The best restaurants in Fremantle
Sure, sure – an afternoon breeze is alright, but we reckon the real Freo Doctor might in fact be a glass of vino and a meal at one of these eateries.
Vin Populi
There are certain openings that fly under the radar, and others that become the talk of not just the Perth Is OK! office, but the whole darn town. From the same team as the also excellent No Mafia and Balthazar, Vin Populi has been one of 2023’s early standouts – and the pumping dining room is a testament to the good word travelling like wildfire. Nestled into Freo’s historic West End, pop by for afternoon antipasti or a late night negroni or luscious bowl of pasta.
11 High Street, Fremantle
Bread in Common
Bread in Common has become one of the most reliable dining experiences in Freo – always quality, always cosy. We’ll never go past the lamb ribs, but the seasonal menu is also host to winners. That’s without delving into the now-ubiquitous namesake bread, that seemingly revolutionised the city’s collective palate and forced countless restaurants and bakeries to up their bread game.
43 Packenham Street, Fremantle
Manuka Woodfire Kitchen
Maybe we just had our heads in the sand, but it took us an embarrassingly long time to get switched on to the magic of Manuka. Luckily, everyone else isn’t so slow on the uptake – the restaurant has collected plenty of accolades and rave reviews over its five years of operations. The restaurant champions all the good low-waste, sustainable, seasonal, farmer- direct stuff we love to hear – although that doesn’t mean much if the food doesn’t speak for itself. Rest assured, in the hands of chef Kenny McHardy, the wood fired oven alchemises local ingredients into something really quite special.
134 High Street, Fremantle
Nieuw Ruin
The fanfare that followed Nieuw Ruin’s 2021 opening has proven to be warranted. While the star of the show is arguably their “weird wines” and standout cocktails – their food is certainly vying for the spotlight. With a kitchen helmed by rising star Blaze Young, the menu is part bar snack, part European comfort, all delicious.
12 Norfolk Street, Fremantle
Lions and Tigers
With the roaring success of Duck Duck Bruce, it made perfect sense for the crew to expand into a dinner service. Taking up residence on Bannister Street, a short stroll from the cafe, Lions and Tigers was born in 2019. It’s got all the same good vibes and humour we’ve come to expect from the cafe, focused into Indian-inspired, flavourful fare.
6-8 Bannister Street, Fremantle
Angel’s House
Back in 2020, we wrote about how shocked we were that a classic French bistro could find its way into our hearts… Well, we must now eat our words, along with some delicious French bites.
Perhaps its a testament to Angel’s House’s quality that even on the warmest of summer days, we’re still thinking about onion soup, cheese soufflé, coq au vin and boeuf bourguignon. Finding the balance between home-style, comforting fare and the high-brow CVs of owners and brothers Jeremy and Anthony, Angel’s House will have you dreaming of boeuf in no time, too.
24 Essex Street, Fremantle
Capri
Stepping into this family-run restaurant feels like stepping back in time, to bustling 50s Fremantle and all of its Italian glory. Prices are, suitably in line with this old-school approach: incredibly reasonable, if not unbelievably low at times. Now with four generations of Pizzales involved in the restaurant, Capri is as good as ever. In fact, its determination to stand strong against any changing whims of fashions might be its greatest strength.
21 South Terrace, Fremantle
Strange Company
Definitely more bar than restaurant, Strange Company’s share-y, charcuterie-y menu, nevertheless more than holds its own. Always rotating and seasonally updating, it’s best to go with a “whaddaya got?” attitude and see what’s on offer… Will it be grilled octopus, kipfler potatoes and mojo rojo? Perhaps spiced lamb cutlets? Kingfish crudo? Whatever they’ve got, we can’t get enough.
5 Nairn Street, Fremantle
Patio
Taking over the well-loved site once home to X-Wray, Patio has been quietly become one of Freo’s best drinking holes since opening at the end of 2022. The straddle the line between easy breezy casualness and serious drops, with a drinks list that boasts both Swannie longnecks and a section labelled “Italian Boujie”. On the eats front, restaurant is perhaps a misnomer – but their “all the time” menu is reliably delicious, featuring house made focaccia with dollops of ricotta, giardiniera, meatballs, chips and more… But the real excitement? It comes from their excellent pop ups with local chefs and cooks.
4/3-13 Essex Street, Fremantle
SUKU
SUKU has made themselves at home in their new digs at the new FOMO development. Opening their doors at the tail end of 2021, their signature dishes have remained at the core of their offerings – like the chicken-lover’s favourite, nasi Bali, or tender, flavour-packed beef rib rendang.
FOMO Freo, 10 William Street, Fremantle
Goldbird
The latest venture from the brains behind Short Order, it makes sense that newly-opened retro fried chicken spot Goldbird is also BYO – and they’re just across the road from Wise Child Wine Store’s second Freo store! Stop in for aptly-golden fried chicken, nostalgic sides and some Hungarian-Jewish leaning sweets.
3 Cantonment Street, Fremantle
Gage Roads Freo
The long-awaited Gage Roads brewpub is breathing life into Freo’s A Shed. As well as the brewery’s signature frothies, you can feast on vibrant coastal flavours, perfectly matched to the refreshing sea breeze. Bring the whole family – there’s plenty of grommet-sized snacks for little ones, plus a playground that features a retired crayboat and a ’60s Land Cruiser for kids to scramble over.
A Shed, Walyalup Waterfront
Sana
If you’re looking for big flavour, look no further than Sana. Boasting street food and cocktails, the Middle Eastern eatery is one of Market Street’s newest additions. Dive into a smokey bowl of baba ganoush, or that slow braised lamb – perfect for a chilly winter’s night.
Jetty Bar & Eats
We were waiting with bated breath for the long-awaited opening of Jetty, aptly named for its position on Freo’s East Street Jetty – and we haven’t been disappointed. Sunshine, fine wine, good times, and even better eats.
126 Beach Street, Fremantle
Whisper Wine Bar
A bit of a hidden secret in the heart of Freo, Whisper does France right, with big baguettes and a bigger wine list set amongst a stunning restored limestone mill. Relax on the balcony in the sun with a cold pint or white wine in hand, or curl up on the retro lounge chairs in the evening with some red wine and a cheese platter.
1/15 Essex Street, Fremantle
Emily Taylor
Hidden away behind tall limestone walls is one of Fremantle’s most vibrant restaurants. Emily Taylor’s courtyard is a worthy destination in and of itself, perched under the purple jacaranda blossoms and technicolour umbrellas – but paired with those juicy dumplings? How could you stay away?
19-29 Henderson Street, Fremantle
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Sunshine Harvester Works
OK, it feels a bit like cheating to include the Sunshine Harvester Works – but when there’s this much deliciousness in one spot, how could we not? Home to an array of eateries that includes the legendary Bumplings, epic burgs from Two Stacks, tacos from Al Pastor, boundary-pushing gelato from Stampede and much, much more – this is a truly tasty treasure trove.
1 James Street, Fremantle
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Header image: Emily Taylor
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