Fremantle has its share of iconic cafes and famous pubs, but there’s another thing it has in spades—cosy, hidden gems you never knew were there.
Here are some of our favourite spots from Freo's less-travelled side streets.
Patio
4/3-13 Essex Street, Fremantle
Tucked down Essex Street you'll stumble upon Patio bar, a 'bar's bar' designed for relaxation and whiling away time. Nothin' but good music, good friends, and good vibes here.
The Flaming Galah
19B Essex Street, Fremantle
Shaking up drinks and fun times since 2022, The Galah is another beloved local on Essex Street and our port city's first bar dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ community and friends who love their regular trivia, singles, and karaoke nights as well as special themed party nights that are nothing short of a hoot.
Gimlet
19 Henderson Street, Fremantle
Do you know Gimlet? It’s the quiet but classy little sister to Emily Taylor at the Warders Hotel. Tucked away with enough seating for just a few people, it’s one of Freo’s most secluded coffee stops by day and a gin bar by night.
L'Chaim
92 South Terrace, Fremantle
Toast to life at The Old Synagogue's intimate cocktail bar, L'Chaim. Hidden deep below the synagogue, take a step back in time and immerse yourself in a world of fine cocktails and good times.
Wise Child
21a Market Street, Fremantle
Need some BYO? Wise Child in the heart of Fremantle offers an extravagant selection of wines, craft beers and select spirits. Simple, elegant and effortless, the three words that perfectly describe the ambiance when picking out your drink of choice in this unique establishment.
Good Things
16 Bannister Street, Fremantle
Want to drink coffee in someone's cosy attic? You'll feel like you are at Good Things, a delicious little secret down Bannister Street. The brunch is excellent, and the stairs will help you walk it off.
Lions and Tigers
6-8 Bannister Street, Fremantle
The good things on Bannister Street continue well into the evening a block down inside cosy den Lions and Tigers, where a rolling feast of South Asian-inspired cuisine and cocktails are served inside another beautifully restored Federation-era warehouse. Happiest when eating, terrible dancers, and devotees of flavour, it's impossible not to fall in love with this delightful crew.
Darling Darling
1/36 Henry Street, Fremantle
A dimly lit gem on Henry Street, Darling Darling has a salty seafarer’s vibe that hits as soon as you’re through the unassuming doorway into the moody space, where maritime paraphernalia lines every surface and peanut shells crunch underfoot. You’ll definitely want to drink rum here. Especially on Sundays when the fiddler drops in.
Honky Tonk
81 High Street, Fremantle
The Honky Tonk Blues Bar is Freo's honky tonk haven! Two-step into a world of authentic country vibes, live music, and good ol' southern hospitality. Honky Tonk's new home was built in 1903 and this heritage West End building is the perfect spot to get lost in.
Ode to Sirens
25 High Street, Fremantle
Nestled in on High Street at home in the P&O Hotel building, Ode to Sirens is a vinyl record bar serving fresh wines, craft beers, classic cocktails, and Greek-centric bar food. Wander through the back to the courtyard and check out what's on—you might just catch a secret gig in the bar's Corner Room next door.
Da Raw Nature Coffee Lounge
Rear, 5 Henry Street, Fremantle
Behind Da Raw Nature gallery and studio space you'll find this coffee lounge of the same name that is the very definition of a hidden gem. It's a lush, plant-filled, art-filled oasis in the heart of the West End that you'll come back to again and again—if you can remember where it is.
Little French Nest
15 Point Street, Fremantle
Another brunch spot worth exploring? Little French Nest is light and bright in Point Street. Plus, has excellent pastries, and a French-inspired menu you’ll want to come back for.
Shirley's
124 High Street, Fremantle
This wine bar in Freo's East End oozes comfort, home, and warmth, and it's no surprise—it is named after a real Shirley, owner and resident chef Kenny McHardy's wife's grandmother. A space that "looks after the locals" and celebrates tried-and-tested recipes passed down families for decades, this home-away-from-home bar is one you'll want to return to time and time again.
Aunty Lucy's Cakery
132 High Street, Fremantle
A stone's throw away is Aunty Lucy's, a feast for the eyes and for those of us who, like Lucy, know true happiness is homemade. Serving up delicious cakes, fruit-filled pies, big old cookies, and more down Tum Tum Tree Lane along with an incredible High Tea on weekends, trust us, you'll be glad you stumbled upon this little cake shop.
Kapara Cafe
92 Adelaide Street, Fremantle
Tucked into the DADAA building on Adelaide Street is Kapara, a beloved local gem serving up Israeli street food and authentic, real deal, falafel. Fully vego with vegan and gluten free options, flavour is the star of the show here, and that gorgeous leafy courtyard.
Wild in the Street
2/388 South Terrace, South Fremantle
Wild in the Street honours the essence of South Fremantle life. It champions verdant greens, vibrant colours, and a fondness for food and drink. Look twice for the signage. Like all good secrets, this and other cool, tucked-away premises in Freo can take some sleuthing out.
Malt'n Gold Small Bar
20 Wray Avenue, Fremantle
WA's biggest little whisky (and whiskey) bar is a small, cosy, and intimate space off the main drag filled with warm jarrah, pressed tin, and bare brick highlights, and it is gold for the locals who know it's worth the trek. It might seat just 20, but it holds more than 400 whiskies as well as a selection of beer, wine, rum, mezcal, tequila, and gin for the non-whisky drinkers.
