wide for preloved styles that look good both on and off the beach. The refurbished State Buildings offer a grand environment wonderfully suited to the designs of Aurelio Costarella (aureliocostarella.com), who has mastered the art of sharp lines and creative tailoring in delicate fabrics. A favourite among celebrities, including Dita Von Teese and Tyra Banks, the designer’s ready-to-wear collection can be seen alongside a number of couture pieces at this flagship store. Head downstairs to Sue Lewis Chocolatier (suelewischocolatier.com. au), where the luscious truffles with lemon myrtle and rosewater fillings are created on a huge marble bench. WHERE TO STAY Set behind Julio’s, a popular Italian restaurant in a historic mansion, Sage Hotel (snhotels. com) rises into the skyline like a shining beacon. This new hotel, which is firmly aimed at corporate clientele but is perfectly located on the fringes of the CBD, has 101 stylish, spacious rooms and warm (quite literally in the case of the bar with its fireplace), welcoming public spaces. Much more decadent is the freshly debuted Crown Towers (crownperth.com.au). There are 500 rooms, suites and villas, but it’s the multilevel pool complex complete with cabanas and dedicated staff that makes us never want to leave. The newest rooms in town can be found at chic Aloft Perth (aloftperth.com), the first property in the modish marque’s portfolio to open in Australia, and Tribe (tribehotels. com.au), neighbouring Kings Park. Sure to appeal to the design set, it has 126 contemporary rooms, as well as public zones – a lounge, outdoor terrace and eatery – that blend work areas with social spaces. ♦ The extensive selection of liquors at Henry’s Rooftop Bar at The Reveley The Other City MOST PEOPLE TALK ABOUT PERTH AND FREMANTLE in the same breath – they’re only 22 kilometres apart – but it’s definitely worth putting aside a day to make the most of the coastal town. Its heritage precinct, called the West End, is resplendent with Victorian and Edwardian buildings, and is the perfect place for a stroll. Admire the architecture and wander down High Street with its galleries, boutiques and cafes. Most people flock to the Little Creatures brewery, but instead try The Monk Brewery & Kitchen (themonk.com.au), where small-batch beer and cider is produced. From Friday to Sunday, the E-Shed Markets (eshedmarkets.com. au) take over a historic warehouse on Victoria Quay. Browse locally created craft and fashion, as well as fresh produce, before settling on the wharf for a drink while watching the ebb and flow of the working harbour. CONTACT PLATINUM CARD SERVICE FOR BOOKINGS DEPARTURES-INTERNATIONAL.COM 27
