From a new Italian osteria in Claremont to a vintage boutique in Dunsborough, here is your guide to what is happening in Perth and Western Australia.
Il Santo Opens in Claremont
From the team behind Cottesloe stalwart Il Lido and Applecross favourite Canteen Pizza comes this new neighbourhood osteria dishing up snacks, handmade pasta and a drinks menu that spans more than 100 Italian wines plus cocktails and beers. Its offering is described as reflecting how people want to dine — a tighter offering, quality drinks and a rotating pasta and main selection — with many of the dishes inspired by chef Nicola Lunardi’s Veneto, Tuscany and Campania roots. The new space, reimagined by interiors studio Studio Gram, is at 16 Bay View Terrace in Claremont. More details and the menu can be found at ilsanto.com.au.
Bowey's Vintage Boutique in Dunsborough
If you have always felt you were born in the wrong generation, or still lust after the flares you wore in your youth, this new vintage boutique in Dunsborough could be just the right fit. The curated selection of clothing, accessories, collectable and designer pieces — shown off in the recent Weekend at Boweys campaign — spans the 1960s to 2000s and is priced between $80 to $400. Pop in on your next South West holiday, see boweys.com for more information.
Spacey Jane Announces New EP
The WA indie rockers have had a massive year touring their third album, 2025’s If That Makes Sense, including a sold-out 20-show run across Australia and New Zealand. The record became the highest-selling Australian album of the year. Now, they have announced their fourth EP Exit Wounds, which will be released on June 12. The band is doing another run of gigs, including performances in their hometown at the Ice Cream Factory Outdoor on December 12 and 13. The local shows will come after Spacey Jane return from another American headline tour, along with festival appearances including the iconic Lollapalooza in Chicago. Tickets are on sale now, via frontiertouring.com.
Dine and Dash in Leederville
Why dine at one venue, when you can dine at three? This was the thinking behind the new Dine and Dash experience launching in Leederville which invites guests to eat and sip at their own pace through three venues. Priced at $50 per person, the food crawl begins with a cheese board at Powell’s Fromagerie & Wine Bar, moves onto The Garden for pizza or pasta and finishes at Messina for a scoop of something sweet. Find more information at The Garden.
Epiq Jackets by The Inspired Unemployed
If you are looking for some new outerwear for the chilly months, The Inspired Unemployed — aka Matt Ford and Jack Steele — have designed their own limited edition puffer jackets for Kathmandu, dubbed the Epiq Falcon and Epiq Steele. The popular comedy duo, who recently restarted their podcast on LiSTNR, worked with the outdoor company for seven months to build their down jackets, making every decision from the fabric to zip and pocket types, patches, embroidery and names. Ford chose yellow ("it is fun and it is vibrant and it makes me feel happy") while Steele chose the more subtle brown and black, with "life is rare, don't waste it" embroidered on the back. The jackets are on sale now for $420.
65 Roses Day Fundraiser
If you need an excuse to buy flowers, Cystic Fibrosis WA is holding its annual 65 Roses fundraiser on Friday, May 29. The special day, named for a child’s mispronunciation of the disease, began 18 years ago by selling 2000 roses; last year, 26,000 were sold and this year, CFWA hopes to increase that to 28,000 across WA. Proceeds go to help the more than 400 local people with the life-threatening, incurable disease that particularly affects the lungs. You can prearrange a bouquet if you order today (May 24) at cfwa.org.au, buy a virtual rose via rosegarden.org.au or buy a stem from volunteer-run stalls on Friday. See the website for details.
Blak Dingo Club Film Nights
This community initiative, started by Bibbulmun Noongar and Kungarakan artist Ilona McGuire, is holding free Thursday night movies at the Melville Main Hall. Co-hosted by the City of Melville, McGuire has curated powerful First Nations films to mark National Reconciliation Week, which starts on May 27. Emily: I Am Kam, about the influential Northern Territory artist Emily Kam Kngwarray, will show on May 28, followed by a quiz night on May 30. All are welcome, see melvillecity.com.au for details.
Cafe Collective Retailer
This Perth business has grown from a humble cafe display to a retailer with four locations, stocking WA artists, designers, and makers. It was founded 10 years ago by Heidi McGrath, inspired by the creative people she met through her jewellery label, Spice Lily. The stores, in Whitfords, Karrinyup, Joondalup and North Beach Shopping Centre stock artwork, jewellery, homewares, candles, fashion and more, all created or designed by about 70 West Australians, such as artist Peter Ryan, with a waitlist of more than 150. See cafecollectivewa.com.au.
Family Rave Day at The Court Hotel
Any junior palaeontologists or groovers in your house? This family event at The Court Hotel could be just the ticket. The Escape Jurassic World dance party on June 13 will have music, games, confetti, balloons, bubbles, dancing and most importantly, dinosaurs. Its founder Law Corden says the events, which have been held across Australia and New Zealand, are designed to "bridge the gap between nightclub and playgroup". The rave runs 11am-2pm, tickets out now via Megatix.
Melissa Palinkas at Willespie Estate
After closing her much-loved East Freo restaurant Young George, the acclaimed chef is taking up residence at this Margaret River winery for a new weekend lunch series. Starting May 30 until July 5, Palinkas will prepare The Long Table on Saturdays (a communal four-course lunch where one long table will wrap around the verandah) and Braizen on Sundays (a different seasonal hero dish each week, centred on open flame and shared plates). Willespie has installed a special asado fire pit at the cellar door, where Palinkas will cook in view of diners. See willespie.com.au for details and bookings.
