From Thursday to Saturday, there is no shortage of nightspots to visit in Perth - although occasionally it can seem as if there are more venues than punters. The most popular dance clubs are concentrated in Northbridge, Subiaco and Fremantle, friendlier epicentres for the over-30 crowd. Perth is home to a healthy indie rock scene and the 'craic' is good at several Irish pubs.

Some venues demand a smart standard of dress (which means no thongs (flip flops), vest-tops or shorts - the Aussie male uniform) and some have a cover charge. Pubs tend to be licensed from Monday to Thursday 1000-2400, Friday and Saturday 1000-0100 and Sunday 1200-2200. Bars and nightclubs keep later hours and are licensed for the entire time that they are open. Most clubs stay open until 0500 or later/earlier on Friday and Saturday. The minimum legal drinking age is 18 years.

Free entertainment weekly XPress (www.xpressmag.com.au) is the best resource when planning a night on the town, while Teknoscape (www.teknoscape.com.au) is a useful clubbing guide.

Bars: Lounge bars, where the emphasis is on sipping wine or cocktails from comfy sofas, abound in Perth. Hip venues include Base, corner of Lake and James Street and Must Winebar, 519 Beaufort Street, which has a chic atmosphere, a comprehensive wine list, great cocktails and smooth grooves. Luxe Bar, 446 Beaufort Street, Mt Lawley, is another cool, happening place. The polished wooden floorboards of the Varga Lounge, 169 James Street, Northbridge, continue to attract sophisticated drinkers, while The Moon & Sixpence British Pub, Murray Street, is a kitsch but popular hangout serving a wide range of Australian and international beers. The Duxton Bar, 1 St George's Terrace, offers civilised surroundings for a quiet cocktail. Sapphire Bar, 298 Hay Street, Subiaco, is a swinging place with hip DJs and a sophisticated clientele. A crawl of Fremantle pub bars, such as The Bog, 189 High Street, and Benny's, 10 South Terrace, is de rigueur when visiting this port town.

Clubs: In an effort to please everyone, Perth's nightlife consists of a number of entertainment complexes combining discos, bars and live music venues. The Globe, 393 Murray Street, unites a pumping techno area with a late-night bar featuring live bands. The Deen, 84 Aberdeen Street, Northbridge, boasts no less than six zones and four DJs, every night except Monday. When not featuring excellent local and international touring bands, Metropolis Fremantle, 58 South Terrace (www.metropolisfremantle.com.au), is a multi-level dance club. Rise, corner of Lake Street and James Street, Northbridge (www.rise.net.au), is serious about dancing, with a massive dancefloor and state-of-the-art sound system. But gay perennial Connections, 81 James Street, Northbridge (opened in 1972) still offers the best music and light shows in town and everyone, no matter what their orientation, seems to end up here.

Comedy: Perth has nurtured some of Australia's finest comedians. The famous Brass Monkey pub, 209 William Street, Northbridge (www.thebrassmonkey.com.au), is a Perth institution with handcrafted beers, food, music - and comedy on Wednesday nights. The Lounge Bar at the Hyde Park Hotel, corner of Bulwer Street and Fitzgerald Street, features comedy on Thursday nights. The Fremantle Hotel, corner of High Street and Cliff Street, is the venue for stand-up every Friday. Burswood Casino, Great Eastern Highway (www.burswood.com.au), hosts international touring acts.

Live Music: The Universal Bar, 221 William Street, Northbridge (www.universalbar.com.au), has live soul, funk or rock every night, as well as a suitably cool ambience. The Subiaco Hotel, 465 Hay Street (www.subiacohotel.com.au), hosts jazz on Wednesday and Saturday night; patrons can listen while enjoying bistro meals. The American-themed Mustang Bar, 46 Lake Street, Northbridge (www.mustangbar.com.au), offers country and western, rockabilly and big-band swing. There are frequent rock and pop gigs at Freo's Orient Hotel, 39 High Street, and Mojo's Bar, 237 Queen Victoria Street. Major rock groups and blockbuster shows are more likely to play at the Burswood Theatre or at the Burswood Dome (www.burswood.com.au).