Fashion

Tick Your Christmas List Off With The Ultimate Shopping Day In Fremantle

By – who is always dreaming of her next meal and reckons a good martini solves most problems

We don’t mean to alarm you, but Christmas is creeping up oh so quickly, like five weeks away quickly. So unless you want to be rubbing shoulders with every other last-minute shopper the week before the big day, now’s the time to start ticking off your list.

If you’re not so keen on spending hours scouring the web or braving the typical big shopping centre madness, let us point you towards a more enjoyable way to shop this Christmas. One that involves trading those big chain stores for a string of independent boutiques full of sophisticated, unique and sustainable gifts. And provides plenty of opportunities to refuel at incredible cafes, bars and eateries. We’re talking, of course, about Fremantle. The charming retail and dining mecca is full of gifting gems, no matter who you’re buying for.

To make things easy, we’ve pulled together a handy guide of all the best spots to shop, eat and drink. Rally your shopping buddies, here’s how to have the ultimate shopping day in Fremantle this Christmas.

Start With Coffee And A Bite At Peggy’s

Can you really be expected to make smart shopping decisions on an empty stomach? Save yourself from the inevitable gifting indecision and start by fuelling your day at Peggy’s. The New York-style sandwich servery is pumping out life-changing sausage and egg muffins and mushroom melts, alongside quality espresso, batch brew and cold drip that’ll definitely get you buzzing.

Peggy's

Shop Locally Crafted Goods At Common Ground

With your morning coffee safely in hand, head down Market St and make a right on High St until you find Common Ground. The dreamy retail collective is chock-a-block with treasures from local designers, artists and creators. It’s the perfect place to pick up a piece of art, some funky jewellery or a sweet hat or tee for summer. For us, it’s the adorable handmade mugs and vases that have found a permanent home on our wish lists. Don’t forget to say hi to Spud, the friendliest shop dog ever, before you leave.

Common Ground

Pick Up Some Vinyl At Record Finder

Keep heading down High St until you find Record Finder. With two levels of crates to dig through, it’s easy to lose track of time here. But if you manage to stay on track, we reckon it’s also an easy win if you’ve got a music fan on your Christmas list. As Perth’s oldest established record dealer, you’ll find some seriously rare gems hidden between loads of coveted classics and all the new vinyl releases that’ll slot perfectly into any growing record collection. 

Record Finder

Step Into Sustainable Gifting Heaven At Remedy

Now you’ll want to hightail it back up High St and into Remedy. This spot is an absolute gift-giving goldmine. They’ve got the most beautiful range of sustainable Aussie-made creations—it feels more like stepping into a carefully curated local art gallery than a boutique. We’re obsessed with the lush range of bedding and textiles, the joyful kids' clothing and toys, and the botanical skin goodies that you can’t help but steal a few samples of while in the store.

Remedy

Find The Best In Surf, Skate And Fashion At Three Stories

Down the road, you’ll find Three Stories, our last stop before you break for lunch. With its hardwood floors, high ceilings and beautiful natural light, this is the kind of boutique you'd be happy to wait around in while your mate tries on half the store. And with the beaut range of fashion labels its got on the racks, that might just be the reality. The boutique also has a fully dedicated surf and skate showroom and endless accessories and knick-knacks, so you could quite easily tick off most of your list in this store alone.

Three Stories

Share A Mediterranean Lunch At Sailing For Oranges

By now you’ve no doubt worked up an appetite. Regroup over Mediterranean share plates at Sailing For Oranges. This new spot on South Terrace is giving major summer-in-Europe vibes via its sunny street front terrace and endless tapas-style delights. We won’t judge if you throw on a few spritzes too. Shopping is thirsty work.

Sailing For Oranges

Find Seriously Aesthetic Homewares At Ode

If you keep heading up High St, you’ll find ODE. The light and airy boutique is our new happy place tucked within Mother, one of Freo's finest plant-based eateries—you can grab a second coffee here if you need it. Filled with beautiful, sustainable homewares, quirky ceramics and colourful candles, this is the ideal place to pick up something special for your home-loving giftee (while accidentally grabbing something for your own place, too). On the top of our wish list are its unique wiggle lamps, bright check cushions and funky vases perfect for a bunch of freshly picked wildflowers. 

Ode

Celebrate With A Post-Shop Cocktail At Republic Of Fremantle

Once you’ve ticked off your Chrissy list, head to Republic Of Fremantle. Big call, but we reckon the lofty distillery and bar is home to Perth’s best cocktail menu so there’s no better spot to cheers to a job well done. Our go-to is the Gin A Colada, but they all go down a treat. Hot tip: a voucher for its gin or cocktail school also makes an awesome Chrissy present.

Republic Of Fremantle

Catch The Sunset Over The Water At Gage Roads

Now you could definitely head home at this point, but if you’ve still got a bit left in the tank you’ll wanna make your way to Gage Roads. The massive portside brewery is the perfect place to soak up a stellar WA sunset as the ships go by. Throw in some hot chips and a couple of tacos to share and you’ll find it’s a pretty heavenly end to a big day in Freo.

Gage Roads

There are plenty more awesome spots you can pull into if you have time. Scope out all that Freo has to offer this Christmas here.

Want even more Freo tips? Find more things to do in Fremantle.

Image credit: Supplied, Annie Theby, Remedy, Three Stories

Editor’s note: this article was produced in partnership with the City of Fremantle. Thank you for supporting the partners who make Urban List possible. To read our editorial policy, click here.

Get our top stories direct to your inbox.

Subscribe

Get our top stories direct to your inbox.

Subscribe