Perth's Best Cafes and Bakeries: 8 Spots Worth the Queue
Perth wakes up early - and it wakes up hungry! Here are 8 of the best cafes and bakeries to explore in and around the city.
Why Perth Is a Pastry Town
Perth, Australia has quietly built one of the country's most exciting bakery scenes. Think laminated croissants, wood-fired sourdough, cult doughnuts and tiny specialty coffee bars - and most of the best spots are only a short trip from the CBD.
We've picked a mix across the city so you can make a morning of it wherever you're staying.
1. Chu Bakery - Highgate
498 William Street, Highgate
What it's known for: Often called Perth's prettiest pastries. Self-taught bakers Seren and Ryan Chu opened the bakery opposite Hyde Park in 2015, and the queues haven't slowed since.
What to order: French-style pastries with seasonal, Aussie-nostalgia and East Asian twists. Time Out recommends the pain Suisse, raspberry almond croissant and strawberries and cream tart.
Tip: Go early - popular pastries sell out. Listings show it opening 7am to 4pm Tuesday to Sunday and closed Mondays, but check Chu's Instagram before you go.
Photo by Calistemon / Wikimedia Commons / "Hyde Park, Perth, July 2023 01" / CC BY-SA 4.0
Grab your box of pastries and walk across the road to Hyde Park for the perfect picnic.
2. Mary Street Bakery - Highgate and the CBD
507 Beaufort Street, Highgate (plus QV1 and Allendale Square in the city)
What it's known for: A Perth institution, famous for its filled brioche doughnuts - passionfruit curd is a favourite.
What to order: Doughnuts, pork sausage rolls and the all-day brunch menu at the original Beaufort Street café.
Tip: The Highgate store is open 7am to 3pm daily. The city outposts at 250 and 77 St Georges Terrace are weekday grab-and-go spots.
3. Miller + Baker - Perth
6B/236 Lake Street, Perth
What it's known for: Copenhagen-inspired "bread dorks" baking dark-crust sourdough and heavy rye from flour stone-milled on site.
What to order: Classic sourdough, cardamom buns and the cheesymite scroll. Keep an eye on their Instagram for monthly specials.
Tip: They also have a café in Subiaco, and you can pre-order a loaf for pick-up.
4. Modus Coffee - Mount Lawley
35/602-610 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley
What it's known for: A tiny coffee shop that set the bar for specialty coffee in Perth, with its own ethical roasting operation and sustainable approach.
What to order: Whatever's on the brew bar - this one's for the coffee lovers.
Tip: Mount Lawley's Beaufort Street strip is great for a wander, and Modus also has stores in Victoria Park and Wembley.
5. Queen of Leeds - Leederville
114 Oxford Street, Leederville
What it's known for: Great coffee, excellent sandwiches and some seriously good cake, plus friendly service.
What to order: A slice from the cake cabinet with your flat white.
Tip: Oxford Street is one of Perth's best café strips, so it's easy to make a morning of it in Leederville.
6. La Patisserie - South Perth
3/35 Mends Street, South Perth
What it's known for: A weekend favourite with a dessert case of piled-high croissants, glossy fruit tarts and éclairs.
What to order: A palmier or ham and cheese croissant, and a baguette for later.
Tip: Take your coffee down to the South Perth foreshore and enjoy one of the best views of the city skyline.
7. Common Bakery - Fremantle
19 High Street, Fremantle
What it's known for: From the team behind Bread in Common, this bakery is all about long-fermented, wood-fired bread.
What to order: Sourdough, almond croissants and the focaccia baked fresh every morning in Fremantle.
Tip: The Fremantle bakery sits in the restored Owston's Buildings in the West End and is open 7am to 3pm every day. There are two more Common Bakery stores in Nedlands.
Photo by EurovisionNim / Wikimedia Commons / "The Cappuccino Strip, Fremantle 2017" / CC BY-SA 4.0
8. Wild Bakery - South Fremantle
South Fremantle (plus North Fremantle and Inglewood)
What it's known for: Naturally fermented sourdough, including the signature "Hannah" country-style loaf, named after the founders' daughter.
What to order: The Hannah loaf, a Swedish bun or a pork and fennel pie.
Tip: Pair it with Common Bakery and a stroll down Fremantle's Cappuccino Strip for a full day of eating in Freo.
Tips for Your Cafe Crawl
Go early: The best bakeries sell out, especially on weekends.
Check before you go: Hours change and some spots close one day a week, so check each café's website or Instagram.
Make a day of it: Pair Chu or Mary Street with Hyde Park, La Patisserie with the South Perth foreshore, or Fremantle's bakeries with the West End and the beach.
Perth's café scene is best explored one croissant at a time. Pick a suburb, follow the queue and you'll soon find your own favourite.
Staying with Nterval in Perth City, South Perth, Como or Ascot puts you a short drive, bus or ferry ride from all of these spots - a handy base for a morning of coffee and pastries.
Cover photo by Calistemon · CC BY-SA 4.0
