Miss Perez has always been a place designed for slowing down. Beneath Stirling’s oak trees, diners come to sit, talk, and stay longer than planned, a rhythm the venue has quietly perfected over more than a decade in the Hills.
Now, the much-loved kitchen and bar has changed hands.
At the end of November, ownership officially passed from Hannah Maher to chefs and hospitality operators Chetan Mattu and Jimmy, marking the end of a six-year era and the beginning of a carefully considered transition.
Maher, who stepped up from manager to owner in 2019, guided Miss Perez through the uncertainty of the pandemic and into a period of strong local loyalty. When she announced the sale, the response was immediate, with long-time customers praising not just the food, but the warmth of the space and the team behind it.
“From manager to owner, this place honestly became family,” Maher shared on social media. “I couldn’t have done it without my incredible team, loyal customers and amazing suppliers who kept it all thriving.”
For Mattu, Miss Perez had been in the back of his mind for years. Alongside Jimmy, he runs Dawn to Dusk Cafe in Newton and Bricks and Stones in Unley, but the Hills were always the long-term goal.
“I’ve been in this industry for more than 15 years, and I always wanted to have my own restaurant up here,” he says. “Miss Perez stood out straight away — the location, the versatility, the way it serves the local community.”
Part of the appeal is how the space works. It’s not somewhere you drop in and out of.
“Dawn to Dusk is modern Italian, very relaxed,” Mattu says. “Bricks and Stones is fast-paced — it’s a local favourite in Unley. But Miss Perez is different. People come here to eat, chat, and sit for a long time. It’s calm, welcoming, not noisy. Tourists love it because of the setting, and locals treat it like a second living room.”
For now, not much has changed. The team has stayed on, the room feels the same, and the menu still moves between Latin American, Spanish and Australian influences. Shared plates, burgers (including the cult Perez Burger), Spanish-leaning drinks and Adelaide Hills wines are all staying, plus a little more to come.
“Miss Perez has always been about different cuisines under one roof,” Mattu says. “Moving forward, we want to introduce more exotic seafood and continue pairing dishes with local wines.”
A few decor updates are also planned, and there’s a growing focus on outdoor events, including winery collaborations, weddings and private gatherings that make the most of the setting.
Timing-wise, the handover lines up neatly with a busy stretch ahead. The Santos Tour Down Under’s Stage 5 will pass directly out front again this summer, and after winning Best Dressed Restaurant during last year’s race, the team is quietly hoping to take the title back.
But for Mattu, the Hills community will shape what comes next.
“The welcome we’ve received locally has been overwhelming,” he says. “We’re excited to give back and grow with the community.”
As Maher steps away, Miss Perez looks much the same as it always has. Leafy, relaxed, familiar. But look a little closer, and you’ll notice the page turning, without losing what made people stay in the first place.
Miss Perez Stirling changes hands
Where: 2 Druid Avenue, Stirling
When: Breakfast & Lunch daily ’til 3pm, Dinner Tues – Sat
@missperezkitchen
