1. Darling & Domain
Owners Kate Brady and Simon Bailey first met two decades ago, when they worked together in a clothing store in Melbourne and lived just around the corner from each other. Today, they’re best friends who have opened a lifestyle and gift shop in the Mosman Park suburb named after the streets they once lived on. Browse and buy a curated selection of exquisite cushions, ceramics, woollen throws, soy candles, assorted bath salts and more. They also offer free gift-wrapping services.
2. Yagan Square
Linking the two sides of Perth’s city centre – divided for more than a century by the busy urban train network, Yagan Square is an enormous pedestrian-friendly precinct. The land it occupies was once a meeting place for the area’s Aboriginal people, and this essence is woven throughout the public zones. For instance, you’ll find Wirin, a 9m-tall sculpture of an Indigenous man, rising over the wildflower gardens. There’s also a covered Market Hall buzzing with locally owned eateries where you can treat yourself to a handmade truffle by Sue Lewis Chocolatier.
3. Island Market Trigg
George Palassis Kailis was only 14 when he bid farewell to his Greek island home in 1914, arriving in Australia to start a new life and beginning by selling fish out of a wheelbarrow. Just over a century later, his grandson has opened an ocean-facing restaurant serving up excellent seafood and Middle Eastern-inspired dishes. The young George Kailis also helped design the chic space – an Instagram dream of soft greys, pastel pinks and clean whites.
4. Amia Clothing
What do you do when your racks of designer clothing threaten to overtake your home? For Perth socialite and philanthropist Denise Satterley, the solution was to open a premium, pre-loved clothing store, filled with top brands such as Chanel, Stella McCartney and Oscar de la Renta – stocking items that span garments, jewellery, bags and shoes. The wife of a successful Perth property developer, Satterley donates part of the proceeds to a charity supporting motor neurone disease, which her mother suffered from.
5. Ronnie Nights
A long-treasured Indian spot in Fremantle has just been transformed into a bar packed with ’70s Australiana. The new tenant – the team behind popular bar Strange Company – makes use of the many rooms to create a house party vibe. Here, vintage rock and disco tunes permeate the air; pictures of old-school Chrysler Valiants hang from the walls; and verdant potted plants fill the corners. On the menu, you’ll find local wines, craft beers and cocktails alongside skewers and bar bites.
Singapore Airlines flies to Perth twice daily. To book a flight, visit singaporeair.com
SEE ALSO: Top wineries in Perth for oenophiles
This article was originally published in the June 2018 issue of SilverKris magazine.
