10 new international dining spots to try around Perth

By: Natalie Pugh

There’s something satisfying about being the first to recommend a new restaurant. And with a wave of international openings arriving across Perth in recent months, there are plenty of new flavours to discover.

From neighbourhood eateries to destination dining spots, these are the 10 new international venues worth seeking out.

1. Al Canto, Subiaco 

The old Oriel Café site on Hay Street has a new lease on life with Al Canto, an Italian neighbourhood bistro and bar that opened on 2 September. The idea is to make the venue work from morning through to late, with coffee and breakfast giving way to lunch, cicchetti, pasta and aperitivo. There’s also a bar tucked out the back called Derrière for those who aren’t quite ready to call it a night. 

2. The Queen’s Arms, Perth CBD 

Coming to Queen Street in late September, The Queen’s Arms is set to bring a proper British pub to the Perth CBD. The three-level venue will take over the heritage-listed former Flour Factory building, with two bars, more than 30 taps, a beer garden overlooking Raine Square and a rooftop terrace. On the menu, expect British classics including fish and chips, steak and ale pie, bangers and mash, plus a traditional Sunday carvery.

To celebrate the opening of The Queen's Arms, we're giving one lucky winner the chance to enjoy a British pub experience for four, including a food and drinks package valued at approximately $400. Enter via our social channels below for your chance to win. Must be 18+ to enter. T&Cs apply.

3. The 1899 House, South Perth 

Over in South Perth, The 1899 House is bringing an Asian-fusion menu to Mill Point Road. It’s an all-day venue, opening from 7am through to 9pm, so it can slot into the day whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It also adds another option to the growing collection of places to eat around South Perth, making it an easy one to pair with a walk along the foreshore.  

4. Hisui, Applecross 

If Japanese food is your weakness, add Hisui to the list. The Applecross restaurant is located on Canning Highway and focuses on Japanese dining rather than the quick-bite end of the spectrum. It’s open for both lunch and dinner Tuesday to Saturday, giving south-of-the-river diners another option when sushi, Japanese dishes and a proper sit-down meal are calling.  

5. Picoso Mexican Cocina, Hillarys 

Picoso has brought its Mexican offering north to Hillarys Boat Harbour, with a menu made for sharing. With ceviche, grilled prawns, tacos and burritos, followed by churros with spiced chocolate. The Hillarys outpost is the second Picoso location after its original in Adelaide, and the venue has gone for a colourful, pink-hued look to match the punchy Latin American menu.

6. Alab Kitchen, Inglewood 

Inglewood has a new Filipino restaurant on Beaufort Street, and Alab Kitchen is putting charcoal at the centre of its menu. The recently opened diner serves contemporary Filipino comfort food, with chef Alex drawing on the flavours of home while giving them a modern treatment. It’s a small neighbourhood spot at 869 Beaufort Street, making it a good one to know for a low-key dinner rather than a big night out.

7. Lievito, Victoria Park 

Lievito has arrived on Albany Highway with a pizza format that’s hard to miss: enormous 20-inch pies sitting somewhere between Roman and New York styles. The bases are thin, crisp and chewy, with the pizzas designed to hold their shape rather than collapse when you pick up a slice.

There are just nine pizzas on the tight menu, with options including potato and rosemary, hot honey with spicy salami and stracciatella, and a vodka-pasta-inspired pizza.

8. Casa Fuego, Northbridge 

Casa Fuego is bringing Mexican food and a tequila bar to William Street, with hand-pressed tortillas, slow-cooked meats and salsas made in-house. The menu covers tacos, burritos, bowls, quesadillas, sharing plates and postres, but the margaritas are another reason to pull up a chair, with eight house varieties ranging from jalapeño and spicy pineapple to coconut, passionfruit and the classic frozen.  

9. Motto Motto, Currambine 

The northern suburbs are getting a new Japanese option with Motto Motto opening its first Perth restaurant in Currambine on 17 September. The Queensland-born chain serves Japanese favourites including sushi, sashimi, bento, chicken katsu and sandos, with its existing venues also offering dishes such as salmon carpaccio and wagyu steak.

10. McCrumbs Deli, Balcatta 

If your ideal lunch involves choosing from a counter rather than studying a 12-page menu, McCrumbs Deli is one for the list. The Balcatta spot combines a deli, bakery, café and sandwich shop, making it a handy stop for everything from a coffee and pastry to a more substantial sandwich or something to take home.