If you’re headed south on the Fremantle train line, you might want to do yourself a favour and hop off a stop early. North Fremantle has really come into its own over the past few years, and the small, once quiet Queen Victoria Street strip is now packed with everything from coffee to clothes, beers and brunch.
Our old favourites like Mojo’s and Flipside Burgers are of course here to stay, but with new goodness popping up everywhere we’re betting there’s something on offer that you haven’t tried yet.
Here’s where we spend our time in North Freo.
Ooh Coffee
If you’re seriously serious about coffee, Ooh Coffee is the place for you. They’re serving up some of the best brew in town, with beans supplied by Proud Mary and Five Senses, in a petite space that pretty much begs to be Instagrammed. There’s also a small but diverse menu, featuring doughnuts from Mary Street Bakery, toasties, bagels, muffins and more. Caffeinating never looked this cute!
Ooh La La
Right next door, or should we say adjoining Ooh Coffee is Ooh La La boutique. Born from a desire to bring diversity to the fashion labels available in Perth, the racks here feature staple collections from the likes of international designers Rachel Comey, Caron Callahan and Creatures of Comfort, and accessories from Natalie Marie Jewellery and Garrett Leight Eyewear. So, while you wait for your espresso, why not have a browse?
Bruce Town
Bruce Town is one of those cafes that epitomises everything we love about Freo. It’s casual, relaxed, and generally a nice place to be. The team here are focused on good food and friendly service, and they’re dishing it out in a low-key industrial space that just says, 'hey, welcome'. Notable menu items include the brekky tots (potato gems = perfect hangover cure), and the smashed avo with peas, mint and whipped feta. The coffee is consistently good, and only gets better when paired with one of their homemade sweet treats.
Propeller
When garage-chic meets Middle Eastern eats, you’ve got Propeller. Open all day, this fully licensed cafe/bar/restaurant is the perfect spot for a long lazy brunch, or a night out with friends. There’s an outdoor terrace for soaking up the never-ending supply of Perth sunshine, and a beautiful dining room for more formal occasions. If we’re talking food, we can’t go past the potato and bacon waffle for brunch—with a locally roasted coffee of course—and the baharat lamb or grilled octopus for dinner.
Piggy Food Co.
Starting out as a pop-up venue in 2014, Piggy Food Co. has rightfully earned a full-time position in the heart of the North Fremantle strip. Offering up their take on Southern Californian bar food alongside a rotating selection of local and international craft beers, this is the perfect place for sitting and enjoying good food with good people. Grab a beer in the cute front courtyard and team it up with a serve of delicious wings, tacos and hog fries. Or you know, whatever you fancy. It’s all very easygoing in these parts.
Habitue
When it comes to warm welcomes, it doesn’t get much warmer than Habitue. In true Mediterranean style they’re all about coming together to share good food and wine, and once you take a seat it’s all too easy to enjoy too much of both. The menu is designed to share and packs a punch with flavours straight from the chargrill. There’s also regular live music and a house piano trio, which act as the perfect accompaniment for a good night out.
Mrs Brown
Welcome to Mrs Brown, where the wine is flowing and the vibes say good times. It’s a warm and inviting space, with an open fire for winter and a sunny courtyard for summer, and is just the right spot for a casual drink and a chat. The drinks menu here is focused mainly on wine, and cheese boards are our meal of choice. But if you’re after a something more substantial, we promise you won’t go hungry—just order a burger from the friendly neighbours at Flipside.
Old Bridge Cellars
Prefer your drinks at home? Head to Old Bridge Cellars—it’s one of the best bottle shops around. So good, in fact, that even calling it a bottle shop just sounds, well, wrong. This independent liquor store (yes, that’s better) has one of the most extensive selections of wine, spirits and craft beers you’ll find anywhere in Perth, and also some of the most knowledgeable and friendly staff. There’s regular wine tastings so you can try before you buy, and also a small selection of gourmet condiments and local produce on offer. And if you’re looking for the perfect wine to match your meal, all you have to do is ask—they’re always happy to help.
The Guildhall
If you’re looking for the perfect event space, you’ve just found it. The Guildhall caters for a whole host of special occasions, from birthdays to weddings, in one of the most beautifully restored and historic buildings North Fremantle has on show. But they don’t stop there. Being an exclusive event space means you won’t often have a chance to stop by, but every now and then they like to throw the doors open to the public for one of their very own events. Jump on their website to see what’s coming up.
After all that, jump back on the train and check out these Fremantle bars you should have been to.
Mrs Browns | Image credit: Elle Borgward at Mrs Browns, Ooh La La and Piggy Food Co