Drink: Linger Longer in Subi

Linger longer

As the evenings get warmer in spring, why not kick back and spend more time with those you love in some of Subiaco’s most welcoming venues.

WORDS | Dianne Bortoletto

It’s Friday night and it feels all right. Wine bars, old-school pubs, cocktails, craft breweries, and iconic establishments make Subiaco the perfect place for after-work drinks on a Friday or any day really. Bar hopping is easy thanks to the high concentration of bars around Rokeby Road and Hay Street, all walking distance.

On a sunny day, it’s hard to beat mid-afternoon drinks at Golden West Brewery. The big beer garden, shaded with colourful umbrellas, has great tunes pumping out and a fun vibe. If eating isn’t cheating, tuck into some tasty food, and, on Fridays, the kitchen hours are extended. The food, while not the usual pub fare, is an interesting fusion of European and Australian flavours with Asian spices – chill garlic cheese naan anyone? They also cook up some interesting beers like the Roast Coffee Stout or the Smooth Bourbon Vanilla Porter. Brewed on site, I like the Super Australian Ale and the Classic Golden Ale, which go down a treat.

A few doors up on Hay Street towards Rokeby Road is Subiaco’s newest bar, Lums. It’s inspired by its building, the former home of EA Lums Grocery & General Store that operated in the 1920s. Drinkers have a choice of by-the-glass wines, from a funky local Pet Nat to classic Italian Nebbiolo, along with a good selection of artisan wines by the bottle. Inside, it has a rustic European feel, and there are small bites on the menu. Lums is an easy choice for a quick catch-up after work, a work meeting over a glass of something good, before or after dinner drinks to make the evening last longer, and a stop on a night out. The best news is that it’s open late, until midnight Friday and Saturday, and there’s a cute little alfresco deck, too, if you want to soak up the night time urban vibes.

Keep walking along Hay Street and in few steps and you’ll find yourself at the iconic Subiaco Hotel. The grand façade is like a great dame, aged and beautifully kept. The Subi still knows how to pull a crowd, especially in the ever-popular sports bar. Catch up over a pint of craft beer while keeping an eye on the footy – both AFL and AFLW, rugby league, UFC, basketball,

You'll find a gorgeous rooftop bar in the hotel's Storehouse restaurant and bar.”

TAKE YOUR PICK Subiaco has a great collection of bars and venues, whether you're in the mood for beer, wine or cocktails.

netball, golf, horse racing and cricket - just some of what you’ll find on the big screens. The lobby bar is popular on Fridays and Saturdays and there’s a roof top and alfresco bar. Keep an eye on socials for Subiaco Hotel’s special Friday drink special.

Head south along Rokeby Road to Subiaco Square to find Refuge Small Bar, which specialises in packaged beers, many of them bottlefermented. There’s also a healthy list of cocktails and if they don’t have what you want on the list, just ask them to make it. Don’t miss the great selection of grazing boards too, if you’ve worked up an appetite.

Walk up Rokeby Road to Hay Street and, turn right, walk for three minutes for four more watering holes. Bark, from the same owners behind the new bar Lums is like going to a friend’s place or hanging out in a down south holiday house – but better because there’s someone else bringing you beers and quirky cocktails. It’s casual and friendly. There are board games, water bowls for your dog, and a TV in the corner for those that can’t miss the game. Bark champions WA-made beers, wine and spirits, and for those who like to start early, there are $12 espresso martinis from 10am on Fridays. Cheers to that!

Back on Hay Street, look up, and you’ll see the Vibe Hotel logo. Head up in the elevator and you’ll find a gorgeous rooftop bar in the hotel’s Storehouse restaurant and bar. The elegant cocktails are on point here and, on a warm night, it’s a lovely spot to watch the sunset over Subi’s streetscape.

Across the road on Hay Street is Squires Loft which has beers on tap, local and imported wines by the glass and bottle and a small but good selection of cocktails – Squire’s spritz, espresso martini, mojito, caipiroska - that won’t break the bank. If the thought of a perfect flame-grilled grass-fed steak gets your mouth

Bar Amelie

watering, Squires Loft is for you.

Tucked behind Squires Loft is The Village Bar, a buzzy venue that has boutique beers on tap along with 20 wines by the glass from prosecco to pinot noir, many from WA and all at sensible prices. Walk behind The Village Bar on Barker Road to find an old-school Boston-inspired pub, Fenway, a good spot to head to if a night in front of some sport on the big screen is your jam.

Walk along Barker Road to Rokeby Road, turn left and cross the road to step inside a Frenchinspired world. Bar Amelie has a philosophy of comfort, conversation and a welcoming vibe. The wine list tells stories, and the tapas menu is intentionally designed to encourage interaction. Night owls will love that it’s open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Bar Amelie regularly hosts special events and has just launched a new Supper Club with jazz legend Al Pithers – think dessert cocktails, whiskey paddles, cheese boards and petit fours.

Turn around and walk two minutes up Rokeby Road (toward Bagot St) to Cherubino City Cellar. Not obvious from the road, access is through providore retailer Simon Johnson, or if that’s closed, then go around to the back entrance and climb the stairs.

Just like a wine bar in Italy, the bar has an elegant interior that feels sophisticated yet relaxed. It’s a fabulous place for Friday drinks, and my tip is to get there early because there’s usually a queue out the door. Think ahead and book a table on Fridays from 7.30pm, so you can linger longer. The thoughtfullycurated wine list features Cherubino’s own labels as well as wines from further afield, including Italy. Find couches in corners, stools at the bar and bar tables and armchairs around coffee tables along with shelves filled with wine. It's a place that's hard to leave - that is until someone else has booked your table. About six minutes walk up Rokeby Road is Juanita’s, an eclectic wine bar with old furniture, a big blackboard menu and plenty of character. Their mantra: come as you are, drink what you like. There are different areas inside, and the street side tables are a great place for people-watching. Don’t miss the delectable parfait and salt and vinegar shoestring fries.

There are some 16 bars in Subiaco, so whether you’re looking for casual or sophisticated, a pint or a pina colada, just one or a few, there’s plenty of choices within walking distance. Visit seesubiaco.com.au for more inspo.

Bar Amelie

Juanita's Refuge Bar