Perth ranked top place to visit by NYT

The New York Times has ranked Perth number nine on a list of 52 places to visit in 2014, praising the city's new range of restaurants and small bars and the "up-and-coming neighborhoods" of Northbridge and Mount Lawley.

"Perth, the capital of Western Australia, has long been feted for its beaches, laid-back vibe and Aboriginal heritage, but lately Australia’s fourth-largest city is exhibiting the signs of a trendy transformation," Times reporter Baz Dreisinger said.

The report commends recent additions to the city's food and wine market including The Old Crow, The Stables Bar, Print Hall and Jamie's Italian, while also applauding the revamped Crown Perth complex and its Nobu and La Vie Champagne Lounge restaurants and the 40-hectare Riverside project in East Perth.

It also features a video of a child playing at Jeppe Hein's Water Labyrinth installation at Forrest Place in the city.

Perth is the only Australian city featured in the list, which is topped by Cape Town, Christchurch and North Coast California.