Mrs Brown

When the small-bar licence changed Perth’s scene back in the late noughties, Siobhan Blumann and Hamish Fleming made their first foray into bars with Mrs Brown. They'd lived in Melbourne for a number of years, and wanted to bring the ethos of their favourite haunts back to Perth.

The result is a comfortable bolthole of leather wingbacks, exposed brick and stacks of firewood. Melding Victorian parlour with modern Freo, it has a rare charm. An open fireplace and plant-lined courtyard mean the space works equally well in winter and summer.

The drink offering is varied thanks to two rotating beer taps and plenty of bottles in the fridge, but there’s a definite leaning towards wine. Dozens are offered by the glass, with a strong local focus. The cocktail list is tighter, but what it does, it does well.

Food is limited to cheese and charcuterie boards, but you can pop into Flipside next door, order a burger and have it delivered to your table. It’s another outpost in Blumann and Fleming’s empire, which now includes Mechanics Institute and The Dominion League in Northbridge, and Propeller across the road.