If Perth is the glittering jewel of the West, then Fremantle is the heart of that gemstone, the point where all paths interact and refract to create a rich shimmering field of experiences. After all, Fremantle is the embodiment of urban bohemia, from the cavalcade of eco-aware enviro-friendly shops to the mad sprawl of chic cafes, authentic pubs and boutique breweries. And Fremantle is also responsible for some of our city’s most vibrant street culture and arts.

OUTinPerth took some time off, caught the train down the coast and hit the streets of this super sweet destination to check out the best places to eat, drink, shop and get a little bit of culture into ya.

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THE DRINKS (& FOOD) ARE ON ME!

Fremantle is known for its abundance of café culture. It has a plethora of coffee shops , some wonderful breweries and more than enough vegetarian options to poke a carrot… or zucchini… at.

Follow Market Street along and it quickly turns into South Terrace: Fremantle’s ultimate cappuccino strip. This is the place to stop and eat or grab a coffee on the go, or even have a spot of liquor, with Benny’s taking out all three, especially since it’s the best place to have cocktails. The only problem with South Terrace are the crowds. This street simply bristles with an overabundance of metrosexuals, bohos and families, which is super cool if you don’t mind the noise, but if it’s something a bit more quiet you seek, than Fremantle has just the treat.

Before you hit South Terrace, why not take a stroll down High Street. Head west toward maritime cultural iconic The Round House and you’ll soon find one of the best kept secrets of Freo: the super chic and affordable Soho Soho Coffee & Burger Bar. Here you can sup on Portugese Chicken Burgers ($11.90), Veggie Vernons ($11.90), an array of tantalising salads ($9.50 – $11.80) or some of the cheapest bagels ($6.25 – $8.50) in town, all available until 3pm Monday to Friday.

For those on a budget, Pizza on High is a little further down the road. Here they offer a famous all you can eat for a mere $15.50 on any Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday night. And yes, dessert is included. For those looking for a cheap lunch, they offer robust and succulent pizza and pasta combinations for $7, perfect if you’re a student at Notre Dame just around the corner.

Elsewhere and over on Essex you have Organic Royale for all your fresh food needs. They’re pricey, but organic. Next door and you can dine in the camp atmosphere of Outback Jacks, an aussie themed bistro which has a giant crocodile on the roof. Add staff in Akubra’s and cork hats and what more could you ask for. Or, for those who truly want to get away from the maddening crowds, X-Wray off Essex has Cajun Chicken Panini ($14.50) which is to die for. And finally there’s La Tropicana which is on the other end of High Street, across the mall, which serves up vegetarian fair as well as Voicebox, a poetry night which occurs on the first Thursday of every month. You can’t get much more boho than that, unless of course you get takeaway fish and chips ($11.50) from Joe On The Go and enjoy them down at the beach.

For a little bit of liquor why not check out Bar Orient on High. They do big business because of Notre Dame University which is located right next door, and as such have a cruisy vibe with lots of drink specials. On South Terrace the more d’jour can adore Mad Monk, a microbrewery which is stylish, modern and deluxe. Naturally, however, Little Creatures in The Boat Harbour down Mews Street is a favourite among all those who visit Freo. It’s something to do with the vibe, the great beer, the wonderful food and the artistic vibe which all melds together with beach culture and a mild sophistication. It’s also the spot for Only Gay in the Village, a regular queer social night. Check out our double page calendar for exact dates!

SPOT OF RETAIL THERAPY?

Fremantle has shops galore. What makes shopping in Fremantle even more fabulous is that the whole area plays host to a load of independent designers and such, who all produce some amazing work.

On Market Street Lick wins as possibly the trendiest shopping spot. Here you’ll find Lee, Mink Pink, Ladakh, Stussy, Wrangler, Golf Punk and others as well as the occasional standout piece. Yes, they even have some early Of Cabbages and Kings acrylic jewellery. Further along and you’ll find Wanderlust Shoes, Terrace Men and Subway DC. Well worth checking out are Birkenstock, also on Market, who stock an amazing array of all natural clogs, sandals and shoes, some of their styles truly iconic, the majority all moulded to fit the human foot naturally. If you don’t own a pair of Birkenstock’s, you really oughta consider it.

Down High Street you’ll find a treasure trove of stores. There’s New Edition Bookstore for all your literary needs. Further down the road is Love in Tokyo, run by Shree Dornan and winner of the Fremantle Micro Retail Award. Dornan’s clothes are trans-seasonal and timeless and range from colourful silk basics to clothes that are more embellished. Love in Tokyo also stock Yoshi Jones, an adorable men’s collection from Sydney which is bold, stylish and sophisticatedly extravagant. If you are looking for effortless chic, look no further than here.

Across the road – literally – is Hustle Clothing Store. This is a must, particularly if you love supporting and wearing West Australian designers. Here you will find Lin Pin, Cocoon, Adam Wore Short Pants, Mandi Mac, Spice Lily, Quiff, Jo Nicholau, Tomoe Ota, Batchelor and STYLEAID showstopper Alister Yiap and his commercial ready to wear accessory range Malachi.

Also on High Street is Brooker Furniture. Purveyors of fine homeware, this shop provides good old fashioned jarrah and marri pieces which are sure to add elegance to the home. They also feature a range of artworks from Glen Cowans.

Over on South Terrace and Von Krahl is worth the check in. An extension of the Team Nihilist/Red Rover crew you’ll find up in the CBD, this place stocks similar pieces with fun quirky house accessories, from collectable collectables to giant Mario Bros inspired cushions. In The Piazza off South Terrace is Hoops of Steel which stocks accessories such as Hayon, James Collingwood, Seriously Twisted, Pastiche and Najo plus classics from D&G as well as a good splash of clothing from urban warrior range Premonition

If it’s recycled clothing you seek, then the east end of High Street is the place to shop. Here there are an assortment of St. Vinnies, Good Sammy’s and Red Cross Family stores all offering unique finds and rare vintage pieces. But if you’re looking for those incredibly rare fashion items than look no further than Dufus, hidden down a side arcade off High Street called Tum Tum Tree Lane – yes, even the name invokes rare magical moments of fashionistary. Dufus is the place where you will find the unique, the obsolete and the covetable.

THIS ART ATTACK!!!

A trip to Fremantle is not complete without a stop by Kulcha. This is where everything multicultural meets and mixes up to create a smorgasbord of cultural delights. Their weekly hour long Tai Chi classes happen every Tuesday and Thursday at 10am, with entry just a mere gold coin. On display is Floral, an art exhibition by Neda Starac, her 26th solo exhibition while coming up is an adventure into the world of the gypsy thanks to the Indogypsy Collective on August 8 at 8pm. Also worth checking out is The Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony August 15 at 8pm.

One should also stop by Spare Parts Puppet Theatre not only to see the rich assortment of puppets housed here but to also capture some good old fashioned puppet shows. Only open in the school holidays, Spare Parts has Hare Brain coming up in September and Shaun Tan’s The Arrival in November (well worth seeing).

On Henry Street you’ll discover contemporary art space The Moore’s Building. This home to thoroughly modern thinking. Next exciting shows coming up include AAA, which explores Perth architecture, in the last week of August plus Art/Paper/Work in September.

But if you are looking for a true art attack, you can’t go any further than Fremantle Arts Centre. Located on Finnerty Street, FAC was the former site of an old mental hospital. Some say it’s even haunted. But what is certain is that you will find an array of haunting exhibitions at this cultural hotspot. They also play host to artist residencies, talks, night classes, weekend workshops and one of the best little art shops in town.

Fremantle is a veritable treasure trove. Of course, what adds to the overall charm of Freo is that there is late night shopping on a Friday plus a free public bus service, or CAT, which services all parts of the inner area. Most cafes also have free broadband too, making escape from the office a reality as you busy yourself in a bustling hive of activity. So whether it’s art, retail or a spot of pub culture you’re looking for, Fremantle caters to a wide array of tastes and adventures. But why not find that out for yourself…

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CAFES & PUBS

• Benny’s / 10 South Terrace / www.bennys.com.au
• Soho Soho Coffee & Burger Bar / 85 High Street / www.sohosoho.com.au
• Pizza on High / 33 High Street
• Organic Royale / Unit 1/15 Essex Street
• Outback Jacks / 13 Essex Street
• X-Wray / Lot 4/3 – 13 Essex Street
• La Tropicana / 177 High Street
• Bar Orient / 39 High Street / www.barorient.com
• Mad Monk / 33 South Terrace / www.madmonk.com.au
• Little Creatures / 40 Mews Road / www.littlecreatures.com.au

RETAIL

• Lick / 25 Market Street
• Wanderlust Shoes / 3 Cantonment Street
• Terrace Men / 65 Market Street / www.terracemen.com
• Subway DC / 52 Market Street
• Afoot / 38a Marine Terrace
• Love in Tokyo / 61-63 High Street / www.loveintokyo.com.au
• Hustle Clothing Store / 68 High Street
• Brooker Furniture / 4 Hines Road / www.brookerfurniture.com.au
• Van Krahl / 56 South Terrace
• Hoops of Steel / Shop 21/18 South Terrace
• Dufus / Shop 2 Tum Tum Tree Lane 130 High Street

ARTS

• Kulcha / 1st floor, 13 South Terrace (above Dome) / www.kulcha.com.au
• Spare Parts Puppet Feature / 1 Short Street / www.sppt.asn.au
• The Moore’s Building / 46 Henry Street / www.awaag.org.au/moores.htm
• Fremantle Arts Centre / 1 Finnerty Street / www.fac.org.au

FESTIVALS

• Street Arts Festival / March
• Fremantle Childrens’ Fiesta / April
• Heritage Festival / May – June
• Village Markets / September – March
• Fremantle Community Fringe Festival / November
• Fremantle Festival / November
• Wardarnji Indigenous Cultural Celebration / November

For further information please visit www.fremantlefestivals.com.