In a city that has always looked to the ocean for its identity, Gibney is the restaurant that makes the most of that relationship. Positioned on Marine Parade at the corner of Gibney Street in Cottesloe — Perth's most glamorous beachside suburb — it occupies a purpose-built venue with two hundred square metres of alfresco terrace, panoramic views stretching from South Cottesloe to Rottnest Island, and an interior designed by Rezen Studio that balances beachside warmth with genuine finesse.
The design alone is worth remarking on. Stainless steel mirrors evoke sunshine on rippling water; oversized Kooij pendants glow over the bar like lighthouse beacons; floors of flame-finished natural stone echo undulating sand. The main dining room features banquette seating framing an open kitchen, where chefs perform directly in front of guests. White tablecloths and linen napkins signal the level of aspiration without tipping into stuffiness. This is a place designed to feel extraordinary without making you feel overdressed for being near the beach.
The menu draws inspiration from old-world brasseries and classic steakhouses, filtered through a rigorously Western Australian lens. Shark Bay clam spaghetti. Fremantle swordfish. Pacific oyster kilpatrick with preserved chilli and smoked lardo. Western Rock lobster with curried buckwheat and vadouvan butter. The kitchen resists unnecessary complication — flavours are layered with care, and the produce is always the loudest voice in the room.
The caviar bar — a permanent fixture in the lounge — is among the most theatrical gestures in Perth dining. The wine list runs to exceptional depth, with particular strength in Australian coastal whites and Burgundy. The tableside smoked Negroni made with gin, honeycomb vermouth, and coffee-stained Campari has become one of Perth's most Instagrammed drinks, and it tastes as good as it photographs.
George Kailis, whose family name is synonymous with Western Australian seafood, conceived Gibney as a destination-grade restaurant that would match the drama of Cottesloe Beach with equally dramatic food and service. That the restaurant has won WA's top dining award two consecutive years — a first in the awards' history — suggests the ambition has been met.