Fremantle rewards a wandering appetite. Within a few compact blocks, serious kitchens, wine bars and old port streets make it possible to drift from lunch to aperitivo to dinner on foot. Plus, on a warm afternoon, with the sun sinking towards the Indian Ocean, Fremantle has the easy rhythm of a European holiday (if we do say so). All of which makes it ideal terrain for a roving degustation: 10 stops, 10 hours and some of WA’s best bites and drinks along the way. Look out for our South Fremantle iteration coming soon.
1pm: Manuka Woodfire Kitchen
Begin at the eastern end of High Street, where the heat of Manuka’s wood-fired oven sets the tone. Exmouth Wild Prawns are a longstanding signature, currently paired with apple-fennel remoulade, fermented chilli oil and lemongrass. Sweet shellfish, smoke, crunch and chilli make a suitably bright opening course.
134 High Street, Fremantle, manukawoodfire.com.au
2pm: Anglesea
Head west to Anglesea, where Japanese and Korean influences come together in a polished, contemporary dining room. Skip the full teishoku and look to the drinking snacks instead. Three Wagyu tartare tostadas come with yuzu kosho aioli and seaweed salad, balancing rich beef with citrusy heat and salinity. Neat enough to eat in a few bites, they are exactly the sort of thing a roving degustation calls for.
Corner Parry Street and William Street, Fremantle, angleseafremantle.com.au
2.45pm: Emily Taylor
Slip behind the Fremantle Markets to Emily Taylor, tucked into the limestone walls of the Warders pre] cinct. Settle into the leafy courtyard for lobster and Manjimup truffle dumplings, finished with prawn and sweet aromatic soy. Rich and savoury, with the earthy depth of truffle, they bring the first real note of indulgence to the afternoon. Split an order, then keep moving.
19-29 Henderson Street, Fremantle, emilytaylorbar.com.au
3.30pm: Lions and Tigers
Next, Bannister Street and Lions and Tigers, where South Asian flavours meet local produce in a menu made for sharing. The pan-seared Shark Bay scallop is sold individually and arrives sitting in curry butter. Sweet and caramelised with a warm hit of spice, it is exactly the right amount of food at this point: one scallop each, a swipe of curry butter and onwards.
6-8 Bannister Street, Fremantle, lionsandtigers.com.au
4.30pm: Strange Company
By now it is entirely reasonable to introduce a drink. Strange Company, tucked down Nairn Street, has long excelled at the particular art of afternoon grazing. Order a freshly shucked oyster each, sharpened with pink peppercorn mignonette. Pair it with a glass of 2025 Singlefile Great Southern Riesling, dry and citrusy with enough mouthwatering acidity to meet the oyster head-on.
5 Nairn Street, Fremantle, strangecompany.com.au
5.30pm: Bread in Common
As afternoon slips into evening, head for Bread in Common’s cavernous Pakenham Street warehouse. Skip the famous loaves on this occasion and order the compressed watermelon with whipped tofu, koji, fig and nasturtium. Cool watermelon and fruit lighten the savoury depth of tofu and koji, making this one of the freshest plates of the day and a welcome pause before dinner.
43 Pakenham Street, Fremantle, breadincommon.com.au
6.45pm: Vin Populi
By early evening, Vin Populi’s High Street dining room is filling and the tables outside are settling in for the night. Order the rigatoni Amatriciana, a rich, comforting Roman classic that brings together tomato, chilli, guanciale and pecorino for a sauce that is salty, porky and just sharp enough to cut through its richness. Split a bowl between two and add something Italian in the glass.
9–13 High Street, Fremantle, vinpopuli.com.au
8.15pm: Chicho Gelato
Dessert means a short detour to Cantonment Street, where Chicho makes its gelato from scratch using traditional Italian techniques. Alongside its house flavours, two monthly specials keep the cabinet changing, with recent combinations including Blood Orange Explosion with chocolate-coated popping candy and Dulce de Leche Pretzel with dark chocolate pretzels. Grab a scoop or two and wander back down High Street.
1 Cantonment Street, Fremantle, chichogelato.com
9pm: Ode to Sirens
Back on High Street, Ode to Sirens is hitting its stride. Housed in the old P&O Hotel, the bar pairs Greek food and drinks with an all-vinyl soundtrack that gets louder as the night wears on. Order the Magic Mo-Menta, made with white rum, fernet and lime. Herbal, bitter and sharply refreshing, it cuts through the sweetness of gelato and resets the palate for the final stop.
P&O Hotel, 25 Higantle,h Street, Frem odetosirens.bar
10pm: Darling Darling
Finish around the corner at Darling Darling. Rope, rough timber, candlelight and maritime curios turn the tiny Henry Street bar into a convincing old sailor’s den, particularly after nine stops around the port city. The barrel-aged Negroni is the right final order: bitter, boozy and built for slow drinking. Find a dark corner and let the last course linger.
1/36 Henry Street, Fremantle, instagram.com/darlingfreo