Our Take on Riverside Tavern
Heritage dive bar in CBD. Cheap pours, regulars-only feel, and the most authentic working-class drinking in the city.
The room is CBD's answer to the city's broader cocktail conversation. The bartenders take craft seriously without making a show of it. The Sunset spritz with West Coast gin is the menu's anchor and the right drink to start with.
Best time to visit is mid-week between 6pm and 9pm when the bar settles into its rhythm. Weekends fill up and the room takes on a different energy. Reservations are recommended for groups, and on Friday and Saturday for couples.
The Menu, Edited
Reading the Room
Riverside Tavern sits in CBD, one of Perth's most distinctive drinking neighbourhoods. The crowd skews toward thirty-something locals on weekdays and a slightly younger international mix on weekends. The lighting is low. Conversation works at the bar; the booths handle small groups.
Dress code is smart-casual. The bar is most rewarding for an unhurried 90-minute visit between 7pm and 9pm — early enough to talk to the bartender, late enough that the room has filled in.
Before You Go
Riverside Tavern accepts walk-ins mid-week before 8pm. After that, expect a wait — reserve in advance through their Instagram or by phone. The bar takes cards. Tipping is appreciated but not expected. Most regulars order two drinks at the bar, then move to a booth.
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