WHERE TO DRINK & DINE WHILE GOING TO JOONDALUP FESTIVAL

DINNER & SHOW: NAME A BETTER DUO – WE’LL WAIT!

One of the best things about Joondalup Festival is that it doesn’t live in just one place.

From harbours to parks, galleries and bowling alleys, the festival pops up across the northern suburbs – turning familiar spots into stages, galleries and gathering places. Which means planning your evening can be half the fun!

Whether you’re heading to a glowing lakeside installation, a spectacle in park or an immersive performance, there are plenty of places nearby to grab dinner, drinks or a quick bite before your show.

Here’s how to turn your festival outing into a full night out.

Whitfords Shopping Centre

Dinner and a show with Guttered

For something a little unexpected, Guttered transforms the bowling alley at iPlay Whitfords into an immersive contemporary dance performance.

Before the show, head upstairs to The Piazza dining precinct where there are plenty of options for a pre-performance bite. Whitfords Brewing Company is a great pick for craft beers and hearty pub fare, while casual spots like Grill’d, Varsity, Bangkok Brothers and Taste of Italy will sort you out (and then some).

Whitfords Brewing Co

Joondalup Contemporary Art Gallery

Art, Bowie and the Night Markets

Planning to see A Day with David, the intimate photographic exhibition capturing David Bowie’s visit to the Gugging Psychiatric Clinic? Saturday evenings are a particularly good time to visit.

That’s when the Joondalup Night Markets pop up just next door in the Lotterywest car park, running every Saturday from 4:30pm to 8:30pm during the festival. Grab dumplings, tacos or loaded fries from one of the food trucks before heading into the gallery – which stays open on Saturdays until 7pm for the exhibition. Or do it the other way around: Bowie first, street food second!

Joondalup Night Markets

Mullaloo Beach – Tom Simpson Park

Beachside magic with The Whale

The giant interactive puppet The Whale is landing at Tom Simpson Park, just steps from Mullaloo Beach – which makes this one of the festival’s most scenic outings.

Arrive early for sunset drinks or dinner nearby. Swell Mullaloo Beach is a local favourite for oceanfront dining and cocktails, while Mullaloo Beach Hotel offers classic pub meals and sweeping coastal views. Prefer something casual? You can’t go past a classic fish and chips from Mullaloo Fish Bar and enjoy the sea breeze before heading over to help bring the giant whale to life.

Swell Mullalloo Beach

Telethon Community Cinemas (ECU Joondalup)

Picnic under the pines

The beautiful Telethon Community Cinemas at ECU Joondalup host two festival experiences this year: The Story of Edith Cowan, a multimedia concert celebrating Western Australia’s pioneering political figure, and the sold-out Mamma Mia! Immersive cinema event.

Set beneath tall pine trees with festoon lights overhead, the venue is perfect for a relaxed outdoor evening. Nearby Joondalup eateries like Varsity Joondalup are great for burgers and casual pre-show dinners or to pick up some takeaways on your way in. Or eliminate all the effort by preordering a Domino’s pizza for on-the-night collection at the venue – how’s that for ease? Order via the Mamma Mia Immersive event page.

Varsity Bar

Sir James McCusker Park, Iluka

Lakeside wandering with Crystal PeopleIf you’re visiting Crystal People – the haunting installation of glowing figures floating across the lake at Sir James McCusker Park – consider pairing it with dinner or drinks nearby before your stroll.

Currambine’s shopping precinct is only a couple of streets away and home to an array of delish options like The Cray (seafood), Milky Lane (big burgers), Il Locale (perfect pizzas), The Pipers Inn or Carrumbine Bar & Bistro (pub classics), and Ryu Korean & Japanese. A little further towards the coast you could always pop into The Iluka, Bar Ole or Sistas Burns Beach Cafe – talk about spoilt for choice!