Double Dipping

A little something with your coffee? How about some art, an indoor plant, some new threads or a piece of Volkswagen paraphernalia? Quirky cafes that double as retail outlets or galleries are one of Fremantle’s strong suits. Here’s a few to try.

Tinsmith Garage

The restoration of classic Volkswagens has been happening at this Stack Street warehouse for some time. A recently added café has brought a new buzz to the place. The shipping container kitchen and casual modern fit-out complement the retro vehicle feel. Sit al fresco or on lounges inside; from here you can peer into the workshop and see the vintage cars that drive the vibe. Snaffle a memento from the merch shop while you’re at it.

Stacked

There’s no shortage of greenery at Stacked. The café sits amidst the jungle that is Stackwood – a place to buy house plants and all things garden related. Take your flat white and peruse the plants, books and green thumbery that sprawls over two levels. Creative studios and an event space add to the collaborative, arty feel at this lush warehouse space.

Hinata Café

This hidden gem of a café is the bustling heart of the multi-limbed Fibonacci Centre. The warehouse is shared by creative studios, a yoga and mindfulness centre and a retail store, and Hinata’s Japanese fare – and coffee – keeps everyone sated. The café seamlessly transitions into Store at Fib, where you can peruse textiles, gifts and handmade wares while you await your excellent Japanese pancake.

Kerfuffle

Very Freo: quirky space, eclectic décor and serious coffee served in locally made ceramic mugs, and the vision doesn’t stop at macchiato and excellent pastries. The walls are also used to maximum effect with ever-changing exhibitions of art and photography, usually by local creatives. Expect the unexpected, including after-hours events like poetry readings and games nights.

Gimlet

A tiny bolt hole at the Warders Hotel, Gimlet walks the tricky line between day and evening trade. By night it’s a cosy overflow to the big and buzzy Emily Taylor restaurant; a place to enjoy a well considered gin cocktail. Less well known is the fact that Gimlet serves excellent coffee and pastries during the day, and is stacked full of interesting curios. The dinky front courtyard makes a blissful reprieve from the bustle of Fremantle.

Moore & Moore Café

The rustic Moore’s building is home to this rambling café success story. Its various indoor and outdoor rooms – there’s a spacious limestone-walled courtyard at the back – are a refuge for students and creatives who flock here for the coffee and brunch offerings. It’s a seamless flow through to the Moore’s Building Contemporary Art Space, home to an ever-changing display of cultural exhibitions and events.

DaRawNature

‘Coffee lounge’ is the right descriptor for this café, expertly hidden down a laneway off Henry Street. Once you discover it, you’ll want to loaf around for a while. The airy space is verdant and flooded with natural light, with cosy nooks and long tables for working, meeting and enjoying the creative surrounds. The space doubles as a photographic and art studio, with changing exhibitions and workshops.

If you're keen to discover more about Freo's famed coffee culture - explore these cafes.