Drinking in Northbridge

Ah Northbridge, the Jekyll and Hyde of Perth. A somewhat rough and ready suburb just north of the city centre, in the past it’s been somewhat seedy spot likely to result in a royal rumble at the end of the evening. While there's still an element of that here, there's also a certain sense of cool cropping up too.

In some of the finest cities across the globe you see this trend cropping up, where the dodgier end if town begins to breed to coolest of clubs, and then as things get a bit edgy cool, the glamour sets in and before you know it the area's gentrified beyond recognition. Northbridge hasn't had its uniqueness stamped out yet, so make the most of the cool spots cropping up while you still can.

Here are our top tips:

Grapeskin - sitting astride big sibling, Brass Monkey, Grapeskin is a wine lovers paradise with well over 20 varietals by the glass and around 250 bottles. All swish marble and stainless steel its a real looker, Add a fairly top notch bar menu that complements your grape by product selection and you're onto a winner.

Fuse Bar - The Northbridge Hotel has jumped on the fancy pants bandwagon with a rather swish renovation, including the somewhat sparkly Fuse Bar. Ladies can even check their makeup in the shiny metal bar.

Bar Open - there's something a bit dirty hot about having to enter a club via its back alley (no pun intended). That's why we love Bar Open. That, and the awesome live music line up.

Harry's Bar - brings a slice of Melbourne's fabled laneway bar scene to Northbridge, complete with artsy crowd, cocktails and cool booths. Grab a drink and hang outside in the purpose-built alley and watch the cool kids go by.

Ezra Pound - named after the modernist poet, Ezra Pound is another defender of grunge chic and a hipster kid indeed. Complete with graffiti laneway and longnecks in a paper bag. If you wanna fancy it up, the wine and cocktail lists rock too.

Universal bar - the home of live music in Northbridge, Universal rocks jazz in particular. For a smoky, sexy night out, it's a good spot, with a long cocktail list and over 40 boutique bottled beers.

Connections - the sole bastion of Perth gay club scene, all sorts end up her in the early hours. It's not glam, but it is a whole hell of fun, with drag shows to boot and a rather cool rooftop bar.

Stephen Russell, April 2011

Find more Bar and Club reviews on Citysearch