The readers' guide to Perth

OUR readers give advice on the best hotels, wineries and restaurants in WA's capital.

perth escape 23 cottesloe

OUR readers give advice on the best hotels, wineries and restaurants in WA's capital.

* See *

- Kings Park

Kings Park is the place where I first came to appreciate the flora of Australia. Attached to the Botanic Gardens there's an expanse of manicured grass and gorgeous eucalypts to picnic under. Short and long walks wrap all the way round with views of the Perth CBD and the Swan River. 

- See bgpa.wa.gov.au/kings-park

- Janet 

- Cottesloe Beach

Catch the train to Cottesloe Beach, which is on the Fremantle line. The beach is a 10-minute walk from the station  - just follow the crowds up the hill and down to the clear blue water. The iconic Cottesloe pub is popular for Sunday afternoon drinks, especially if you're under 30.

The Blue Duck would be my pick if you want to savour a WA sunset and a matching glass of wine without the thumping music. 

- Brandon 

- Rottnest Island

Catch a ferry from the Barrack St jetty in the city and spend a day on Rottnest. The water is crystal clear and there's a nice laid-back feel to it.

My wife and I took our two boys (seven and nine) who enjoyed touring the island on bikes that we hired when we got off the boat. We packed a picnic and would stop for a bite and swim at different beaches. We also played a game of spot the quokka, a small relative of the kangaroo. 

- See rottnestisland.com

- Drew

- Wineries

The Swan Valley is a 30-minute drive from Perth and home to some great wineries and cafes. There are decent wines at Houghton and Sandalford, which has a lovely onsite restaurant. 

- Lucy

* Stay *

- Holiday Inn Hay St

Hay St runs quite some distance but I find the side of the mall on the Kings Park side the best. The Holiday Inn is metres from the mall and up-market shopping strip King St.

There's a wonderful bookstore called Boffins that specialises in design (architecture, interiors, graphic) just a few doors down and a great second-hand bookstore called Elizabeth's if you're in need of a fiction fix. This is not a luxury hotel but, if location is important to you, the clean and comfortable rooms should more than compensate. 

- See holidayinn.com

- Tara

- Emperor's Crown Backpackers Hostel

There is a hotel room shortage in Perth so it's almost impossible to get value for money for a room in the CBD these days.

I found that the Emperor's Crown Backpackers Hostel in Northbridge served its purpose well. More budget accommodation than noisy hostel, you can get a good night's sleep here. There are clean, private rooms, a large communal kitchen and the CBD is a few minutes' walk away. 

- See emperorscrown.com.au

- Matt

- Hotel Northbridge

Hotel Northbridge might be in the gritty part of the city but I enjoyed staying there when I was last in Perth. The rooms are large and clean and all the amenities you require for a one night or one-week stay are on hand. There's a good range of mid-priced restaurants nearby. 

- See hotelnorthbridge.com.au

- Brandon

* Eat *

- Matsuri

I'm often in Perth for work and rarely go past Matsuri without stopping for quick and healthy Japanese. Eating out in Perth can be expensive but I find dinners here, specifically the beef teriyaki, to represent good value and good quality. If you're dining with a group it's worth booking a table, their CBD location on the corner of Hay and Milligan streets keeps them busy. 

- See matsuri.com.au

- Leighton

- Velvet Espresso

For the best coffee in Perth head to Velvet Espresso on St Georges Tce, which is two minutes' walk up from the Hay St mall. Don't be deterred if there's a bit of a queue, as the name suggests the coffee here has the texture of velvet and is absolutely worth the short wait. 

- Radek

- David Jones food hall

If you're planning lunch up at Kings Park look no further than the David Jones food hall for all your picnic provisions. Gorgeous salads, freshly baked tarts and the best tempura prawn sushi I've had. Arrive before noon to beat the lunchtime rush. 

- Mikala

- Brisbane Hotel

Perth CBD can be quiet on the weekends, especially Sunday. If you're looking for atmosphere, the Brisbane Hotel on the corner of Beaufort and Brisbane streets is a popular spot for Sunday lunch and afternoon drinks. The beer garden is fantastic and I can't go past their salt and pepper squid. 

See thebrisbanehotel.com.au

- Todd

- Little Creatures

The Little Creatures brewery on Mews Rd in Fremantle is a must for all visitors. Even if you don't drink beer or cider it's a great place to enjoy a glass of wine or bite to eat - their buckets of mussels and pizzas are very good and they're perfect for sharing. 

- See littlecreatures.com.au

- Christine

* Tips *

- The Freo Doctor

If you're planning on spending an afternoon outside in Fremantle be warned, even if you go in the heat of summer "The Freo Doctor" inevitably arrives - it's a cold wind so take something warm to wrap in. 

- Sam

- Exercise

Keep fit while in Perth with a few sets of runs up the stairs near Kings Park and a run through the park itself. You can also hire a bike near the bell tower and do a bridge-to-bridge loop of the Swan River. 

- Gary