NOW EXPERIENCING:The Corner Dairy
Tuesday: 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Phone
No phone
Website
thecornerdairy.com.au
Instagram
@thecornerdairy

Read time 3 Mins

Posted 19 Jan 2023

By
Max Veenhuyzen


The Corner Dairy in Perth is a neighbourhood favourite

A high-energy neighbourhood bar, The Corner Dairy has a considered beer list and it dishes up some of Perth's best bar food while retaining the easy-going spirit you expect from a local.

People enjoying at Corner Dairy
Why you goOur suburbs deserve a better class of neighbourhood bar, and forward-thinking publicans are giving it to them. In Doubleview, a family-friendly hub next to Perth’s popular Scarborough Beach, the go-getters are brothers Tom and Sam Hart, residents who also wanted a good local. Their big small-bar idea was The Corner Dairy, a place with all the elements of a good night out – interesting drinks, a lively atmosphere, familiar flavours cooked with care – served in a relaxed setting in tune with Doubleview’s coastal vibe. Mission accomplished.
Why you stayYes, it’s loud, but that’s to be expected from a predominantly local crowd that feels right at home. Although the look of this airy, whitewashed space is undoubtedly polished, The Corner Dairy’s default setting is casual. Both the al fresco and indoor bar areas have a combination of larger tables and couple-appropriate nooks. Inside, bifold windows bring the sunshine in, while surf magazines and graphic novels line the walls, and a TV screens the footy. Everyone here is in good spirits – including the cheery surfer-cool staff keeping the place humming.
The popular outdoor seating area at Corner Dairy in Perth
Bar counter at Corner Dairy
What drink to orderIs it predictable for a neighbourhood bar near the coast to focus on beer? Maybe, but The Corner Dairy’s beer selection is no colour-by-numbers affair. Management likes to rotate what’s on tap, with everything from the low-alcohol Wildflower Organic Table Beer to a formidable 16% barley wine among the offerings (one tap, however, is strictly for Swanny D, the local name for the everyman thirst-quencher Swan Draught). The packaged beer range is similarly diverse. The bartenders serve predominantly classic mixed drinks such as Aperol Spritz, Espresso Martini and an all-Australian Negroni. Fun, new-school wines, meanwhile, chime with the bar’s easy-going spirit.
What to pair it withWhile chef James Cole Bowen might have a strong fine-dining background, his cooking is free of fluff yet big on flavour and zippy thinking. Mayo flavoured with charcoal brings surprising smokiness to beef tartare toast – just add a juicy, chilled red for instant happiness. House-made ricotta cheese crowned with sweet turmeric pickles will please both vegetarians and chardonnay drinkers (and, indeed, chardonnay-drinking vegetarians). The kitchen also knows when to play a straighter bat: hot chips with chicken salt and aïoli is the definition of comfort snacking.
Why we love itHigh-fives to team Corner Dairy for creating a welcoming space – or, more accurately, spaces – that reflects how Perth likes to eat, drink and socialise. Got a dog? Pets are welcome outside. In the market for a snack but could be persuaded to turn a few plates into a meal? The menu lets you dine however you like (but if you’re planning a lunch or dinner, definitely make a booking – those walk-in tables get snapped up fast during primetime). While the food and drinks are deeply considered, The Corner Dairy still retains that casualness you’ll find in any good local. Outgoing and accommodating floor staff work hard to make sure everyone feels like they’re part of the party.
Bar area at Corner Dairy
Regular’s tipWant to add a little more of The Corner Dairy to your diet? The space operates a coffee window every morning slinging hot drinks, baked goods and specials such as a restorative cheese toasties. Speaking of bread, don’t miss the sourdough, either via the tartare toast or as a standalone order for mopping up plates. The bread is baked on the same street by tiny neighbourhood bakery Bread Bros and can be bought from The Healthy Bunch, a grocer directly opposite the bar over Scarborough Beach Road.
Who to takeDoubleview isn’t what you’d call a destination suburb, but following the opening of The Corner Dairy in 2021, more people have set course for the 6018 postcode. If the occasion calls for quiet and somewhere conducive for a deep and meaningful, this might not be the place for you – at least if you visit on the weekend. But if you’re rolling with a group of buddies and want to hook into of-the-moment eats and drinks somewhere happening, you’re in for a good time. Welcome to the (West Australian) neighbourhood bar circa 2023.