The Village Bar Review

Review by Emma Chitty

I visited The Village Bar with a friend on a Saturday night around dinnertime. With easy parking and in a central location in Subiaco, the bar was tucked in a corner and quaint looking from the outside. The entrance, down a laneway, was very welcoming.

The bar was busy but still comfortable. There were a lot of places to sit and eat – which, in my hungry state was first on the priority list!

The venue was based around the large, L-shaped bar. On one side was a lounge area where the DJ resided, playing top 40 hits. We could still have a conversation, but it had to be quite a loud one.

On the other side of the bar was a combination of big group tables, and smaller bar tables. We sat at a bar table and got our hands on a menu pronto.

To my right was a cute little area with couch seats on one side of the tables, a fireplace (although it wasn’t on) and wooden oars in the corners. I’m unsure of the oars’ significance, but I liked them. The décor in general was nice and quirky without being overdone; the windows were covered in a leaves pattern and wooden chairs hung on the walls behind the bar.

The food was fantastic; the menu isn’t too expensive with light meals between $14 and $19.50 and mains from $19 to $35 for Barramundi. We shared the warm lamb salad ($19.50) salt and pepper squid ($16) and a starter bowl of grilled chorizo with lemon ($7). I thoroughly enjoyed everything we ate; it was well presented, quickly served and so yummy.

As far as drinks menus go I’m usually preoccupied with cider, and I was impressed by the ten choices! Pipsqueak on tap is always a plus, too. Glasses of champagne and wine vary from $7-$9 and tap beer is about $8 for a schooner. Ful strength bottled beer runs from $8-$10.50 and cider is $9-$14. Most of the cocktails were $16. The beer menu was vast and there are enough wines and cocktails for the menu to be diverse. Saturday nights are also $10 poptail nights! It’s what it sounds like – a cocktail with a popsicle for $10. I didn’t try it, but my goodness, it sounds good doesn’t it?

The crowd varied, from people around my age (21) to middle-aged groups. People seemed to keep to themselves and their group in general, although we did have a man leave his drink with us while he went to have a cigarette which was rather neighbourly. There were caps and sunnies on a couple of heads, and the girls were dressed up but not in a busting out of your dress way. People looked nice and friendly and like they were having a good, reasonably civilized time. And that’s what I like to see.

Overall, the Village Bar was somewhere I’d go back to for a bite to eat and a chat – the clientele was diverse, the food was good and the service was friendly and efficient. A welcoming, comfy and enjoyable night out – just be prepared to shout!



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A Second Review of The Village Bar

Review By Katherine Loughnan

Perth is in need of new and unique bars and The Village Bar delivers. With its green ‘village’ styled decor, it’s the type of place you can go to escape and unwind.

The Village Bar is the perfect venue for Friday after-work drinks and somewhere to kick off your weekend. Just like a village in a rural area, The Village Bar is situated on the outskirts of Subiaco. It’s not easy to spot but once inside, you’re glad you found it.

The Village Bar is not the first to make use of Hay Street’s The Village complex. Ess Bar used to occupy the corner spot and before that was Clancy’s Fish Pub and back in the day when my parents were the owners, Henry Africa’s was its name.

Still fairly new, The Village Bar is finding its feet. Sitting to the left of me were three old women having a glass of wine and to the right of me was a young girl celebrating her twenty-first birthday in the private room (a barricaded area to the side). This bar catered for an extremely broad age bracket. Consequently, many people stuck to the people they knew and mingling between patrons was rare.

In terms of furniture, the bar looked lost. With such variety from couches, booths, tables, high tables, chairs and stools, it didn’t blend. The bright white floor with patches of blue carpet looked odd and scrappy. The coloured leave patterned windows tried to contribute to the village theme but instead, they made the bar look cheap.

The Village Bar is so close yet so far from perfection. The waiters were extremely helpful and the food was delicious. Whether you’re feeling hungry or in the mood for a nibble, there’s something for everyone with prices ranging from around $7 to $28. My favourites were the hot chips and bread platter, which hit the spot. There are countless drinks on offer. The wine list was decent and reasonably priced. In terms of beer, there’s 15 to choose from so it’s hard not to find your personal favourite at The Village Bar.

In my honest opinion, you’ll either love The Village Bar or never go back. But it’s a place everyone should experience and tick off their list. As they say, ‘life is a garden, dig it.’ Next Friday night, pop into The Village Bar and see for yourself.

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