The Cork & Bottle

On so many vacuous ‘things that real men should do’ lists a popular requirement is to be a regular at one least one bar. As I sit here on a black tub chair slowly drinking my Pirate Life Double IPA I’m considering that everyone should be a regular at one bar. A penis shouldn’t be required. It has nothing to do with being a ‘real man’ whatever that is.

I’m happy to say I’m fast becoming a regular at a new social den whose name unsurprisingly mirrors the title of this piece. The Cork & Bottle has only been open for a few months and I really want to get behind this place. I’ll endeavour to explain just what it is that I love about it without gushing too much.

The ambience is wonderful. The decor seems to stride eclectic and refined. It’s not so much hipster beard as quirky and I know it. There is an upside down scull imbedded in the roof, three white bird cages swing in the gentle breeze. The chairs are comfy.

The wood floor looks like it’s been here forever. The long bar is confident, its new but it doesn’t try to hide that. They have proper pint glasses. No branding. Quality wine glasses. No branding. The menu covers are quality. They are not branded. Also, the chairs are comfy but I might have mentioned that already?

In Perth I’ve become accustomed to looking over at the beers on tap and cringing. It’s usually a painful row of well-known labels all of them ordinary. There is not one – not one bog standard we serve it because we sold out to the big guy’s beer on the tap at the Cork & Bottle.

The wine list doesn’t disappoint either. It’s just as variable as the beer list. It’s also really impressive that such a small venue has put so many wines on by the glass. I would talk about the scotch list, but to do so would almost certainly result in movement in my trouser area. I have to walk out of here. If I talk about the scotch list, I could probably stand up and dance with myself.

There is a proper kitchen adjacent to the bar. It delivers proper food. So many pubs in Perth deliver pub grub food at five star prices. The Cork & Bottle delivers first rate food at old school pub prices. The Beef and London Porter pie is flavoursome, filling and twelve dollars. 

I could go on and on. Instead I’ll conclude by encouraging you all to head on down to the Cork & Bottle to check the place out for yourselves.