17 of the best restaurants in Fremantle

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A collection of the most delicious eateries to visit in the foodie-haven.

Fremantle has made a name for itself as a culinary destination, brimming with all sorts of restaurants from interesting Asian-fusion, to modern Italian trattorias continuing the strong legacy that Italian immigrants brought to the port city many years ago.

Heading to the port city? These are the best restaurants to visit during your stay.

1. La Cabana

Authentic Mexican using local Freo produce 100 metres from the white sand of South Beach. The folks at Freo favourite La Cabana  really have nailed it. For added local flair, they even have a fresh produce exchange where locals can bring in supplies from their garden in exchange for ‘taco dollars’, which the head chef creates menu specials around. Try the Baja (fish) taco and the Tommy’s Margarita.

Address: 400 South Terrace, Fremantle

Opening hours: Wed & Thurs 4pm-10pm; Fri 12pm – 10pm; Sat 9am-12pm, 12.30pm – 10pm; Sun 9am-12pm, 12.30pm – 8pm

2. Tonic + Ginger

Arguably the best food in Fremantle. Tonic + Ginger , situated within The Old Synagogue, does Southeast Asian fusion in a remarkable way, with all dishes designed to be shared. We recommend the yellow curry made with local snapper, Asian herbs and coconut. And while you’re at it, order a cocktail from the unique and inventive list – it’s hard to go past the Yuzu Kiss, a combination of yuzu gin, mandarin, lime and honey.

friends dining at Tonic & Ginger, Fremantle
Share incredible Southeast Asian fare at Tonic & Ginger. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Address: 92 South Terrace, Fremantle

Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 11.45am – 1.30pm, 5.30pm – 10pm; Fri & Sat 11.45am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 11pm; Sun 11.45am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10pm

3. Emily Taylor

Emily Taylor  is another stand-out Fremantle restaurant that sees people coming from all over Perth to sample its distinctive Asian-fusion menu. For a light meal, get baos and beer or crunchy spiced bites and wine.

the restaurant exterior of Emily Taylor at The Warders Hotel, Fremantle
See for yourself why people keep coming back to Emily Taylor. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

For something substantial, the roast duck, curries and aromatic fish with fresh herbs. Either way, you’ll be booking a second visit to come back for more.

al fresco dining at Emily Taylor, Fremantle
Dine al fresco at Emily Taylor. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Address: 19-29 Henderson St, Fremantle

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11.30am – 10pm; Sat 9am – 11pm; Sun 9am – 10pm

4. Madelena’s Bar

Madelena’s Bar  is ideal for those who love seafood and are passionate about wine. The second-story bar overlooks South Beach and the Indian Ocean, while the restaurant delivers – in the restaurant’s own words – a culinary experience, serving sustainable seafood with local produce.

Address: 406 South Terrace, South Fremantle

Opening hours: Wed 5pm – 10pm; Thurs 4pm – 10pm; Fri & Sat 12pm – 12am

5. La Lune

La Lune  is a little taste of Paris right in the heart of East Fremantle.

the dining interior of La Lune, Fremantle
Nab a seat at La Lune. (Image: Photography by Jack Love)

Grab one of their small bistro tables outside on the sidewalk, and watch George Street go by while sipping rosé from Provence and tucking into their modern French menu. The Bavette de La Lune is a stand-out.

a long dining table at La Lune, Fremantle
The French-inspired venue is a chic spot for a tipple. (Image: Photography by Jack Love)

Address: 73 George Street, East Fremantle

Opening hours: Tues-Sat 11am – 10pm

6. Lions & Tigers

This vibrant restaurant, bar and art space  in the heart of Fremantle’s historic west end dishes up creative Anglo-Indian plates designed for sharing. Plus, the restaurant is also dog-friendly and even sponsors a dog shelter – so by dining on their inventive and flavourful cuisine, you’re also doing good.

Address: 8 Bannister St, Fremantle

Opening hours: Tues-Fri 5pm-11pm; Sat 12pm – 11pm

7. Vin Populi

In the heart of Fremantle’s west end lies this little slice of Italy . Stepping into this sleek bistro feels like arriving at a Florentine eatery at aperitivo time.

the restaurant interior of Vin Populi, Fremantle
Step into this sleek Italian bistro at Vin Populi.

The blackboard menu features antipasti, pastas, secondis and sides, and the local-come-Italian wine list is expertly explained by the resident sommelier.

pouring a drink into a glass at Vin Populi
Vin Populi serves up excellent Italian fare. (Image: Vin Pop Media)

Address: 11 High Street, Fremantle

Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 4pm – 10pm; Fri & Sat 12pm – 11pm; Sun 12pm – 10pm

8. Young George

With a seasonal menu curated by the locally renowned Melissa Palinkas, The Young George is a must-visit in the chic George Street precinct of East Fremantle. Hot tip: after dinner, head down to their underground wine cellar-come-bar for a post-meal tipple.

Address: 48 George Street, East Fremantle

Opening hours: Wed-Sat 11.30am – 12am; Sun 11.30am – 10pm

9. Salsa Rossa

A true classic, Salsa Rossa  is an icon of East Fremantle serving hearty modern Italian. Only a handful of tables are huddled into the converted terrace home, where diners enjoy an intimate ambience created by the cosy fireplace and sounds of Roy Orbison.

Address: 77 George Street, East Fremantle

Opening hours: Mon-Sun 5pm – 9pm 

10. Capri Restaurant

A true old-fashioned Italian dining experience – which is what you’d expect from a city that has benefitted so greatly from Italian immigration. This perennial, family-run place  has a relaxed vibe, serving northern Italian cuisine  – in true rustic Italian style  – with each meal coming with a complimentary soup and bread starter

Address: 21 South Terrace, Fremantle

Opening hours: Wed, Thurs, Fri & Sun 12pm – 2pm, 5 – 9pm; Sat 5pm – 9pm

11. Nonna’s Pizzeria & Cucina

This South Fremantle, family-owned-and-operated restaurant specialises in its 48-hour sourdough pizza bases. They also offer a range of pastas, antipasti share plates and mains. Plus, in true Italian style, they have daily aperitivo between 4-6pm, where you get an Aperol or limoncello spritz with pizza bread and dips for $15.

a woman dining pasta with wine at Nonna’s Pizzeria & Cucina
Order authentic Italian pasta at Nonna’s Pizzeria & Cucina.

Address: 388 South Terrace, South Fremantle

Opening hours: Wed & Thurs 5pm – 9.30pm; Fri 5pm – 10pm; Sat 12pm – 10pm; Sun 12.30pm – 8.30pm

12. Manuka Woodfired Kitchen

Manuka Woodfired Kitchen  is a Fremantle institution, that pairs locally sourced ingredients with the spirit of woodfire cooking. Everything from potatoes and broccoli to prawns and chicken is roasted over the fire – the chef’s tasting menu is an excellent way to try everything.

Address: 134 High St, Fremantle

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 5.30pm – 9pm; Sat 12pm – 3pm, 5.30pm – 9pm

13. Shirley’s

From the team behind Manuka comes Shirley’s , a small restaurant bar serving share plates perfect for those who want a communal dining experience.

the colourful restaurant interior of Shirley's, Fremantle
Stop by Shirley’s if you love Manuka.

Expect dishes such as potato gnocchi with beurre nosiette, parmesan, and baby capers, and The fun fit-out is an added bonus – think eye-popping wallpaper covered in palms and tropical birds, to pink neon lights and bright velvet booths.

friends dining at Shirley's, Fremantle
Catch up over a glass or two at Shirley’s.

Address: Shop 6, 124 High Street Fremantle

Opening hours: Wed-Sat 5pm – 11pm

14. Ode to Sirens

Only in Fremantle will you find a vinyl record-themed restaurant , where the kitchen dishes up Greek-inspired fare while a DJ spins tunes in the middle of the room.

people dining in the dimly lit interior of Ode to Sirens
Ode to Sirens is a vinyl record-themed restaurant serving up Greek-inspired fare.

Walls are adorned with enlarged vintage record covers, and the tables and chairs are a garage sale jumble of nostalgia.

people dining at Ode to Sirens in Fremantle
You’ll find colourful paintings on the walls.

Address: 25 High St, Fremantle

Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 4pm  – 10pm; Fri & Sat 12pm – 12am; Sun 12pm – 10pm 

15. Lola’s

Lola’s is a family-style pizza and wine bar on the cappuccino strip. Pizzas are huge, the drinks list pairs perfectly (the negronis are spectacular) plus is extremely kid-friendly, with staff offering high chairs, crayons and colouring for parents toting little ones.

pizzas and negronis on the table at Lola's, Fremantle
Pop by Lola’s for pizzas and negronis.

Address: 134 High St, Fremantle

Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 5pm – 9pm; Fri-Sun 12pm – 9pm

16. Niew Ruin

Nieuw Ruin  is a small bar and eatery filled with three tonnes of reclaimed jarrah, two charcoal grills and over 300 bottles on its wine wall. Head chef Blaze Young borrows from her grandmother’s recipe books to fill her menu with forgotten classics using super fresh, hyper-local produce. Enjoy delicious dishes such as dhu fish, kifler potato, beurre blanc, roe and Caramel basque cheesecake, and strawberry compote.

Address: 12 Norfolk Street, Fremantle

Opening hours: Wed & Thurs 5pm – 12am; Fri-Sun 12pm – 12am

17. Bread in Common

Originally built as a pharmaceutical warehouse in 1898, this building has been restored into what is now a mainstay of Fremantle’s culinary scene. As the name suggests, Bread in Common  bake their own bread, as well as ferments, pickles and preserves using seasonal and local produce. Plus, the kitchen uses responsibly sourced seafood and farming practices to reduce environmental impact and create honest, ethical menus.

people dining at Bread In Common
Bread in Common is now a mainstay of Fremantle’s culinary scene. (Image: Jarrad Seng)

Address: 43 Pakenham Street, Fremantle

Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 11.30am – 10pm; Fri & Sat 11.30am – 11.30pm

Thirsty for a post-dinner tipple? Here are 12 of the best bars in Fremantle.
Kirsty Petrides
Kirsty Petrides is a writer, wine-lover and cheese enthusiast. Whether she’s hunting down the best restaurant in Albania, foraging the Marrakech markets for spices or camping in the middle of Patagonian wilderness, she loves to seek out the authentic side of the places she visits, and share that with readers through her writing.
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6 reasons the best way to experience the Kimberley is by cruise

This remote corner of Australia is one of the world’s last frontiers. This is how to see it properly.

Vast, rugged and deeply spiritual, the Kimberley coast in Australia’s North West feels a world away from everyday Australia – and there are countless ways to explore it. But if you want to reach ancient rock art, hidden gorges and lonely waterfalls, it has to be by boat. Whether you’re aboard a nimble expedition vessel or a luxury yacht with all the trimmings, exploring by the water brings exclusive experiences, shows unique views and makes travel easier than any other mode. And that’s just the beginning of Australia’s North West cruises.

The True North Adventure Cruise in between sandstone cliffs.
Adventure starts where the road ends.

1. Discover Broome, and beyond

Explore your launchpad before you set sail: Broome. Here camels and their riders stride along the 22 kilometres of powdery Cable Beach at sunset. That’s just the start.

At Gantheaume Point, red pindan cliffs plunge into the turquoise sea, whose low tide uncovers fossilised dinosaur footprints. Broome’s pearling history runs deep. Japanese, Chinese, Malay and Aboriginal divers once worked these waters, and their legacy lives on in boutiques where South Sea pearls still shine.

If the moon’s right, you may catch the Staircase to the Moon over Roebuck Bay. Or simply kick back with a cold beverage and a film under the stars at Sun Pictures , screening since 1916.

Ride a camel along Cable Beach as the sun sinks into the Indian Ocean, casting golden light across the sand and sea.
Ride a camel along Cable Beach. (Image: Nick Dunn)

2. Unmatched access to The Kimberley

Once you’re onboard, expect a backstage pass to some of the most isolated places on Earth. No roads. No ports. No phone reception.

At Horizontal Falls/ Garaanngaddim, 10-metre tides surge through twin gorges like a natural waterpark ride that’ll make your palms sweat. Then there’s Montgomery Reef/ Yowjab: a giant living platform of coral and seagrass, where the sea pulls back to reveal waterfalls, sea turtles and ospreys.

Up north, King George Falls/ Oomari rage 80 metres down red cliffs. Zodiac boats often nudge in closer so you can feel the spray on your sun-warmed cheeks. You might even fly in to reach Mitchell Falls/ Punamii-unpuu, a four-tiered cascade where you can swim in freshwater pools above the drop.

Come spring, some itineraries veer west to Rowley Shoals: an atoll chain of white sand and reef walls. Then it’s up the winding Prince Regent River to King Cascade/ Maamboolbadda, tumbling over rock terraces, and into a Zodiac to view the Gwion Gwion rock art, whose slender, ochre-painted figures are older than the pyramids.

A cruise drifts beneath King George Falls, where sheer sandstone cliffs frame the thunderous plunge into turquoise waters.
Get closer to the Kimberley than ever before.

3. Taste the Kimberley with onboard hospitality

You might spend your days clambering over slippery rocks or charging past waterfalls. But when you’re back on the water, it’s a different story. Meals are chef-prepared and regionally inspired: grilled barramundi, pearl meat sashimi, mango tarts, and bush tomato chutney. One night it’s barefoot beach barbecues with your shipmates; the next, alfresco dining on the ship.

Small expedition ships each have their own personality, but many carry just 12 to 36 guests, making being out on the water a whole other experience. You might sink into a spa on the foredeck or sip coffee in a lounge while watching crocodiles cruise by. It’s choose-your-own-relaxation, Kimberley style.

4. Expert-led excursions through the Kimberley

These voyages are led by people who know the Kimberley like the back of their sunburnt hand. Attenborough-esque naturalists might gently tap your shoulder to point out rare birds or tell the story beneath a slab of rock. Historians can explain exactly how that rusted World War II relic came to rest here.

If your ship has a helipad, you might chopper straight to a waterfall-fed swimming hole. If not, you’ll still be hopping ashore for that wet landing at a secret creek.

Then come the evenings: songlines shared by Traditional Owners under the stars, or astronomy sessions that link what’s overhead with what’s underfoot and what’s within.

A small group glides through Kimberley’s rugged coastline by boat, passing ancient cliffs.
Explore with naturalists and historians by your side.

5. Relax in luxurious lodgings

Just because you’re off-grid doesn’t mean you have to rough it. These Kimberley vessels are small in size, but mighty in luxury. True North’s ships come with their own helicopters and a no-sea-days policy, so you’re always in the thick of it. Try the luxurious offerings from Ocean Dream Charters for exploration in style. Kimberley Quest offers a fast boat for easy, off-ship adventures. On the larger end of the scale, Coral Expeditions has open-deck bars and curated wine cellars. And then there’s Ponant’s luxury yachts sleek and incredibly stylish French sailing yachts.

A helicopter soars above the sea, with a sleek cruise ship gliding in the distance.
See the Kimberley from sky to shore.

6. The adventure continues with pre- and post-cruise experiences

You’ve already come this far – so, why not go further? Broome makes it easy to ease in before you board, or wind down when your voyage ends, and there is no reason to stop there.

Head an hour and a half south to Eco Beach to stay off-grid and off the clock. Join a Yawuru guide for a mangrove walk or ocean forage. Dive even deeper into Broome’s pearling past at Willie Creek or Cygnet Bay, where divers and craftspeople still pull the seawater-slicked gems from the deep.

If you’re still craving adventure, it’s time to go further. Soar over the Buccaneer Archipelago, or detour inland with a 4WD trip along the Gibb River Road. Book a scenic flight over the Bungle Bungles. Or – because you never know when you’ll be back – do all three.

aerial of people walking on eco beach in the kimberley western australia
Stay off grid at Eco Beach. (Image: Tourism WA)

Find out more about your trip to Australia’s North West at australiasnorthwest.com .