Northbridge

There's any area in Perth known as Northbridge. Now as newcomers to Perth, we have been checking areas where we can rent for a few years. Having done some online research back in the UK, we shortlisted Northbridge as potential area to live as it was relatively central, had some new build swanky apartments at relatively good rental rates.

Now, it seems that 'locals' have a different view about Northbridge. I want to put my thoughts down about Northbridge before I live here long enough to become a 'local' and hold the same 'local' views.

Our first encounter that Northbridge is a 'no no' area was with the taxi driver the first night we landed in Perth. As you do with taxi drivers, you have a general conversation with them. Asking the taxi driver what he thought of Northbridge as an area to live, he first evaded answering the question, and later when pursued with the same question - he politely mentioned that that was a place of 'partying'. Now we didn't realise how bad a reputation Northbridge had, as we later realised that the taxi driver was not simply being polite, but actually turning his nose up on this by not even wanting to discuss this topic.

So the reputation for Northbridge is not just a party area where everything kicks off at closing time, but also a socially deprived area where the working class and Maoris live, where drugs are prolifertate - ok this being Perth, we are talking about Crystal Meth here.

However, Chris and I have walked through Northbridge quite a few times now, and we absolutely love Northbridge - ok not enough as a place to live - granted, this is the loci where pubs and clubs congregate, but there is a real vibe to the area.

Our first encounter to Northbridge was on our first evening in Perth. As mentioned before, Northbridge is very close to the Central Business District, so it's not hard to find yourself wandering into Northbridge if you're exploring Perth for the first time.

On entering Northbridge, we found this to be a young, quite hippy area, where you can imagine back packers coming here, or arty students. Now, if Chris and I were 5 - 10 years younger, we would have loved this place. Being in our mid 30s where we don't fall into the too young, nor too old camps - we actually loved the vibe of the area.

You'll also find Chinatown in Northbridge where there are a lot of Chinese/Japanese/Korean and other oriental restaurants and shops. If you wander pass Roe Street, you'll see a hawkers market where there are lots of food stalls selling anything from Chinese to Indian food, and you can get a good meal here for a little over $10.

Further along, you'll pass a few pizza, pasta (Western) food places and a few good bars and pubs - not to forget a good Irish bar whereever you go - Rose O'Grady's. There's also a square with a big plasma TV where people congregate to watch the latest footie match outside.