Budburst Small Bar, Oxford Street, Mount Hawthorn

Budburst Small Bar in Mount Hawthorn is unassuming and spartan in design and it is in this simplicity that it does excel. Billed as a small bar offering craft beers, wine and small plates this really is a local bar that extends beyond the Mount Hawthorn neighbourhood.



Friendly and polite staff greet every customer on entry, the smiles are genuine, the conversation engaging and the service is to a high level. The staff are keen to offer advice on drinks and have a good knowledge of the menu. There is a nice selection of beers and wines to suit most tastes. The kitchen also serves up good food in perfect sized portions.



The winner here is design and decor, it is well thought out and extremely comfortable, it leads you in and is very pleasing on the eye. Warm, minimalist and rustic are the first words to come to mind when describing Budburst. Whitewashed walls, stained glass and plenty of timber this place is perfect for chilling out on a weekday evening or setting up shop for a Sunday session.



With an atmosphere that will appeal to most, this really good small bar is worth a visit. Grab some food, get a drink or two and enjoy the surroundings, you will end your night content and with a smile on your face.

399 Bar - William Street, Northbridge

A short walk along William Street away from the city brings you to 399 Bar. This is a small bar that can best be described in three ways - firstly it has a very laid back, chilled out atmosphere, secondly it serves up one of the best beer and cocktail menus in the city and thirdly it is well worth the walk.



399 describes itself as an urban oasis and we couldn't agree more, it is that perfect little watering hole where you can sit back away from the stresses of life and enjoy an ice cold beer or well made cocktail. A pitstop on your walk into or out of the city is very likely to become a final destination.



The beer list is excellent and on par with the best around, they have an exceptional selection of craft and boutique beers that are complimented by a range of ciders and a good wine cellar. The cocktails on offer are well made, watching the staff at work you can see the time and effort that goes into preparing each and every one.

Food is expertly served up from a number of different kitchens as Pizza, Asian and Indian are all on the menu from surrounding restaurants, order at the bar and in a flash, your food as arrived from local eateries. We think this is such a good idea, increasing the choice available to customers while providing something that little bit different. In addition to the varied order-in menu 399 also has a simple tapas menu that can soak up some of the booze.



We tried a selection of beers including Mountain Goat Pale Ale, Colonial Kolsch, Temple IPA and Kooinda Porter but a special mention must go to the Colonial Small Ale, an excellent mid strength that has a nice citrus hint and a refreshing bitterness. It is a great beer that won't leave you disappointed and is perfect for afterwork drinks when a hangover the next day just isn't an option.



The ambience was relaxed and fun with nice background music. The staff were attentive and eager to please, they are really engaging and all take the time to interact with the patrons beyond just your standard service. On a final note it has to be said that this is a well designed bar, time and effort has gone into making this a place to relax and hang out with your friends. Our suggestion is round up a group of friends, take the short walk from the city and turn 399 Bar into the place to be for the whole night.

Varnish on King - King Street, Perth

Varnish on King is an exceptional small bar, a place where you are immediately hit by the style and sophistication of a bar that is trailblazing its way to the front of the pack in the busy Perth Small Bar Scene. The excellent staff provides exemplary service that is really hard to match. Attentive and polite they are chatty and eager to please.

The design and décor is outstanding, using the bare brick walls as the background feature, the natural unvarnished woods and worn metals bring this place to life. When you throw in a random turkey, beaver and perfect lighting this place just oozes class. Our advice play random curio bingo, some of the items on display are very quirky and perfectly placed.

Whilst Whiskey is clearly the focus the rest of the menu whether it is food or drink will leave your mouth watering, even our pet peeve of no pints being available is forgiven here. With over 180 Whiskey varieties it will be impossible for you to be disappointed. They offer a fine selection of American Bourbon, Whiskey and Ryes, in addition there are Scottish and Irish single malts, taking all of that into account there is a drink for all palettes and most importantly all wallets. The cellar is well stocked with good wine and they have an outstanding selection of beer.

The kitchen produces a steady stream of really good food from a menu that intrigues and delights. Another note worthy mention is the sublime music, it was one good song after another, every aspect of this bar is well thought out and nothing is left to chance.

We highly recommend settling in for the evening, ordering your favourite drink and selecting something from the menu that may take you from your comfort zone and enjoying an experience that will ultimately delight all of your senses.