Perth Entertainment

Perth has a decent nightlife scene for a city of its geographical location and population. The reliably warm and dry weather brings many people outdoors after dark to enjoy the pleasant nights at the many bars, pubs and cafés around the city. Those in search of a cultural experience will be pleasantly surprised at the number of theatres and concert halls in Perth. Best of all, the relaxed and friendly attitude of Perth locals ensures that you’ll feel welcome and comfortable whatever you choose to do at night.

To find out what’s happening during your visit, pick up a free copy of Scoop or X-press, two weekly magazines that offer excellent guides to the live performances, nightclubs and bars around town.

Nightlife

Perth’s city centre has virtually no nightlife apart from the luxury hotel bars and nightclubs, which do good business with the over-30 crowd. Younger partiers head to Subiaco, Northbridge or Fremantle (locally known as Freo) for fun. The pubs and bars typically close around 23:00, when the crowds head for the nightclubs to carry on until 05:00 or 06:00. Relaxed restrictions on opening hours of nightclubs allow people to party as they wish.

Northbridge is the liveliest spot in Perth for pubs and dance clubs, followed closely by Freo. One of the trendiest pubs in this district is the expansive Brass Monkey, which has several bars downstairs including a wine bar serving wood-fired pizzas and a great beer garden out back. The upstairs is dominated by the Glasshouse, which hosts live performances from Wednesday to Saturday.

In Fremantle, the Metropolis is the place to dance until the sun comes up. This multi-level complex of five dance floors and eight bars is usually packed Friday to Sunday with throngs of 20-somethings looking to unwind. The district of Subiaco has a nice variety of pubs and clubs. The Subiaco Hotel is the spot for an upscale night out, with great cocktails and live jazz on Wednesdays and Sundays. For a more active night out, head over to Margeaux’s, a popular nightclub in the Parmelia Hilton with those in their 30s.

The Burswood Casino is a massive entertainment complex just over the river from the city. Its 2,300-seat theatre regularly hosts live music, and the main gambling floor has 88 gaming tables and 1,300 gaming machines, which are open 24 hours. There are also nine restaurants and six bars including a nightclub.

Theatre and music

There are several excellent venues in Perth to enjoy the cultural arts such as opera, ballet and theatre. His Majesty’s Theatre is a historic building over 100 years old, which regularly hosts many of Perth’s premier events. The West Australian Opera and West Australian Ballet perform here throughout the season as well as other theatre groups and musical concerts. Perth Concert Hall is another major venue, which is home to the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. This elegant building has the best acoustics in the city and as such, it attracts many internationally-renowned musical groups.

Since Perth is such an outdoor city, many concerts are held in open-air arenas throughout the warmer months. The Quarry Amphitheatre is Perth’s premier outdoor venue and features regular musical, theatrical and festival performances throughout the year. The stunning site along the Sunset Coast is worth the admission price for any show.   

Festivals

Barely a month passes by in Perth without a lively festival taking place somewhere around the city. The residents of Perth love to party, which is reflected in the extensive calendar of events.

• Perth International Arts Festival is the oldest arts festival in Australia and Western Australia’s premier cultural event. Over 300,000 people attend the theatre, music, dance, film and visual arts events each year (January).
• Fremantle Street Arts Festival brings a wide range of international and local street artists to wow and delight audiences. Over 125 performances are scheduled, with the aim of bringing merriment and mayhem to the city (April).
• Western Australia Wine and Food Festival is the largest event of its kind in the state. The three fundamental elements of food, wine and entertainment are intertwined to make for a great event (June).
• Spring in the Valley is a festival celebrating the people and produce of the Swan Valley. Wine, food, art and music are the focus of this friendly and sociable event, held each spring (October).
• Fremantle Festival is a celebration of the unique and colourful culture that makes up the neighbouring town of Freo. First held in 1905, this long-running festival highlights the artistic, ethnic and cultural roots of this community (November).