There has long been a massive list of reasons to visit Fremantle/Walyalup, from South Beach to Fremantle Prison, to the Markets, but the key attraction drawing even the most stubborn of city dwellers down to this seaside suburb is the food coming out of Fremantle’s best restaurants.
At Urban List, we've eaten our way through all Freo has to offer to bring you our absolute hit list. Here are the best restaurants in Fremantle you really need to try.
Lola's
41 Market St, Fremantle WA 6160
Image credit: Lola's | Instagram
The new 60-seater pizza bar from the team behind arguably Perth's best sangas, Peggy's, delivers more of the quality comfort food you've come to expect from Chef Harry Peasnell, his wife Harriet Roxburgh and the crew. At their second born, Lola's, you can delve into seriously yum pizzas inspired by Aussie suburban slices and New York pies, with a few deep dish specials on each night, tasty snacks and banging little salads to top off your table. Wash it down with a few good pizza wines from the drink list. Bliss.
Vin Populi
11 High St, Fremantle WA 6160
Image credit: Vin Populi | Duncan Wright
Brought to us by the same legends behind No Mafia in Northbridge, Vin Populi (Italian for 'wine for the people') is a light, breezy and sophisticated wine bar slash restaurant serving up antipasti, fresh made pasta and beautiful local meats alongside a cracking 160-bottle Italian-Australian wine list and sexy Italian cocktails. Start with a few share plates then dive head first into a bowl of pasta before finishing with some Italian doughnuts and a nip of Frangelico.
Suku
Shop G8-V3, 28 William St, Fremantle 6160 WA
Image credit: Suku | Elle Borgward
From humble beginnings in the Freo Markets, Suku is now a permanent fixture in the newly developed FOMO Fremantle. For those in the know, Suku has been serving up the authentic flavours of Indonesia since 2019, so when the opportunity for bricks and mortar store was on the table, this twosome originally from Indonesia jumped at the chance. Featuring authentic dishes such as Beef Rendang, Gado Gado, or our personal favourite Nasi Bali with house-made Suku Sambal, this casual diner-style eatery is ticking all the boxes.
La Lune
73 George St, East Fremantle WA 6158
Image credit: La Lune | Natasja Kremers
Located in a charming heritage building on George Street in East Fremantle, La Lune is arguably the most beautiful of all Perth's latest openings. And thankfully, its Parissiene-inspired food and beverage menu is just as impressive. Our recommendations? Get started with a round of martini parisiannes as you tuck into steak tartare, swimmer crab vol-au-vents and potato rosti topped with smoked salmon and cultured cream. Then move on to French wine with succulent duck breast, steak frites and dauphinoise potatoes.
Nieuw Ruin
12 Norfolk St, Fremantle WA 6160
Image credit: Nieuw Ruin | Instagram
Brought to us by the talented team behind Foxtrot Unicorn, Nieuw Ruin is hands down one of the best restaurants in Fremantle. The focus is really about comfort and quality, with a killer crew of local champs behind the bar slinging unique drops from the 250+ wine list and head chef Blaze Young flexing her award-winning culinary skills across a sustainable menu plump with seasonal local produce, fresh seafood and lesser-known cuts that will challenge you to try something new. Grab a seat on the patio when the doctor's in and tuck into wagin duck parfait, smoked dhu fish rillette, caviar and creme fraiche with comte crisps and the most delicious curry fries.
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Republic Of Fremantle
3 Pakenham St, Fremantle WA 6160
Boy oh boy were we excited to hear that our fave Freo distillery has finally opened the doors to its last section of the venue—a spacious dining hall at the rear of the building by the incredible Mueller still. With the new space, comes a full restaurant menu. Yep, no longer just home to glorious little bar snacks, Republic Of Fremantle's new dining menu features a rotating selection of flame-forward dishes developed by Head Chef Emily Jones using the freshest seasonal produce. Think woodfired beef from Blackwood Valley accompanied by seasonal leaves and cumquat gin vinaigrette, grilled asparagus and beef fat potatoes.
Jetty Bar And Eats
126 Beach St, Fremantle WA 6160
Image credit: Jetty Bar | Emma Bryant
Aptly named Jetty Bar And Eats, this unassuming "shack on the water" from Miles Hull (Little Creatures, Alex Hotel, Quarter Acre) is easy to miss but step inside and you’ll be rewarded with stunning waterfront vibes, cool decor, approachable wines and some very attractive cocktails. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Chef Marcello Segalin is whipping up the most delicious range of Mediterranean-inspired share plates—paying respect to the migrants that disembarked ships just around the corner throughout the 50s and 60s. Trust us, this is the place to be come aperitivo hour.
Manuka Woodfired Kitchen
134 High St, Fremantle WA 6160
Is there anyone that doesn’t want a wood-fired oven in their own kitchen? Given we can’t all have what we want, why not settle for a night out at Manuka Woodfire Kitchen. As you would expect this place is the spot for honest, hearty food with fiery flavour. They are another fan of local produce and take it to the next level by offering a range of local beer, wine, cider and coffee.
Lions And Tigers
8 Bannister St, Fremantle WA 6160
Image credit: Lions And Tigers | Instagram
Coming to us from the team behind Duck Duck Bruce (rest in peace), Lions and Tigers is the kind of place that Fremantle locals try to keep hidden from the rest of Perth. It’s not exactly a secret gem—in fact, it’s often booked out and always buzzing—but there are far too many locals who haven’t made their way yet considering it’s undoubtedly one of Perth’s best restaurants. The team has perfected modern Indian cuisine and every dish we’ve ever tried is teeming with flavour. The sourdough naan is basically a right of passage and you don’t want to go past the roti tacos—the filling changes on the reg so you can keep going back for more.
La Cabaña
400 South Terrace, South Fremantle WA 6162
Image credit: La Cabaña | Elle Borgward
La Cabaña opened with a bang earlier in 2020 with its delicious Mexican fare. Brought to you by the team behind Eat No Evil, this menu takes fresh Western Australian produce and injects it with the most authentic Mexican flavours. Add a margarita to start then finish with a shot of mezcal and you can’t go wrong.
Madalena’s Bar
406 South Terrace, South Fremantle WA 6162
Image credit: Madalena's Bar | Elle Borgward
A bar on the coast sounds pretty good to us. Add in some share plates full of local seafood and a bit of live music and you’ve got us sold. No wonder Madalena’s Bar made such an impression on South Terrace when it opened in 2018. The team here has a huge focus on sustainability and work closely with guys at Fins Seafood to make sure they’re only dishing up the freshest local bites. What's more, they've just expanded with a sunny little upstairs bar serving cocktails and yummy snacks, while downstairs has been turned into a full restaurant with a fresh menu to go with it.
Tonic & Ginger
92 South Terrace, Fremantle WA 6160
Image credit: Tonic & Ginger | Supplied
There is no denying the impact of Tonic & Ginger on the Fremantle food scene. Sitting inside The Old Synagogue along with siblings The Arbor, Mr Chapple and L’Chaim, you could while away an entire day here. Our ideal night? Swing by The Arbor for a casual drink, get some food in your stomach at Tonic & Ginger, then head downstairs to L’Chaim for an old school cocktail; and why not head back in the morning to soothe your head with a Gesha coffee at Mr Chapple. This funky eatery has loads of personality, style and a vibe that screams Fremantle. Think Cookie Melbourne circa 2010; Asian fusion that will have all your taste buds firing.
Emily Taylor
19-29 Henderson St, Fremantle WA 6160
Image credit: Emily Taylor | Elle Borgward
Meet Emily Taylor, the 450-person bar and restaurant opened as part of the new Warders Hotel, neighbouring the Freo Markets. You might be thinking, a hotel restaurant, really? But honestly, it doesn’t get much better than throwing back a cocktail or two as you tuck into a yummy Asian feast in Emily Taylor’s huge leafy courtyard. The menu is broken down into dumplings, buns and bites, share plates, and their signature Emily Taylor roast duck which you won’t want to miss.
Angel's House
24 Essex St, Fremantle WA 6160
Brought to us by two brothers who grew up in the Provence region in southern France, Angel's House is a French restaurant with a mission to make French food less intimidating. With a casual alfresco area and share plates on the menu, it's the perfect spot for a drink and a nibble, but you can also go for the full-blown French affair if that's more your style. Think chicken vol-au-vent, boeuf bourguignon and riz au lait and you're on the right track.
Bib & Tucker
18 Leighton Beach Blvd, North Fremantle WA 6159
Boasting one of the best beachside views in Perth, Bib & Tucker is the perfect spot for an after swim cocktail (or, even better, build your own G&T with their wide range of Gin and Tonics) in your slides on a hot summers day or that long lunch you’ve been dreaming of while sitting at your desk all week. The modern Australian menu is the perfect complement to the exquisite views and it definitely does not fail to deliver on taste.
Bread In Common
43 Pakenham St, Fremantle WA 6160
Image credit: Bread In Common | Instagram
When talking Fremantle food there would be no list without Bread In Common. Prior to its establishment, the Fremantle food scene was about BYO pizza and pasta (not that there is anything wrong with that) but Bread in Common upped the ante when they came along with their menu inspired by locally sourced, seasonal produce based all around—you know it—bread. Their long tables and shared menu make them the perfect spot to break bread with your friends.
The Sunshine Harvester Works
2/1 James Street Corner Beach and, 1/1 James St, Fremantle WA 6160
Image credit: Al Pastor | Elle Borgward
Technically not a restaurant, but as the home to many of the best eats in Fremantle, we couldn’t mention The Sunshine Harvester Works. Take your pick from Singaporean BBQ at Ray’s Satay, Asian street eats from Dingo Dining, Mexican goodness at Al Pastor, flavours of Mauritius at Pantry 92 or any of the old favourites like Two Stacks Burgers, Stampede Gelato and Freo Pizza Factory. And why not wash all that food down with a drink from Union Brewery And Distillery... now, that sounds like a Fremantle feast to us.
Young George
48 George St, East Fremantle WA 6158
Late-night bar and kitchen, Young George is everything. We’re serious—the cellar downstairs is perfect for a private venue, the bottleshop next door offers a great range of beverages and the location is perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Not only that, but Young George manages to bring up-market and neighbourhood casual to meet somewhere sweetly in the middle. It doesn’t hurt to know that the kitchen is totally waste-free.
Ethos Deli + Dining
88 George St, East Fremantle WA 6158
Image credit: Ethos Deli + Dining | Instagram
Ethos opened after the COVID lockdown from the same team behind Young George and it has delivered on every front. The idea behind Ethos is simple—good food, inspired by traditional recipes, plated with a zero-waste approach. Ethos is all about preserving and finding a use for every part of the ingredient they use, using compostable packaging and recycling whatever they can. Whether you’re stopping by for a sandwich from the New York-style deli or sitting down for a heavenly meal, you won’t be disappointed.
Nunzio’s
20 Essex Street,. Fremantle, WA, 6160
Nunzio’s is hidden away on Essex Street, and from the outside, you’d be mistaken for thinking it’s just another pretty Fremantle home. But step inside and you’ll be treated to cosy restaurant vibes and incredible Italian fare. You’re going to want to order something from the insanely delish pasta menu—think duck ravioli, linguine with red emperor fish and squid ink spaghetti. Then if you’re keen to carry on the night, head to Whispers Wine Bar on the same street and have a wine in this 19th-century limestone flour mill.
La Sosta
1/85 Market St, Fremantle WA 6160
Tucked upstairs away from the streetside action on Market Street, La Sosta is one of those places that if you don't know about it, you could miss it. But boy what a tragedy that would be. This Italian joint serve up seriously silky handmade pasta and super fresh seafood, plus, they also boast charming service, stunning interiors and a killer balcony that is screaming out for an aperitivo hour drink. You can't go wrong with a big bowl of carbs, so sit back from a glass of wine and dig into handmade pork ravioli, gnocchi coated in mushroom sauce or squid ink spaghetti served with crab and cherry tomatoes.
Sailing For Oranges
33 South Terrace, Fremantle WA 6160
Image credit: Sailing For Oranges | Elle Borgward
Opening up in the old spot previously home to The Monk, right in the middle of the iconic Freo coffee strip, Sailing For Oranges is giving us a sunny taste of the Mediterranean minus the expensive flights. Just picture a bright street front terrace, a table full of delectable share plates and an ice cold spritz in hand. If you're searching for a new long lunch spot this summer, this is it.
Komatsu
G12/10 William St, Fremantle WA 6160
If you ever found yourself waiting for a seat at this Freo Market fave, take solace in the fact that they've opened a new venue down at the new FOMO precinct called Komatsu that features all the old Dosukoi faves in a whole new setting. The traditional ramen is practically perfect in every way, but right now we're kind of obsessed with the prawn gyoza ramen.
Gage Roads
Peter Hughes Dr, Fremantle WA 6160
Image credit: Gage Roads | Elle Borgward
They may have been brewing some of WA's favourite beers since 2004, but Gage Roads only recently opened a public-facing brewhouse for all their froth heads to enjoy, and let us tell you, it's bloody beautiful. While those fresh pints poured directly from tank to tap and portside views are a major drawcard, the restaurant has the kind of pub grub you want for a big family feast by the sea.
Little Creatures
40 Mews Rd, Fremantle WA 6160
There isn’t much to say about Little Creatures that hasn’t been said before. The iconic Freo brewery is full of all the good things we look for in a pub—loads of tasty menu options, a backyard for soaking up the sunshine, a huge indoor dining area, craft beer and a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. It’s the perfect place to soak up the busy port-side vibe and enjoy the best of what the city has to offer. The wood fired pizzas are hard to pass up but if you can, there’s loads of other menu goodness including oysters, marinated octopus, nachos, steak sandwiches and fresh fish. One of Fremantle's best restaurants for sure!
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Main image credit: Urban List Staff | Supplied
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