The Galway Hooker

The west coast is home to plenty of drinking establishments with views of the ocean. There is, of course, the Cottesloe Beach Hotel. Little Creatures in Fremantle is another longstanding waterside favourite, while The Shorehouse in Swanbourne is a dangerously easy place to lose entire afternoons.

The Galway Hooker, a 380-person Irish pub from the Ark Group (Market Grounds, The Peach Pit) is one of the newest members of the bar-with-a-view club. But it looks and feels like it’s been around for a long time. The wood-heavy aesthetic – built in Ireland and shipped to Australia – is spot-on, right down to the presence of a snug, semi-private room. Live music is a prominent part of the entertainment line-up.

There’s also a strong Irish accent to the drinks list, starting with an obsessive focus on pouring a perfect pint of Guinness. If you ask him, Ark Group bar manager James Connolly can talk at length about the quality of the product, the dedicated coldroom for stout-style beers, and the bar’s fastidiously cleaned tap system – but he’s happy to let the beer (and its drinkers) do the talking.

Irish whiskeys are another focus, with plenty of older, lesser-seen bottles on offer. All the spirits can be enjoyed neat or in an Irish coffee. Irish gins are also available, as is a menu of pub staples such as black pudding, pork sausages and fish’n’chips. On weekends, a full Irish breakfast – including optional Berocca add-on – is served.