Crown Perth new hip hop speakeasy bar – 1520

Tucked away in Crown Perth’s brand-new Urban Food District and only accessible with a secret passcode once found, you’ll find an intimate late‑night bar that is a love letter to hip hop culture that runs 50+ years deep.

Named after 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx, the birthplace of hip hop, this intimate late‑night bar is the perfect hideout for those looking for something a bit different that captures the feeling of that original basement jam: raw, unfiltered, and effortlessly cool.

Inside, the space feels lived‑in and unapologetically relaxed. Think inviting worn leather chairs, slightly wrinkled menus, and a soundtrack driven by hip hop in its purest form. A turntable DJ spins classics without rhyme or reason – no clean edits or polish, just beats, bars and bass as they were meant to be heard.

The cocktail list follows the same philosophy, pairing hip hop inspired names with bold, flavour driven combinations. Standouts include ‘Beets By Dre’, a bright mix of gin, beetroot and rosemary, the smoky bourbon led ‘The Herc’, and ‘Henny’d Up’, a fruit forward cognac cocktail.

The décor leans heavily into nostalgia without feeling staged: textured finishes, muted tones, subtle nods to old‑school flyers and record culture, and a room that feels cool without trying too hard. It’s a space designed for late‑night conversations, strong cocktails, and feet up on the table – a place where the atmosphere does the talking. 1520 is for those who appreciate hip hop as culture and for anyone drawn to hidden rooms, secret bars and venues that feel discovered rather than advertised. If you’re looking for one of Perth’s most authentic speakeasies you’ve just found it.

1520 COCKTAIL MENU

The music, décor and drinks all orbit the genre’s history. Nowhere is that storytelling more playful than on the cocktail menu, where each drink quietly nods to an artist, lyric or cultural moment that helped shape hip hop over the past five decades.

Some of the hip hop references hidden in the cocktail list include:

Beets By Dre: A bright mix of Tanqueray gin, beetroot, lime, rosemary, honey and tonic that riffs on Dr. Dre and his cultural impact. Fresh, earthy and aromatic, it is one of the menu’s most vibrant pours and is also available as a non-alcoholic option.

Notoriously Juicy: A tropical vodka cocktail combining Cîroc, Licor 43, pineapple and passionfruit, topped with sparkling wine. The name nods to The Notorious B.I.G. and his iconic track Juicy, one of hip hop’s most celebrated anthems.

Back to School Jam: Built on Johnnie Walker Black Label with Disaronno, cinnamon, lemon and black walnut bitters, this richer cocktail references the famous “Back to School Jam” hosted by DJ Kool Herc in 1973 that helped spark the genre.

Henny’d Up: A fruit forward blend of Hennessy VS, strawberry, cranberry, coconut and lime. The drink acknowledges the long standing relationship between hip hop culture and cognac, a spirit frequently referenced in lyrics and nightlife.

Rum DMC: Two rums, Bumbu Original and Captain Morgan Spiced, layered with Aperol, Campari and tropical fruit in a playful nod to Run-D.M.C., one of the genre’s most influential acts.

Shake It Like A Polaroid Picture: A colourful vodka cocktail with Ketel One, Midori, muscat grape, citrus and mango referencing the instantly recognisable lyric from Hey Ya!.

Together, the drinks form a subtle timeline of hip hop culture, moving from the Bronx block parties of the 1970s through to the global pop crossover moments that followed. At 1520, the cocktail list is more than a menu. It is a quiet tribute to the artists, songs and stories that shaped one of the most influential cultural movements in modern music. Non-alcoholic beverage options also available.