10 Things to Do in Perth at Night

As night falls, the city of Perth lights up and the nightly shows under the stars begin - here's a list of the best things to do!

Ana Caballero

Ana Caballero

10 min read

10 Things to Do in Perth at Night

Perth | Bryce Walker

One of the best things to do in Perth is to enjoy a nightlife tour. The city offers a different perspective after dark, with many of Northern Australia's best bars and nightclubs.

If you're looking for a quiet night out, you can dine on a dinner cruise, take a tour of the Central Business District or visit the Gravity Discovery Centre. On the other hand, if you prefer to party until dawn, I suggest you take advantage of jazz shows and themed events in the nightclubs.

1. Enjoy a dinner cruise on Perth's Swan River

Night Cruises| ©maq
Night Cruises| ©maq

Among the best cruises in Perth, an evening cruise on the Swan River is a great way to relax or enjoy a romantic getaway. On board the boat you'll be able to sample the culinary offerings of the buffet, which are varied and accompanied by wine or Australian beer.

It's an activity that often includes live music, so you'll have a great evening while enjoying Perth's night-time illumination. Some of the sites you'll see lit up include the Central Park Building, St Georges Terrace and Kings Park.

Details of interest: You can find this experience from €100 per person. There are many iconic attractions in the surrounding area, so keep your eyes peeled to make sure you don't miss anything.

Book a Swan River cruise

2. Discover Perth's best bars

Bar in Perth| ©Ewan Munro
Bar in Perth| ©Ewan Munro

Perth is known for its lively nightlife, which offers a variety of bars, clubs, pubs and distilleries. If you're a night owl looking for something to do during your stay, I suggest taking a guided tour of the best local bars. It's one of the best tours in Perth and definitely not to be missed.

It's the perfect opportunity to see modern pubs, historic pubs that have been refurbished, and some other local favourites. It's definitely a well-rounded adventure, which will allow you to interact with people of other nationalities and sample the drinks produced in the region.

If you opt for a tour, you will be accompanied by a local guide. The tour usually includes up to two drinks per person. The cost starts at €43 per person. If you prefer to go out on your own, here are the best bars in town!

Must Winebar

Must Winebar is a very popular wine bar and wine bar in Perth, its ambience is elegant with a cosy feel. It is characterised because the menu offers food from the province, as well as a special selection of the best wines.

It is located on Beaufort Street, specifically in the Royal building, which was built in the 1920s and has been restored respecting its essence. It is a very busy place, where special activities are held at Christmas time.

Details of interest: It is an ideal place to spend the night with the family and relax, but you should take into account that it closes early, even on weekends. If you are looking for an atmosphere to dance and stay up until the early hours of the morning, I recommend you look at other options.

Perth Aviary

The Perth Aviary is a venue located on William Street, ideal for the best views of the Central Business District.

The venue offers live entertainment, an open-air rooftop bar and photo-worthy areas decorated with colourful furniture. Weekend hours are extended, so it's ideal for dining out with friends. Please note that the dress code is smart casual.

From Monday to Thursday you can book online for dinner under the stars. On Fridays and Saturdays you can come and experience the nightlife without a reservation.

Traveller Tip

If you're driving and looking for parking in the surrounding area, you can check out the City of Perth Parking website. Here you can find free parking for up to three hours, as well as cheap or free options after 6pm.

Connections

Connections is a gay bar that brings together the best in nightlife entertainment. It has been in business since 1972 and is located on James Street. I recommend a visit as they offer live music, DJs, a lively dance floor and rooftop shows.

Details of interest: Admission is around €24. Additionally, it is open from Wednesday to Saturday from 8:00 p.m. until dawn.

Geisha Bar

If you're looking for the best late night parties in Perth, you've got to stop by Geisha Bar, located in the heart of Northbridge. It's a venue famous for its Halloween parties during October.

Its small spaces create a bouncy sound effect. It is inspired by the old clubs, which were small and private.

Interesting details: it's open until dawn on weekends, so it's the perfect choice for partying in Perth.

Book a pub crawl in Perth

3. See the Gravity Observatory and Discovery Centre

Perth Observatory| ©Rob Coates
Perth Observatory| ©Rob Coates

If you want to learn about astronomy, you've got to stop off at Perth's most important science education centre. It is also a place where Aboriginal culture is studied, so it has a very interesting historical heritage.

During the night tour of the Gravity Discovery Centre located in the Gravity Precinct, you can sign up for a variety of activities:

  • Guided night tour: to explore the secrets of the cosmos, guided by astronomers. The tour lasts approximately two hours.
  • Night-time astronomy: you will be able to observe the stars, while receiving commentary from an expert astronomer from the region. Ideal if you are planning things to do in Perth with children.
  • The Life Cycle of Stars - find out all about the evolution of stars, from birth to death.

At Gravity Precincts you can also visit the GDC Gingin Observatory, where you can experience a night under the stars. It is ideal for observing planets, galaxies and nebulae, while learning about their history from astronomers. This observatory is equipped with a retractable roof, high-end telescopes and a souvenir shop. Night tours are available from Friday to Sunday until 8:00 p.m.

Interesting details: you can enter the discovery centre and observatory without queuing, from €16 per person.

Buy tickets for Gravity Discovery Centre and Observatory in Perth

4. Tour Northbridge, Perth's liveliest neighbourhood

Northbridge| ©Alex Pecoraro
Northbridge| ©Alex Pecoraro

Northbridge is Perth's liveliest neighbourhood, located to the north of the Central Business District. It has a wide range of cultural activities on offer, for example in the evenings you can visit the vintage shops on William Street. It is an essential stop among the best tours of Perth.

The nightlife is pleasant and it's easy to get around, as traffic is moderate. Until midnight there are several transport lines, which make it easy to get around the area.

There are food courts, museums, theatres, cocktail lounges and exclusive nightclubs. There are also artistic performances in the streets, which are usually free of charge.

One of the most popular places to visit is the State Theatre Centre, a very important theatre complex in the city. Here you can visit the Heath Ledger Hall, which honours the memory of the Perth-born actor.

Details of interest: It is centrally located, making it one of the best areas to stay in Perth.

Book a tour of Perth

5. Explore Scarborough Beach Night Market

Scarborough Beach by night| ©Corey Hamilton
Scarborough Beach by night| ©Corey Hamilton

From November to April you can enjoy a foodie experience every Thursday at the Scarborough Night Market. There are a variety of food stalls offering food from different countries.

If you're travelling from May to October, you can take advantage of the food exhibitions on Saturdays. It takes place in the evening, ideal to come after a tour of Scarborough Beach.

Details of interest: it runs until 9:00 p.m. and access is completely free.

6. Dine at Hillarys Boat Harbour Promenade

Hillarys Boat Harbour| ©Rckr88
Hillarys Boat Harbour| ©Rckr88

Hillarys Boat Harbour is a marina with some very interesting evening activities.

Some of Perth's best cruises depart from here, for example between May and November you can go whale watching.

During your holiday in Northern Australia, I suggest you sign up for a dinner cruise on this sightseeing tour. It's a great plan if you're looking for activities to do with kids in Perth. The most popular places to dine are:

  • The Breakwater: it's a great place to have a drink, enjoy the local cuisine or socialise until midnight. From here you can enjoy the best views of the beach.
  • Dôme Café is a great option if you want to get back to Perth early, working until about 9pm. It offers a variety of food and drinks at a good price.

Details of interest: Located twenty minutes from Perth, the quickest way to get there is by car. You can also get there using bus routes 423 and 388 for around €3.

Join a whale watching cruise

7. Stargaze in the open air courtyard at Clarences

Night out in Perth| ©VladPix
Night out in Perth| ©VladPix

Clarences is a bar and restaurant located on Beaufort Street, which has a picturesque courtyard where you can dine under the stars. Its décor is inspired by European clubs, with leather seating cubicles and dim lighting ideal for a romantic getaway.

On Wednesday nights they offer a vegan dinner for around €35, which includes starters, dessert and main course for two. While you enjoy your dinner, you can enjoy live music performances.

Interesting details: the cheapest dishes are around €8.

8. Don't miss the live shows at the Astor Theatre.

Theatre Show| ©Monica Silvestre
Theatre Show| ©Monica Silvestre

The Astor Theatre is an entertainment venue where films are shown as well as art and music performances, allowing you to enjoy a variety of shows or entertainment activities in the city.

Located at 659 Beaufort Street, its spaces are photo-worthy, as they are inspired by the art deco style. This building was built by Simon B. Alexander and David McClure in 1914.

Details of interest: There are places to eat or have a drink nearby, but they are open until early, especially on weekdays.

9. Stroll through Perth's Central Business District

Perth by night| ©Pedro Szekely
Perth by night| ©Pedro Szekely

The heart of Perth is the Central Business District, also known as the CBD. It is one of the most popular areas to stay in, but also one of the most expensive and most in-demand tourist areas.

The nightlife is varied, as it is the financial and commercial area of the province. As an additional fact, I can mention that Perth is known as the city of lights. This name is due to the number of illuminated skyscrapers, especially in the CBD area.

Taking advantage of the night walk, you can get a privileged glimpse of the Bell Tower. Although, if you want to go up, I recommend going in the afternoon, as it accepts visitors until 3:45pm. You can enter the bell tower without queuing, from €13, you'll enjoy breathtaking views of the Swan River.

Details of interest: in this area public buses are free until a certain time.

10. Make the most of Perth's evening entertainment

Perth Pub| ©sobolevnrm
Perth Pub| ©sobolevnrm

The list of night-time entertainment options in Perth goes on and on. It's a great city to go on holiday as it offers fun activities for all ages.

Some places you should visit are:

  • Perth Comedy Club: open until midnight on weekends, you can access Friday comedy nights for around €34. It is located at 413 Murray Street and there are different comedy shows every month.
  • Wolf Lane: is a speakeasy, with a particular aesthetic. Its decor concept is inspired by Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Little Red Riding Hood and Alice in Wonderland.
  • The Ellington Jazz Club: if you want to enjoy Australian talent, I recommend you to go to this jazz club. They have themed parties inspired in the twenties and fifties, as well as nightly performances every day.

Tips for visiting Perth at night

City lights| ©Jay N
City lights| ©Jay N
  • Be aware that the minimum age to enter bars and consume alcohol is eighteen years of age.
  • Perth is a safe city, but remember that you're going as a tourist, so it's not advisable to walk alone in uncrowded or poorly lit areas.
  • Some nightspots have a dress code and require advance booking.

Transport in Perth

Car Hire| ©Brock Wegner
Car Hire| ©Brock Wegner

Perth 's public transport system is quite comprehensive, offering benefits for both locals and tourists.

Perth Daytime Transport

By day you can enjoy the Perth Sightseeing Bus. Buses and trains also make it easy to get around the city. Bus and train fares start at €3 per person and tickets can be purchased from licensed shops and machines on the streets.

Night transport in Perth

Buses usually run until midnight, but are less frequent during this time. To get around you can buy unlimited travel tickets or purchase a SmartRider card, which costs around €6, depending on the duration.

You can enjoy free travel in the free transit zones, identified at each stop. For more information, I suggest you check the map on the transport website. You will be able to travel along Elizabeth Quay, City West, Kings Park, Claisebrook, among others.

Rent a car in Perth

If you want to get to know Perth by night in a comfortable transport, I recommend you to rent a car from 17 € per day, some of the best companies are:

  • Europcar: offers family cars or more luxurious options for romantic getaways. You must be over eighteen to drive.
  • Avis: as well as renting a car, you can book fuel in advance, so you can drive around at your leisure. It's a great option, as some Perth petrol stations are open around the clock, but most are open until 7pm.
  • Thrifty: You can hire single cars, family coaches and estate cars. For an extra cost you can add child seats, pre-paid fuel and toll charges (if you plan to visit nearby cities).

You can also order a taxi from €5, the price per kilometre is about €2. In addition, you can have them wait for you for around €53 per hour. These are expensive, but safer options.

Book the Perth sightseeing bus