On the corner of William Street and James Street in Northbridge, the Brass Monkey Hotel is one of those Perth venues you clock from a distance: a heritage-style façade, multiple levels, and a constant hum that says “this place is on” most nights of the week. People often pair the Brass Monkey with the word pokies when they’re planning a classic Aussie night out—drink, feed, watch sport, then settle into some machine time.
Here’s the key Perth-specific twist: Western Australia doesn’t run pokies in pubs the way many other states do. If you’re visiting from interstate, that single detail changes the plan. Brass Monkey delivers the pub part brilliantly (bars, rooftop, sport, late trading, food across different spaces), but pokies (electronic gaming machines) are essentially a casino-only play in WA—meaning your machine session typically belongs at Crown Perth (Burswood). You do the Northbridge leg at places like the Brass Monkey.
Below is a detailed, Perth-realistic look at Brass Monkey Hotel: how a pokies-focused night usually works at this location, what players say about the venue's vibe, and which nearby places are commonly mentioned when people search for pokies around Northbridge.
Brass Monkey is best thought of as a multi-level pub complex rather than a single bar. You’ll find different moods depending on where you land—street-facing people-watching spots, a main bar that flows into outdoor areas, a dedicated sports bar with serious screen coverage, and a rooftop that feels built for Perth evenings.
The venue also leans heavily into big-event viewing (especially combat sports), which matters because many punters build their “gaming night” around sport: early drinks, a fight card or match, then a late move.
Here’s how the main areas typically stack up.
Area | What it’s like | Best for | What to know |
Up There (upstairs bar & balcony) | Elevated, social, classic Northbridge people-watching | Catch-ups, pre-drinks, lighter food and rounds | Great for seeing the William/James St bustle without being in it |
Main Bar + courtyard flow | Old pub bones with multiple pockets to sit | A “proper pub” feel with meals and drinks | Easy to bounce between spaces without leaving the building |
Patriots Sports Bar | American-themed sports bar with extensive screen coverage plus booths | Live sport, UFC cards, groups, loud atmosphere | Often the loudest, most animated room—plan your seat if you want audio |
Rooftop Bar | Open-air energy with city outlook and big-screen presence | Sunset drinks, later sessions, celebrations | Weather matters; it can feel like a different venue up there |
Crouching Monkey (on top) | Asian-fusion dining and adventurous cocktails | A meal that feels like a destination, not “just pub food” | Good reset point before heading back into the louder zones |
If your goal is to play pokies in the classic “pub pokie room” sense, Perth operates differently from NSW, VIC, and QLD. In WA, the mainstream electronic gaming machine experience is concentrated at casinos rather than being spread across local pubs.
Why do people still search for “Brass Monkey pokies”?
Because travellers plan by habit. In many parts of Australia, a venue like this (multi-bar hotel, late hours, sport, food) would commonly also host a gaming room. In Perth, you instead do it as a two-part night:
Pokies session at Crown Perth (Burswood)
Pub-and-party session in Northbridge, with Brass Monkey as a top-tier option
This isn’t a downgrade—just a different layout for your night and your transport plan.
What you want | Best match in Perth | Where Brass Monkey fits |
Actual pokies (EGMs) | Crown Perth casino precinct | Pre- or post-session: drinks, meals, sport, rooftop |
Pub atmosphere with sports + late food | Northbridge pubs | Brass Monkey is a core contender |
A “one venue all night” plan | Often easier at Crown | Brass Monkey can still be all-night, just not for machine play |
A group night that mixes sport + bar hopping | Northbridge | Brass Monkey works as the anchor venue |
Most machine-focused punters visiting Northbridge do something like this:
Start at Brass Monkey for a solid feed and a couple of rounds (good for pacing and not jumping straight into gambling spend).
Move to Crown Perth for the dedicated gaming session.
Return to Northbridge for a late-night atmosphere, music, and a lively crowd.
That flow also supports responsible play: you set clear start/finish brackets around your machine time, rather than drifting.
A few sample plans (in Australian dollars) that match how locals and visitors often pace it:
Night style | Brass Monkey first | Crown session | Back to Northbridge | Typical spend bands (AUD) |
“Early doors” | Meal + 1–2 drinks | Short session | Optional | $60–$180 (excluding machine spend variability) |
Sport-led | Sports bar viewing + snacks | Session after the main card | Rooftop wind-down | $90–$250 |
Group celebration | Rooftop rounds + share plates | Short “just for a laugh” session | Late Northbridge loop | $120–$350 |
Budget-controlled | Water between drinks + main meal | Fixed cash-out rule | Head home | $50–$140 |
Even when people aren’t talking about pokies directly, the most useful feedback for a gaming-minded visitor is about service speed, comfort, crowd mood, and the ability to reset. Brass Monkey generally scores well on “variety under one roof,” which matters if your group splits between sport-watchers, cocktail drinkers, and people who just want a quieter corner.
Atmosphere and character: the heritage pub feel mixed with modern spaces.
Staff call-outs: multiple reviewers single out standout service from specific team members, which usually signals good floor management on busy nights.
Food comfort: classic pub favourites like fish and chips are mentioned, and people note they can settle in for a proper meal rather than just bar snacks.
Group friendliness: visitors report meeting up with large groups and still having a smooth time.
From a venue-design perspective, Brass Monkey works because it’s zoned. A pokies player (or any high-stimulation night-out type) often wants these three things:
A ramp-up zone (start calm, eat, chat)
A high-energy zone (sports screens, louder bar)
A decompression zone (rooftop breeze, slower drinks, conversation)
Brass Monkey offers all three without needing an Uber between bars. That’s exactly why it pairs so well with a separate Crown pokies session: you can keep the gambling component contained while still having a big, satisfying night around it.
Because Northbridge is packed with pubs, bars, and sports-friendly venues, many nearby venues appear in “pokies near me” searches. In Perth, treat those lists as night-out options first, and confirm the gaming reality second.
Here are a few places that commonly appear in the same conversation cluster:
Venue | Area | Why do people consider it | Best use in a pokies-themed night |
Northbridge | Multi-level, sport, rooftop, late energy | Anchor pub before/after Crown | |
Northbridge | Another pub option is close by | Alternate stop if your group splits venues | |
Nedlands | Pub setting outside the CBD | More suburban pub catch-up style | |
Burswood | Casino precinct with EGMs | The actual pokies session destination |
If you have time for only one venue and the priority is machines, Crown is the simplest call—then Northbridge if you still want atmosphere.
A lot of gambling harm (and a lot of bad next-day regret) starts with the same two triggers: playing hungry and drinking too fast. So even if you’re in Perth specifically for pokies, the Brass Monkey side of your night can be the part that keeps things enjoyable and controlled.
Brass Monkey’s dining approach is pub-forward (classic comfort food plus crowd-pleasers such as wings, ribs, pizzas, and shareable items). Patriots Sports Bar runs its own menu but stays in the same “sports-bar classics” lane. If you want a proper change of pace, Crouching Monkey is a destination-style Asian-fusion experience.
Eating option | Vibe | When it’s smartest |
Main pub menu across bars | Reliable pub classics and shareables | Before moving to Crown, or when regrouping late |
Patriots Sports Bar kitchen | Sport-friendly, casual, loud | During a long card or multi-match session |
Rooftop drinks + bites | Social, celebratory | Post-dinner or when your group wants sunshine/skyline |
Crouching Monkey | More “restaurant night” energy | If you want your meal to be the centrepiece |
Brass Monkey leans into live sport with purpose-built screen setups. Patriots Sports Bar is the main sports engine, featuring multiple screens, large screens, and private booths for a more controlled viewing experience. Elsewhere in the building, you’ll still find large-format viewing (including a very large screen on the rooftop side), which is useful when you want sport on in the background without sitting in the loudest room.
If your trip involves UFC or other major events, this is one reason Brass Monkey remains on the short list: it’s designed for groups that treat sport as the night’s main storyline.
Feature | Why it matters | Who it suits |
Multi-screen sports bar setup | You’re not fighting for one “best seat” | Groups, mixed-team viewers |
Private screening booths | Less chaos, better focus | Smaller groups, serious watchers |
Arcade games in the sports bar zone | Keeps non-sport mates entertained | Mixed groups, earlier sessions |
Rooftop + big-screen presence | Sport plus fresh air and movement | People who don’t want to be indoors all night |
Brass Monkey participates in pub+, a loyalty program used across a large network of Australian pubs. It’s free to join and is built around earning points from food and drink spend, with rewards unlocked once you reach specific point thresholds.
For visitors staying multiple nights in Perth, it’s worth considering, as it effectively turns your “supporting cast” spending (meals, rounds, snacks) into a small return—especially if Brass Monkey becomes your default meeting spot in Northbridge.
pub+ element | What it means in practice | Best tip |
Join the bonus reward | You may unlock an initial reward upon joining | Sign up before your first big night |
Points from food + drinks | Your regular orders count | Keep one person paying per round only if you’re comfortable with that dynamic |
Reward at 200 points | You unlock a “coin” style reward | Use it on a meal or a drink when you’re doing a longer session |
Member-only deals | Rotating offers | Ask staff what’s current so you don’t miss it |
If you’re arranging a larger night—birthday, bucks, work party—Brass Monkey offers dedicated, function-friendly areas, including a renovated ground-floor option and rooftop setups for celebrations. Patriots Sports Bar can also be positioned for group experiences (especially when sport is the reason everyone’s showing up).
A practical detail: group planning is where “pokies expectations” must be clarified early. If your group assumes pub pokies, correct that upfront and plan a Crown segment if machines are non-negotiable.
Space | Typical feel | Group size sweet spots |
William’s Bar (ground floor function space) | Semi-private with its own bar | Around 30–40 works well |
Rooftop Bar for functions | Big energy, great for celebrations | Best when the weather cooperates |
Patriots Sports Bar bookings | Sport-first group experience | Ideal around major events |
The venue sits right in Northbridge’s core, so it’s walkable from central Perth and easy to reach by public transport and rideshare.
It’s roughly a short walk (around half a kilometre). Northbridge is essentially Perth’s nightlife neighbour, so you’ll see plenty of foot traffic heading there on busy evenings.
Expect a trip of around 20 km into the city. By car, it’s a straightforward run; by public transport, it can take around an hour depending on connections.
Crown to Brass Monkey is roughly 6 km and commonly takes around 20 minutes by car, depending on traffic. That’s the key hop if you’re doing “pokies at Crown, pub at Brass Monkey.”
Start point | Approx distance | Typical time | Best mode |
Perth Underground Station | ~0.5 km | ~8 minutes | Walk |
Perth Airport (PER) | ~20 km | Varies (car vs PT) | Rideshare/taxi or public transport |
Crown Perth (Burswood) | ~6 km | ~20 minutes | Rideshare/taxi |
If you’re doing nights out in Perth, especially weekends:
Bring ID: venues are strict about under-18 access in licensed premises.
Budget in AUD: tap payments are normal; keep some cash only if you personally prefer it.
Hydration matters: Perth nights can be deceptively warm, and rooftop time accelerates dehydration.
Noise planning: if you want conversation, choose upstairs balcony-style areas earlier, then move into sports zones when you’re ready for louder energy.
And if pokies are part of your plan at Crown, set your limits before you start—time, spend, and a clear finish point—then treat Brass Monkey as the social bookend that makes the night feel like a holiday, not a grind.
Brass Monkey Hotel
William St & James St, Northbridge WA 6003, Australia
Phone: +61 8 9227 9596
Functions enquiries (email): functions@thebrassmonkey.com.au
Trading hours can vary by area and event, but a commonly listed pattern is:
Day | Commonly listed hours |
Mon–Thu | 11:00 am – 10:00 pm |
Fri–Sat | 11:00 am – 12:00 am |
Sun | 11:00 am – 11:00 pm |
In Perth, it’s best to assume pub pokies aren’t part of the standard offering, as they are in other states. Brass Monkey is a major pub complex for drinks, food, and sport; for a dedicated pokies session in WA, Crown Perth is the usual destination.
For electronic gaming machines in WA, the primary option is Crown Perth in Burswood, approximately 6 km from Northbridge.
Yes—Brass Monkey is excellent as the social core of your night: meet mates, eat properly, watch sport, do rooftop drinks, then head to (or return from) Crown for the machine session.
Patriots Sports Bar is the sport-first zone with heavy screen coverage and a lively, American-sports-bar atmosphere.
Yes. Brass Monkey participates in pub+, which lets you earn points on food and drinks and unlock rewards once you hit set thresholds.
From central Perth, it’s typically easiest to walk from the CBD/Perth Underground area or take a quick public transport hop, then walk the last few minutes into Northbridge.
