City hotspot Lil’s Rooftop and Bar, formerly Tiger Lil’s, ready to welcome back party people on January 31

When the first beer, wine or cocktail is poured at Lil’s Rooftop and Bar on Friday, January 31, the two-level city bar will officially be Hong Kong-owned Australian Venue Co’s 27th pub in Perth. However, the multi-million-dollar redevelopment eschews the cookie-cutter design and menus of the other 26 venues for a light and bright destination drawing inspiration from Miami to the Amalfi Coast of Italy. The 600-capacity bar on Murray City offers casual pub fare with a twist, plus plenty of summery cocktails, during the day before “pumping at night-time” in a nod to its former life as popular party spots Tiger Lil’s and Spirit Sound Bar. Previously owned by Graham Hardie, Tiger Lil’s closed during the pandemic and never reopened, before AVC acquired the property at 437 Murray Street in 2023. Lil’s venue manager Joel Woolfrey said the refurbishment has remained on schedule, despite the summer heat wave. “Two weeks out, it didn’t look like a venue but we got there in the end,” he said. “Lil’s is a great venue: brand new, good concept, lots of fresh colours, themes and food. “It’s not a typical AVC venue.” The quirky and colourful bar features an airy main area which leads to comfy back bar, Lil’s Hideout, while the open-air rooftop is sure to be popular on warm summer nights. The interior design came courtesy of local architect Kylee Schoonens and her team at Rothelowman. While the new-look venue had shaken off the kitsch vibes of Tiger Lil’s, Mr Woolfrey said Lil’s aimed to have a “fun personality” plus a “little bit of nostalgia”. The Mediterranean-inspired menu comes courtesy of executive chef Mark Zavone, a veteran of the Claremont Hotel, The Raffles, The Peninsula and other large-scale venues, and head chef Alex Baglins. The centrepiece of the food offerings at Lil’s are the pizzas made with long-fermented dough cooked in the Marana Forni rotary oven, which takes pride of place in the middle of the main bar. The rest of the menu features typical “elevated” pub fare with a few surprises, including the crispy halloumi bites, creamy confit garlic and white bean dip, and half shell scallops with nduja butter and sweet corn puree. Tiramisu is the “hero” of the dessert options, while Lil’s has a drinks list loaded with summery spritzes, agave and classic cocktails, plus 20 wines by the glass and up to a dozen beers on tap. Mr Baglins, who grew up in Margaret River before a six-year stint cheffing on super yachts such as True North, said Lil’s food is “light, easy and shareable”, and “colourful”. The pizza options include a huge “pizza sandwich” or calzone, made with prosciutto and provolone cheese, while “normal” pizzas boast an impressive puffed-up crust. “It’s just a little bit different,” Mr Baglins said of the calzone. “It’s something that’s easy to punch out. “I think it delves into something a little bit more fun that your usual pizza.” The chef is already enjoying his vibrant new workplace. “I love the fit-out,” the 34-year-old said. “I love the vibe. I love that they’ve kept some of the heritage in the Lil’s name.” Mr Baglins admitted that he was a regular at Tiger Lil’s back when it was popular with Perth’s party people. “If you worked in hospitality in Perth, you definitely came here,” he laughed. Lil’s is open seven days a week.