Looking for a place to let your hair down and celebrate the year with your workmates, book club or gym buddies? We’ve done the hard yards with Subi’s best venues so all you need to do is pick a date everyone can make.
Subi is brimming with excellent eateries and sophisticated wine bars that will provide the perfect backdrop to your festive function. Whether you’re after an intimate dining space or huge private room to host the masses, here’s a selection of top choices.
Bark
502 Hay Street, Subiaco
You will be looked after like royalty at Bark, who love hosting parties from birthdays to corporate sundowners. With no space or venue hire fee, owner Mitchell Jenkin says they work off a very low minimum spend which scales to the size of the party. The space can host up to 120 with their outside space included, or just 82 for inside. Check out the cool new branding too.
Catering highlights:
Everyone loves a grazing table and Bark does them beautifully, plus there’s a package with house cocktails so you can toast your workmates with Bark’s refreshing Aperol spritz.
Cherubino City Cellar
169-171 Rokeby Road, Subiaco (entry via Xanthis Lane)
It won’t hold masses, but if you’re after a small but trés chic event, Cherubino City Cellar is the ultimate option. With a private dining room for 14, your event will feature a specially designed menu and exclusive service. It’s also the perfect place for smaller groups or a pre-event glass of something special with its exceptional wine list.
Catering highlights:
Caviar with crostini and crème fraiche to get the taste buds warmed up, before beef crudo or burrata, with slow-cooked lamb ribs. Aside from the exemplary wine list, start the party with Purple Rain (elderflower liqueur, Prosecco and lavender).
Spirit of Little Things
205a Railway Road, Subiaco
Slightly off the beaten track, Little Things will give your festive function a fun twist. This urban gin distillery cranking out bottles of award-winning gin are also a top-notch function venue. Up to 100 lucky party goers can attend at full capacity or two separate sections for smaller functions. Get there early, before 6pm, for the gin tasting paddle.
Catering highlights:
There’s some good in-house food that are mostly light bites to mop up the gin, or some more substantial canapes can be arranged for over 60 guests. The star of the show here is the gin, so settle in with a smoke & mirrors (smoke-infused signature gin, Cointreau, strawberry gum and lime).
La Condesa
483 Hay Street, Subiaco
We dare you not to have fun at this modern Mexican cantina if you host your function here! Hire the whole venue and you can squeeze 160 legends in, or they have other function packages that cater for up to 60 guests in the main dining area. More intimate groups of eight up to 32 can also enjoy the gorgeous terrace space. For the functions where everyone is ready to eat, the Condesa Fiesta features all the hits from the main menu.
Catering highlights:
In a place where there’s 150 types of tequila, it would be rude not to try one or two, and if you like yours in a cocktail, it’s all about the spicy passionfruit and jalapeno margarita. The guacamole and crispy flour tortillas have my heart, but for more substantial eats, the spiced duck quesadilla with caramelised fennel, feta and salsa verde is a treat.
Lums
433 Hay Street, Subiaco
Housed in a 1920s heritage-listed terrace, Lums has plenty of character and options for functions large and small. Also owned by Bark’s Mitchell Jenkin, Lums is similarly equipped with a maximum capacity of 120, but more variety in spaces. At street level, there’s the front outdoor deck, indoor section and covered back courtyard while head upstairs for the space overlooking Hay Street. The new ‘blue room’ at the back creates an exclusive dining space for up to 30 people.
Catering highlights:
We’re big advocates of the ‘Boats’ package because it has the most options and includes Lums’ to-die-for wild mushroom gnocchi. Your cocktail on arrival should definitely be Lum’s signature watermelon and mint smash.
Shui Subiaco
12 Rokeby Road, Subiaco
Come with an appetite if this is your venue of choice because the food is sensational, and the ‘Chef’s Banquet’ menu features epic dish after epic dish. The private dining room up the back caters to a maximum of 16 but the main restaurant can host more, for special requests.
Catering highlights:
The summer menu is littered with highlights but if we must choose, the grilled WA snapper on coconut temaki rice, nam pla and purple basil or grilled beef fillet with smoked eggplant and black pepper sauce are winners. With one of Australia’s best bartenders – Eoin Kenny – at the helm of cocktail creations, you can’t go wrong with any on the list, but according to Shui Floor Manager Emily Lear – start with her choice of the roast pineapple mojito.
Subiaco Hotel
465 Hay Street, Subiaco
The matriarch of Subiaco venues and one of the most iconic pubs in Perth, the Subi Hotel is a statement location for your function. Having seen many transformations in its 125 or so years, it now boasts seven function spaces. On the top floor, choose from the largest option Henry’s Loft, the rooftop deck (Perth sunshine or clear starry night required) and the lower mezz (which provides a private space while feeling part of the downstairs action). On the ground floor, the courtyard section is best for semi-private events, the little blue room is for intimate affairs and the lobby or front bar for casual celebrations.
Catering highlights:
Go all in for a fancy function and get the oysters with French mignonette and lemon. Alternatively, the Subi do pub classics very well so you can’t go wrong with the cheeseburger sliders or black angus sirloin. If you start at the Subi, we’re guessing you’ll need one of their espresso martinis in your package to last the distance at this party venue.
Subi Continental
10 Rokeby Road, Subiaco
This prime piece of corner real estate is a lot of fun with good food, drinks list and atmosphere, plus the option for a private dining experience or a casual bar booking for your function. The private
dining room caters to a maximum
of 14 people.
Catering highlights:
You may be at the chef’s whim with a big group (they usually know best!), but if you get to pick, the Abrolhos Island scallops are divine and the pasta chef makes a mean zucchini pesto, poached ricotta gnocchi. To wash it down, try the Melonrita with tequila, agave, lime, rockmelon and chilli.
The Unicorn Bar
210 Nicholson Road, Shenton Park
On the border of Shenton Park, this is a local favourite for the Shents’ community. The Unicorn Bar is first on the list for school group functions and end-of-year get togethers with multiple cosy spaces inside and a great streetside outdoor space.
Catering highlights:
Order plenty of crispy fish or haloumi tacos, gooey arancini balls or salt and pepper squid. Celebrate the year with a pop, courtesy of a Billecarte bottle or get your filters ready and take a snap of The Unicorn (Malfi rose gin, blue curacao) which is Instagram-worthy.
