The Ezra Pound Review

Review By Hamish Hastie

'Laneway Bar' is a buzz term in Perth nowadays. In an effort to portray the city as an enjoyable place to stay with a bunch of cool places to go out (read: 'Melbournise') liquor licences have been plentiful for small venues catering to a crowd wanting quiet drinks in an urban setting. Just as poetic as the famous poet after whom this place was named but thankfully not as anti-semitic, Ezra Pound is a welcome addition to the sometimes infamous Northbridge.

Seemingly custom built for the after work crowd, the bar here offers a range of drinks you'll be hard pressed to find anywhere else (e.g. Carlton Draught King Browns in a brown paper bag). I paid more than I would've liked ($12) for a 'gourmet' cider and the other drinks were maybe a dollar or two too expensive but it doesn't really matter as you're not buying them in bulk; it's not that kind of venue.

When I mentioned 'laneway bar' I literally meant it. It is actually an unsuspecting Northbridge lane. You can sit outside in the skinny laneway or venture inside into the equally skinny but much more intimate surrounds of Ezra's interior. With old church pews as seats and virtually non-existent lighting, you'll feel at one with god while downing your bevvy. To go with its 'too cool for school' vibe, most of the walls have cool street art covering them - something to look at, at the very least.

The decor and atmosphere of this place can be a bit pretentious at some times and unfortunately this has seemed to bring a mob of girls with short hair and a horde of guys with square rimmed glasses and skinny legged jeans. These people may annoy you but at least they keep quiet. You can take advantage of this and be boisterous and crude while enjoying their horrified reactions.

Music is whatever the manager choses. I didn't mind the jazzy tunes cranking; it was a bit loud for a bar but you get over it. You aren't there to listen to music anyway. Enjoying the drinks selection and chill-banging with friends is the ethos here and it delivers with ease. If you're stumped on a Friday or Saturday night for a place to start out, give the Ezra a go. Get there early though because it is popular and lines are the biggest buzz kill.

Make a Function Enquiry