West Perth

Housed in what's said to be Perth's oldest liquor store, this Hay Street institution runs a dual life as bottle shop and bar, the two feeding into each other rather than competing. The shelves range wide and unapologetically: sauvignon blanc and alternative whites sit near natural-leaning reds, champagne and grower fizz share space with Japanese whisky, mezcal and vermouth, while a proper beer and fortified selection rounds things out. It's the kind of range that rewards browsing rather than a quick grab-and-go — bottles pulled from small producers as readily as recognisable names, with prices that stretch from everyday drinking to serious collector territory. What sets it apart is the option to drink in: buy a bottle to take home, or settle at the bar and have it opened on the spot, cheese plate optional. Discounts kick in for those buying in bulk, a nod to the fact that regulars treat this as their cellar as much as their local. There's a playful streak too — a randomiser to help the indecisive choose, a mailing list pitched with a wink — but underneath the humour is a serious, well-stocked room for people who care about what's in the glass, whether they're drinking it there or carrying it out the door.

A West Perth shop dealing in serious books: Olivia Laing titles sit alongside field guides to Kimberley birds and Western Australian eucalypts. Open until 8pm on weekdays, it's one of the few places in the city where you might leave with both a novel about Fellini's Rome and a pamphlet on Rottnest Island flora.