Is it just us, or is summer taking its sweet little time arriving this year? We’re busting for summer, warm evenings spent unwinding over after-work drinks and al fresco meals.

Lucky for us all, the doors have opened to the perfect summer hangout. The Aviary, a sophisticated two-storey restaurant and bar in the centre of the CBD will have its official launch tomorrow.

Walking through the front door, you get a taste of the venue’s unique style. Aviaries and birdcages hang from the entrance, hummingbird carpet adorns the floors and the walls are wrapped in custom-made wallpaper.

With room for over 600 guests, The Aviary offers something for everybody. On level one is The Birdcage restaurant and circular lounge bar, whose floor-to-ceiling windows overlook Murray Street Mall and William Street below.

Executive Chef Telina Menzies, who previously oversaw the kitchens of hotspots The George and The Byrneleigh, has designed simple, seasonal meals from locally sourced ingredients. Like us, you’ll be yearning to try the ginger and nori fried squid, porcini linguini or pea and broad bean risotto.

While the wine list offers affordable, albeit predictable choices, it’s the bird-inspired cocktail list that will have your mouth watering. Try the Woodpecker, a concoction made of Bombay gin, fresh orange and orange blossom water. Then there’s the Pink Flamingo combining Tanqueray, Cointreau, absinthe, passionfruit and Alize. Or how about the drink that is sure to become a summer staple, the Cockatoo Palace with gin, pomegranate, mint, limes and tonic.

After dinner, a visit to the vibrant and playful outdoor rooftop bar called The Nest is in order. Offering a bird’s eye view of Perth’s ever-changing skyline, The Nest is an open-air rooftop oasis complete with bowling green, trees, AstroTurf and decking.

Surely, there’s no better place to hang out under the stars this summer.

Where: Level 1, 140 William St, Perth
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am – midnight | Sun 11am – 10pm
Details: theaviaryperth.com.au