Things to Do in Claremont, Perth: The Local Guide

Claremont at a glance

Claremont’s food and drink scene is varied without feeling overwhelming. The main choices sit around familiar local pockets including St Quentin Avenue, Bay View Terrace and the area near Claremont train station, while Mount Claremont adds a more village-like group of neighbourhood businesses. Nearby Crawley and Nedlands also feature in the wider western-suburbs catchment, with venues such as Varsity Nedlands and Hygge Bar offering options close to the river and university area.

The character is a mix of established institutions and smaller, owner-led places. The Claremont Hotel has been part of Perth’s story since 1886, while Steves describes itself as a Western Suburbs institution dating back to 1908. Alongside those long-running names are family-owned cafés, a contemporary Mediterranean restaurant, a Japanese izakaya and a bakery built around daily production. That makes the suburb well suited to both planned meals and straightforward local routines.

Where to eat

For Vietnamese food, Huong Viet Noodle House on St Quentin Avenue is one of the clearest local standouts. Its 4.7 rating from 276 reviews points to a strong following, and the appeal is its flavourful, authentic approach to pho, noodles and Vietnamese classics. It is a practical choice when the priority is a satisfying, focused meal rather than a lengthy dining occasion.

The same St Quentin Avenue precinct is home to The Momo’s & More Cafe & Restaurant, which has built a strong local reputation with a 4.6 rating from 351 reviews. Its menu centres on momos and other satisfying dishes, making it suitable for a casual bite or a more relaxed meal. The venue benefits from being in Claremont’s shopping-and-dining setting, where convenience is part of the appeal.

Izakaya Sumi Claremont on Bay View Terrace offers one of the broadest menus in the suburb. The kitchen covers sashimi, nigiri and aburi sushi, along with small plates, sizzling dishes, rice, noodles, hotpots, ramen and donburi. That range makes it useful for different appetites and group preferences, with vegetarian options including agedashi tofu, vegetable tempura, tofu salads, vegetable udon and mushroom dishes. It can work as a sharing meal or a fuller Japanese dinner.

Avalon takes a more composed approach to Mediterranean dining. Co-founded by Italian-born Simone Sichel and Greek-born Executive Chef George Tsimpidis, the restaurant draws on Italian and Greek influences while reworking traditional flavours rather than presenting them in a strictly conventional way. Its changing programme across the week gives the dining room a different rhythm, so checking the current offering is sensible when planning a visit.

The Village Social sits on Asquith Street in Mount Claremont and is a strong option when you want a neighbourhood restaurant with a little more occasion behind it. It is known for quality cooking, a good drinks offering and a warm, welcoming local feel. The combination is less formal than a special-event dining room but more considered than a quick feed, making it a useful choice for catching up over food and drinks.

Steves brings a restaurant, bar and winestore together in one venue. Its seasonal food programme is complemented by a substantial wine focus and event options, so it suits diners who want the drinks to be part of the plan rather than an afterthought. The long local history gives it a sense of place, while the contemporary dining and wine programme keeps it relevant for an evening out.

Pubs and easy-going meals

The Claremont Hotel is the area’s most obvious historic pub destination. Its restored setting contains several distinct spaces: the Main Bar is geared towards a casual meal, a pint and watching the footy, while the Bay Lounge offers full table service and a more polished dining experience. The menu focuses on Western Australian produce, giving the venue enough range for both an uncomplicated pub visit and a longer meal.

The Hampden Hotel is another dependable neighbourhood option, built around relaxed meals, drinks and time with family or friends. Its positioning combines a contemporary eatery with an easygoing setting for casual drinks, lunch with colleagues, dinner with family and laid-back gatherings. A 4.5 rating from 399 reviews suggests it has made a strong impression with local diners.

These pubs serve different purposes from the area’s smaller restaurants. They are useful when the group has mixed expectations, when a meal needs to be straightforward, or when the plan includes drinks and conversation as much as the food. The Claremont Hotel offers the stronger historic identity; The Hampden Hotel leans into the everyday neighbourhood-pub role.

Coffee, breakfast and baking

Claremont has plenty of reasons to make the first stop of the day about coffee. Lc Caffé is a family-owned café established in 2018, with baked goods, sandwiches and other dishes prepared in-house each day. Its all-day menu covers breakfast and lunch, while smoothies and organic cold-pressed juices add alternatives to coffee. It is suited to eating in or picking up something to take away.

Cup & Co Claremont, at the Grove apartments on Airlie Street, keeps things simple with coffee, all-day breakfast, freshly made sandwiches and home-baked sweet and savoury treats. It is a practical choice for a quick coffee, an easy breakfast or something baked for later rather than a destination built around an elaborate menu.

In Mount Claremont, Deli Chicchi is a family-owned café focused on coffee, breakfast and lunch. Its food is made in-house with fresh, locally sourced ingredients where possible, the coffee uses the café’s own blend, and the menu changes with the seasons. Beans come from nearby roasters and produce is sourced from nearby farms whenever possible, so it is a good fit for people who value a local, changing café menu.

Mount Claremont Village Bakery is the straightforward answer when the priority is fresh bread, pastries, cakes or pies. Everything is made fresh each day, and the bakery also serves locally roasted Fremantle Gesha coffee. It works equally well for a quick pick-me-up, a sweet treat, a relaxed stop or food to share, with catering available for breakfast, morning tea and other gatherings.

FORM Café offers a different kind of coffee stop. It occupies a heritage railway building beside Claremont train station and is part of FORM Gallery, whose exhibitions and programmes focus particularly on Western Australian regional artists. Coffee is brewed by El Cabro, and the café provides a place to pause over a drink and something to eat while engaging with contemporary culture rather than simply passing through a standard café.

Drinks and nightlife

For a lively, crowd-pleasing bar, Varsity Nedlands sits on Broadway at Crawley, near the University of WA and Nedlands. It combines food, drinks and a relaxed, energetic atmosphere, drawing both locals and the nearby university crowd. It is suited to a meal, a drink or a more animated night out, particularly when the group wants a broad, familiar venue rather than a quiet cocktail setting.

Hygge Bar, on Mounts Bay Road near Crawley and Nedlands, is the more intimate-feeling alternative. Its name reflects the cosy Danish idea of “hygge”, and the venue is known for well-made drinks and a warm, characterful atmosphere. It is a good choice for a quality drink in a welcoming setting, especially when conversation matters more than volume.

Claremont Yacht Club adds a distinctly different drinking experience. Set on the Swan River at Freshwater Bay, it has a fully licensed bar, dining rooms, marina views and a boating-oriented clubhouse. The club describes its role as providing recreation, entertainment and social space for members and their friends, so access and arrangements are worth checking before making it the destination. For those who can visit, the appeal is settling in for a meal or drink while looking across the bay.

Planning your visit

Choose the precinct according to the kind of outing you want. St Quentin Avenue is useful for Vietnamese food and momos, while Bay View Terrace is the address for Izakaya Sumi. Mount Claremont offers The Village Social, Deli Chicchi and Mount Claremont Village Bakery, giving that area a concentrated neighbourhood feel. Near the station, FORM Café pairs coffee with the programme at FORM Gallery.

For a pub meal, compare the spaces and mood: The Claremont Hotel covers both casual Main Bar dining and more polished Bay Lounge service, while The Hampden Hotel is built around relaxed everyday gatherings. For drinks, consider whether you want the lively atmosphere of Varsity Nedlands, the cosiness of Hygge Bar or the water and marina setting at Claremont Yacht Club.

Menus, programmes and venue arrangements can change, particularly at Avalon, Steves and FORM Gallery, so checking directly before heading out is sensible. The area’s strength is its range: a quick bakery stop, an all-day café meal, a highly rated noodle house, a shared Japanese feast, a historic pub or a drink beside the river can all be part of a Claremont visit.

Local favourites in Claremont

• The Village Social
• Varsity Nedlands
• Hygge Bar
• The Momo's & More Cafe & Restaurant
• The Claremont Hotel
• Izakaya Sumi Claremont
• Deli Chicchi
• The Hampden Hotel

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Frequently asked questions

Where should I go in Claremont for a casual meal?

Huong Viet Noodle House is a strong choice for pho, noodles and Vietnamese classics, while The Momo’s & More Cafe & Restaurant is known for momos and satisfying casual food. The Claremont Hotel and The Hampden Hotel are useful pub options for relaxed meals.

Which Claremont cafés are good for breakfast or coffee?

Lc Caffé offers all-day breakfast, sandwiches, house-baked treats, smoothies and cold-pressed juices. Deli Chicchi focuses on coffee, breakfast and lunch in Mount Claremont, while Cup & Co Claremont offers coffee, all-day breakfast and home-baked items on Airlie Street.

Where can I find a drink with a riverside setting?

Claremont Yacht Club is set on the Swan River at Freshwater Bay, with a licensed bar, dining rooms, marina views and a boating-oriented setting. Check the club’s arrangements before visiting, as its social facilities are connected with members and their friends.

Is there a cultural stop to combine with coffee?

FORM Café is in a heritage railway building beside Claremont train station and forms part of FORM Gallery. Its coffee is brewed by El Cabro, and the gallery’s exhibitions and programmes particularly highlight Western Australian regional artists.