This is a great place to come for drinks if there’s only 2 or three people, but not the right place for bigger groups. The atmosphere was great and the service was friendly but I felt the food was over priced . There aren’t many(if any) other options for drinks in this area so it’s a good thing the swallow is open in Maylands!
Meryl S.
Place rating: 5 Subiaco, Australia
Hands down, the best bar in Perth. Great drinks, delicious food, gorgeous interior and the loveliest owners running the place. I can’t fault this place. It’s exactly what anyone could want from a small bar. Perfection!
Emma T.
Place rating: 3 Perth, Australia
A charming spot in downtown Maylands. The interior is cool with booths up cycled from old train carriages. I would recommend booking as there is not very much seating inside. As we didn’t book we had to sit outside which was pleasant enough. We went for brunch and there was a café style menu. I ordered a flatbread with mushrooms and cheese came out in a cute basket in a very European style. The service was a bit of a let down. We had to ask twice for coffees and when the waitress arrived she took the coffee order but failed to take the empty plates with her. Would give it another try if I was in the area.
Jen P.
Place rating: 4 Perth, Australia
My favourite small bar. My only wish is that they would introduce a vegan food option.
Kristy K.
Place rating: 5 Perth, Australia
We dropped by Swallow Bar to try their new Sunday brunch menu. Deliciously called ‘The Elizabeth David’($ 18.00), their omelette was piping hot when it arrived in front of us, folded with Gruyère cheese and sweet onions. There were two homely slices of fresh bread on the side drizzled with olive oil and a crunchy lettuce salad. It was a disarmingly basic dish — and yet it was so much more as we dove into it. The omelette was melt-in-your-mouth good. The cheese inside had melted to create a gooey but decadent dish — and I can easily say I don’t think I’ve ever had an omelette better. We also shared the Pancakes Amandine($ 18.00). Described as a little stack of pancakes with almond filling, strawberry and maple these looked pretty as a picture when they were placed down in front of us. I’m not going to lie… finding great pancakes isn’t easy. They’re usually not fluffy enough, often overly sweet and so laden with toppings that the actual favour is disguised. I wasn’t sure how Swallow Bar’s offering would pan out — especially when I saw the generous lug of maple syrup surrounding them and tumbling of fruit on top. But the taste test was definitely what counted, and so we both dived in with gusto. The pancakes were so soft inside, and while there was sweetness in the toppings, the almond filling had a lovely savouriness that countered each bite. I just loved how different this was to other pancake dishes I’ve tried — and can say this was the dish of the day for both of us! What great cooking and a gorgeous little hole in the wall offering for Maylands.
Claudia Z.
Place rating: 4 Perth, Australia
Love the décor Swallow! Very charming with the up cycled train carriage seat booths. Very cosy and intimate little hiding spot. Can imagine it being perfect for a romantic date night or catch up with a friend. Had some nibbles and bite to eat and it was decent, though kinda on the pricy side. It is a very small place, so if it’s a busy night you may get stuck in the hallway feeling a little claustrophobic. However, if you’ve snagged a booth, it’s def worth enjoying the feel of the place, esp if a good little jazz band is playing.
Stacey N.
Place rating: 5 Bayswater, Australia
Such a perfect little spot for a quiet glass of wine. The vibe is lovely because it’s more of an older crowd. Such a hidden neighborhood gem — right across from the train station too!
Mela S.
Place rating: 3 Perth, Australia
Picture a cosy, intimate dimly lit train booth with a cocktail or glass of vino in hand. that my friends is the feel of swallow bar located in maylands! Good cocktail selection and impressive wine list making it a perfect stop for a drink or two. Swallow also boasted an appetizing light snack, share platters and sweet treat menu which I’ll be returning for. good find!
Shireen S.
Place rating: 5 Leederville, Australia
Such a fabulous little bar with warmth and charm. A little French styled narrow train carriage bar with charming atmosphere and staff. Live music on a Thursday evening fills the bar quickly so be early to get a seat. The menu is divine with little plates of flavour that go well with your drink of choice. Always a pleasure to visit here.
Alex L.
Place rating: 5 Perth, Australia
A little vintage, retro with jazz tunes and a short, concise yet perfect food and drinks list for a small bar. Swallow is the hidden gem on Whatleys. Perfect for a catch up with a friend or two with cocktails and small plates to share. The donuts and the espresso martini were particularly good!
Daniel O.
Place rating: 4 Perth, Australia
Swallow bar is a great little venue and a much needed one in Maylands but beware you may not get a seat. It has train carriage seats along the wall that are always full so you might have to venture out the back to a more open area with views of the busy kitchen. The bar itself is french in style with the music to match and an excellent cocktail list. Live jazz music on Sundays is a great way to end the weekend in a relaxed atmosphere.
Susan M.
Place rating: 4 Perth, Australia
Very cute, very narrow and delicious cocktails! The seats are little train booths which is nice for something different(although the people sitting in them looked a bit squished). You would have trouble finding seats for a large group but it is perfect for a drink with your partner or a couple of friends. If you’re going for a cocktail, get the Tom Collins!
Alexa M.
Place rating: 3 Perth, Australia
Being new to Maylands, I was really keen to check this out in hopes of finding a regular hang out close to home. Although the décor is cute and the cheese is delicious, this place is just too small to become my new regular. I came with a friend at 5pm on a Saturday and although there were only around 10 people there, it felt very cramped. We could only get a table near the toilets and there was some pretty nasty smells! Booths inside looked much cozier, but it was pretty stuffy and warm. They seemed pretty understaffed(only one person in the kitchen!), which is why we were waiting 30 minutes for a cheese plate. The cheese was delicious, but for such tiny portions and such a long wait– not worth it :( Definitely have to give it up to them for the décor, and they did play Johnny Cash which gets big brownie points from me! Will definitely keep Swallow Bar in mind for special occasions, but I don’t think I could make this a weekly thing.
Josie B.
Place rating: 5 Perth, Australia
I park my car at Maylands train station a couple of times a week, and somehow it took until the weekend just gone for me to actually stop in. WOW. What a wonderful little bar for a late night glass of wine. My husband and I stopped in after seeing a show, and we couldn’t have chosen a better venue. Some guys were sitting at the bar talking to the bar tender, a group was out the back chatting, and we slid into a cosy and comfortable booth with two lovely glasses of red from their well-selected wine list. I KNOW some people cringe about Perthlings’ habit of comparing things to Melbourne, but this really did feel like a little slice of Melbourne in Perth, in all the right ways. I really look forward to heading there again, and trying some of their amazing sounding food next time!
David B.
Place rating: 4 Brisbane, Australia
Great fit out, interesting small(or in this case micro) bar. Booths made out of old train parts(complete with luggage racks above for your bags), low seats, and a tightly packed bar area all add to the ambiance. Small little outside area, probably can fit the same amount of people as inside. Swallow is good for groups of 4 or less in most cases. Selected wine range is great, had a few of them by the glass Saturday afternoon and enjoyed the company of those around. Beer list has a few of the usuals and a few lesser well know beers. Staff were attentive, and once we were comfortable, came past to check up on drinks, top up water, and smile every so often. The food we ordered was all delicious(prawns, almonds, croquettes, charcuterie). Swallow bar got busier as the afternoon-evening wore on, so it’s a good thing to get in early if you want to sit down(and with limited seats). A great example of a local small bar working well in the community(all of my group was withing walking distance from home!). Maylands needs another bar(or two) like this in the same area to compensate for the patronage that prefer to have a quiet drink or two with friends, not in a beer barn, but for those that are happier to spend a little more, in good company, in a venue just a hop, skip and jump away from home.
Andrew C.
Place rating: 4 Australia
Definitely on the classy side of cool micro bar in Perth — agree with Laura on the vibe and fit out so no additional comment from me needed there On the way to the airport to pick up a visiting friend we had some extra time so consulted the Unilocal app for rated bars on the way … not a huge selection out that way that isn’t a pub so thank you Unilocal for the suggestion of this urban hole in the wall. The beloved had a glass of the SSB and I opted for a small(but pricey) premium american style Pale ale from a new craft brewery in Melbourne — Temple — good stuff! No doubt we’ll be back when we are next in the area.
Rebel C.
Place rating: 4 South Fremantle, Australia
Well if I scored Swallow any less than a 4 you would be skeptical considering my many many check-ins. Quaint French 1920s décor is extremely warm and inviting — as is the very cool collection of records that grace the turntable. So far the service has been ok but not exceptional — perhaps this will improve with time. The food is so so yum, my only gripe is the portion size for the $$. Same with the wine. Seems standard in Perth to pay $ 11 – 15 for 150mL of wine. *sigh* Back to the positives though — welcome Swallow, Maylands has been gagging for a cool independent bar to open. You have answered our prayers to the beer gods.
Laura D.
Place rating: 5 Perth, Australia
So if you know me you’ll know that even if there was one art deco print or light-fitting in a bar it’s pretty much already scored 5 stars from me. However everything about Swallow Bar is fabulous. The small bar reminds me of a french café. The cute little booths inside are much like those you would find on an old European train. The paved courtyard out the back is also adorable, with little tables and seats and an undercover area where you can see the chefs working some magic with the food preparation. The cured meats and breads resting on the counter will ensure you order food even if you weren’t hungry when you walked in. I got the omelette and it was delicious! The menu has a retro European flavour. There’s a really great vibe at this place, lots of laughter and energy throughout the place for a somewhat suburban bar. The only downside is it is PACKED with people and very small. Hopefully the new bar buzz should die off soon and I can start coming more regularly and getting a booth.