Santini Bar and Grill

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Where Italian tradition meets Western Australian produce

Santini Bar & Grill sits on the first floor of 133 Murray Street, bringing a Sorrento-inspired aesthetic and an unambiguously Italian-Australian kitchen to the heart of Perth. The room channels Mediterranean warmth — think the kind of atmosphere where aperitivo slides naturally into a long dinner — while the cooking stays firmly rooted in WA's own land and seasons.

The kitchen's philosophy is direct: a Mediterranean foundation soaked in local love. Perth produce is close to the team's hearts, and that commitment shows in dishes that feel both familiar and quietly original. The signature squid ink risotto is served tableside — a theatrical touch that has been on the menu since the beginning. Cacio e pepe clam pizza nods to Roman tradition while doing something genuinely its own, and the 1988 Tiramisu — espresso, mascarpone crème, and what the team cheerfully describes as "a whole lotta booze" — has become an institution. Rigatoni arrives dressed in basil and cavolo nero pesto, brightened with lemon, crowned with stracciatella and a dusting of pangrattato: Italian-Australian cooking at its most considered.

The team and the recognition

Culinary Creative Lead Nic Wood and Executive Chef Jake Lynch lead the kitchen, and the accolades that have followed reflect consistent, serious work. Santini was named Restaurant of the Year at the West Australian Good Food Guide Awards in 2019, has taken the same honour at the AHA Accommodation Awards for Excellence in 2022, 2024 and 2026, and has earned two stars from the WA Good Food Guide. The wine programme carries a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence — recognition that places the list among the more ambitious in the country, and one reason wine pairing is a genuine draw here.

From breakfast to the bar

The offering spans the full day. Breakfast runs every day of the year from the Grill, open to all guests without a room key required. Lunch arrives on Thursdays and Fridays. Dinner is where the room truly comes alive — the grill fires up, the pasta bowls arrive, and the evening, as Santini puts it, escalates from dinner to something more spiritual at the bar.

Seasonal events punctuate the calendar: a Truffle Adventure Wine Dinner with Leeuwin Estate brings five courses of WA black-gold matched to Art Series wines, and the Aperitivo Hour runs Monday to Saturday from 5pm to 6pm. Private dining is available for those who want the full experience on their own terms.