Fremantle, or Freo as the locals call it, doesn’t have an abundance of restaurants. It’s more known for its coffee culture, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find some hidden gems beyond the Cappuccino Strip. There are casual bars, burger joints, and dog-friendly taquerias.
If you wander around long enough, you’ll even come across the world’s best Indonesian restaurant. The next time you find yourself in Fremantle, pull up a chair at the port city’s best restaurants and cafes.
Bread in Common
This expansive bakery and all-day eatery is Freo’s most reliable dining experience. What do we mean by that? Whether you’re after a classic breakfast, a long lunch, or a moody dinner, Bread in Common offers it. The bakery in the morning slings fresh-baked pastries. For lunch and dinner, choose your own adventure, accompanied by a great list of wines. The menu encompasses dips and spreads, a selection of cheese and salamis. The plates section features the iconic lamb ribs with mint and black garlic — it’s what they’re known for. There are also duck fat roast potatoes, peppered squid, oysters with West Indian hot sauce, and more. The communal dining space in an industrial setting will make you feel like you’re in Brooklyn. 
Vin Populi
Stroll into Vin Populi and be transported to a Roma Cucina, thanks to its idyllic textured plaster walls and mosaic-tiled tables. Wine bottles sit high on wooden floating shelves, and a blackboard has all the best tipples of the day. As for the menu, it’s all about pasta. Beautiful long lengths of pasta, twirled in a bowl, bathing in the traditions-old sauce. You can’t go wrong with a long lunch or romantic date night at Vin Populi.
La Cabana
Before La Cabana was a taqueria, its chef was the founder of the food truck, Eat No Evil, which is sadly not operating anymore, but not to worry, Chef Ben Foss brings his Mexican dishes to La Cabana. The dog-friendly restaurant is as unmissable as its wattle-seed mole. There’s a Middle Eastern-influenced pork and pineapple taco with native strawberry and saltbush sauce. If you couldn’t tell, Foss combines Mexican cuisine with Australian ingredients here. The menu changes frequently, but you can expect to bite into something delicious every time.
Manuka Woodfire Kitchen
You can expect magic when you have a chef who has worked in a Michelin kitchen. Hailing from New Zealand, Kenny McHardy loves playing with ire in his woodfire kitchen. The menu is short, featuring only a few daily dishes with seasonal ingredients. There’s a big emphasis on the farmer-direct relationship and sustainability on land in the water. Some dishes you can expect to find include charred beetroot, wood-roasted duck breast and octopus, a Delaware potato terrine, and vanilla bean pannacotta for dessert. The idea is to share a few dishes so that you can taste and sample a range of flavours. There’s also a chef’s tasting menu for $72 per person.
Capri
This family-run restaurant preserves the glory days of bustling 50s Fremantle. Expect an old-school approach to Italian fare. This includes generous sizes and reasonable prices. The menu is divided into sections: starters, pastas, seafood, meat, and sides. Calamari fritti is always a good place to start, as is Bruschetta. The pasta section boasts a selection of classics, including ravioli, spaghetti marinara, penne Napoletana, and a traditional meat lasagna or vegetable lasagna.
Lions and Tigers
If you’ve heard of Duck Duck Bruce or are a fan of the legendary cafe, you’ll love Lions and Tigers. Taking up residence on Bannister Street, this restaurant, bar and art space is a unique dinner spot. Expect the same good vibes and humour of Duck Duck Bruce but with a focus on Indian-inspired fare. The menu is quite extensive, serving a range of shared plates and curries, including masala prawns, saag paneer, and a Goan snapper curry. The roti tacos piled high with deliciousness are definitely a highlight. If you’re struggling to decide, the chef’s choice is always an option. 
The Fluffy Lamb
It just so happens that Australia’s and one of the world’s best Indonesian restaurants is in Freo. It’s ironic, considering The Fluffly Lamb is not exactly a restaurant, more of a tiny stall at the corner of the market. Here, you can only get two dishes: charcoal grilled chicken satay and marinated lamb. You can dip it in peanut sauce and order a side of sticky bone-marrow rice flavoured with saffron and chilli. So what makes the dishes so special? Well, it could be the generations of cooking, the hours of preparation or the coals imported from Indonesia. It’s the secret ingredient. No visit to Freo is complete without eating at the Fluffly Lamb.
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