2024 food and drink trends - and where to find them in the City

Brunch bites

Bagels may have been around for hundreds of years, but they’re really making their mark lately with new bagel joints popping up around Perth. NYC-style diner Neighbourhood Bagel and cheerful cafe Deli Gabe are now delivering holey goodness in the CBD. With options ranging from simple cream cheese schmears to classic filling combos featuring pastrami, smoked salmon, chicken schnitzel and more, Perth’s growing list of bagel places will cover your cravings from brekky through to lunch.

Meanwhile, açaí bowls have gone from a niche health food to a nutritious breakfast fave. A Brazilian berry that’s often called a super-food, açaí is blended to a thick smoothie consistency and topped with fruits, nuts, granola and sauces. It’s a vegan-friendly, antioxidant-rich, customisable breakfast or snack - and extremely Instagrammable thanks to its vibrant purple colour. In Perth City, you can find them at Java Juice in Cloisters and Oakberry on William St. (And just FYI, it’s pronounced ah-sigh-ee).
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Asian eats

Several new additions are changing up the Chinatown area. Hit up these three for a roving dinner in Northbridge…

RODZILLA opened on William Street in February serving deep-fried skewers of meat, seafood and vego options, seasoned with your choice of spice and saltiness level. 

Round the corner on James Street, popular Melbourne dumpling spot Shanghai Street has recently opened their first west coast restaurant. Stop in for xiao long bao and other classic Shanghainese dishes.

And for dessert, head two minutes down the road to Kurepu, home to Harajuku-style crepes as well as Perth’s first kakigori - bowls of fluffy Japanese shaved ice loaded with sweet toppings. Choose from three signature kakigori flavours: strawberry cloud, squish Milo and biscoff melt.
 

Booze-free beverages

The range of alcohol-free wines, beers and spirits on the market has boomed in recent years. If you’ve ever tried an alcohol-free wine that just tasted like, well, grape juice, it’s time to try again: things have evolved. And Perth bars are embracing it, with some adding serious selections of booze-free bevs to their drinks menus. So being the designated driver no longer means being stuck with soft drinks! If you’re avoiding alcohol - for whatever reason - you can still feel fancy. For example, Foxtrot Unicorn’s cocktail menu always features some drinks using zero-alcohol and zero-sugar spirits from innovative WA distillery Ovant, which rival the real thing. And The Reveley lists non-alcoholic beers, wines and spritzes, plus mocktails like the Pina Col-nada and the No-jito. So next time you’re out for drinks, ask your bartender about alcohol-free options beyond the lemon lime and bitters.

Want more? Check out these 10 new Perth cafes, restaurants and bars to try in 2024.