Perth’s Lalla Rookh to close in December after 14 years
The Italian restaurant and wine bar’s team cited rising costs, changing lunch trade and an inability to reach a lease agreement.
Lalla Rookh will hold its final service on 23 December 2026, ending 14 years in Perth’s CBD. The team behind the basement restaurant and bar beneath St Georges Terrace announced the closure on Instagram.
In a statement, the team said it had been monitoring market conditions for 18 months as the venue’s lease expiry approached. Extensive discussions had not produced an agreement that reflected the commercial conditions facing the business, it said.
The team attributed pressure on the venue to several factors. It said working from home had permanently altered lunchtime trade, while cost-of-living pressures had reduced customer spending. Wages, superannuation, produce and utility costs had also risen significantly, it said, describing those pressures as industry-wide.
The Italian restaurant and wine bar opened in 2012, with a courtyard and lounge among its spaces. Before closing, the team plans to stage special events and return favourite dishes to the menu. Reservations remain open for its remaining months of service.
