The Best Small Bars in Fremantle

From a French wine bar to an underground speakeasy or head to the Caribbean via a lively rum bar, finding these quirky Fremantle establishments is half the fun.

And thanks to Fremantle's collection of heritage-listed buildings, many of these drinking dens also bring a unique story to discover.

Whisper Wine Bar

A renovated flour mill cum wine lover's haven, Whisper Wine Bar is nestled on Essex Street just metres from Fremantle Markets. The two-story limestone building has outdoor benches tucked under umbrellas that catch the afternoon sun or head upstairs to the Mediterranean style balcony, complete with benches and flower beds, for a more secluded seat. Established by Parisian Thierry Rodari, who wanted to give Fremantle a taste of France, Whispers offers a solid selection of French wines at very reasonable prices, featuring Champagne (naturally), to Cabernet Merlot from Bordeaux and Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley. Their wine list also combines local drops from the Great Southern and southwest of Western Australia. If feeling peckish, grab a cheese platter to pair with your wine of choice.

L'Chaim

You enter speakeasy L'Chaim through a secret bookcase and immediately arrive in a prohibition styled bar with plush velvet booths, vintage décor, and delicate crystal chandeliers adding to its ambience. This hidden bar resides inside The Old Synagogue, a multi-venue precinct in the heart of Fremantle built in 1902 that is now home to four popular venues to wine and dine in, including The Arbor and Mr Chapple. L'Chaim (meaning 'to life' in Hebrew) shakes a classic cocktail list categorised into bitter, sour, refreshing and bold, so there are plenty of options to suit all tastes. Like Old Syn, their house-style Old Fashioned based with El Dorado rum, to the Audrey Hepburn, made with pet-nat, gin, and citrus served in a champagne glass. Come pre-dinner for an aperitif or a nightcap after an Asian-fusion dining experience upstairs at Tonic and Ginger.

Darling Darling

Darling Darling sits on Henry Street in Freo's West End, surrounded by elegant heritage buildings making its entrance unsuspecting. Designed by renowned interior designer Ashley Sutton, the creative brains behind destination bars across Asia, including Iron Fairies (in Bangkok, Hong Kong and Tokyo), who's brought this eclectic charm to Fremantle. Darling Darling's unique dive bar aesthetic mimics a sailor's watering hole in the 1860s. You'll find it decked out with thick ropes on the walls, telescopes, ship's steering wheels and wooden barrels, all lit by candlelight. You won't be surprised to hear stiff spirits are bountiful. Bourbon Sour, Dark and Stormy, spiced rum Old Fashioned, or dive into the seafarer's spirit and sip on an aged Caribbean Bumbu Rum. There is also a small wine and beer list. And don't forget to visit the loos – rumours have it the bathtub in the restrooms was once owned by Marilyn Munroe.

Jungle Bird

As soon as you step inside Jungle Bird, you feel its Caribbean spirit. Think tropical pot plants, booths disguised as tiki huts and wooden lampshades… and plenty of rum on the drinks menu. Located on High Street, a strip of Fremantle that is mostly lined with cafes and boutique shops, Jungle Bird is the exception. Come night, this corner bar is full of punters sitting outside with their cocktail concoctions from a menu that includes the Zombie, made with a trio of rum plus apricot brandy topped with pineapple juice, classic Mojitos and Mai Tais. Plus they offer super affordable snacks like jerk chicken for $10 and a jackfruit burger for just $12.

Strange Company

A former wetsuit factory, now a sleek bar, invites you to stay for a while - either outside by the fragrant rosemary hedged patio, or inside by the bamboo greenery. Strange Company's extensive wine list has an Australian focus, be it a woody Chardonnay from the Adelaide Hills, crisp Chenin Blanc from the Swan Valley to a well-rounded Margaret River Cabernet. For the cocktail connoisseur, drinks are creative. The spritzy pet-nat and green tea vodka combo in a Petty Crime, the Roundhouse Punch made with slow gin, hibiscus and caramelised banana, to sour tipples like the Madam Woo, gin-based with Italian vermouth, lemon, burnt orange, grapefruit and thyme. A tapas food menu is made to be shared with wagyu carpaccio, scallops with lemon, and potato croquettes current fan favourites.

Republic of Fremantle

Locals flock to the Republic of Fremantle for its gin and vodka - distilled onsite - and therefore its lip-smacking cocktails. Merging the modern with the historic, the warehouse space has been converted into a contemporary two-story venue retaining its old brickwork, now with added splashes of colour via creamy beige walls, a marble bar top, and pops of blue in bar tiles. Their cocktail list is sizeable. Try the Republic Special, based in gin with mulberry, apricot, lime and pineapple or the Fig Leaf Americano mixing their Signature Vodka, Aperol, pineapple and hibiscus. Grab an alfresco table on Pakenham Street under the white steel parklet in the summer months. If you're a die-hard gin lover, Republic of Fremantle also run a gin school, where you can learn to distil your own gin to your liking to take home.

Mrs Brown

Like many Fremantle bars, Mrs Brown in North Freo has a relaxed, home-from-home feel with exposed brick walls, dark timber floors, soft floral wallpaper, comfy sofas and stacks of board games ready for play. Wine is the reason to come from an orange drop from a boutique Mount Barker winery, Pinot Noir from Margaret River or a Chardonnay from Port Elliot in South Australia. Craft beers are also plentiful - grab a Dingo Brewing lager and settle in the leafy courtyard on a sunny day. Come winter, mulled wine is optimum whilst nestled in a leather armchair by the roaring fireplace. Run by the team behind North Fremantle's Propeller restaurant and burger joint Flipside, one of Mrs Brown's added drawcards is that you can have Flipside burgers or manoushe pizzas from Propeller delivered directly to your table.

Ronnie Nights

As you're wandering along Market Street, you'll come across Ronnie Nights, and if the ambient lighting and elongated bar don't draw you in, the jazz music by the window certainly will. This two-story bar has many nooks and crannies to settle in with a cocktail, whether it's up the wooden staircase to the dance floor or in the emerald clad Green Room. The bartenders can stir or shake you up a cocktail of your choosing. Or pick one from the list of delectable options. Sal II is a gin sour made with house-made hibiscus syrup, grapefruit, lemon and bitters. The Dennis II is their twist on the Espresso Martini, made with Jameson whiskey, cold brew coffee, oat milk, honey and Wattleseed. Live jazz is on every Friday.

Percy Flint

South Fremantle has tough competition for great small bars, with Percy Flint one of the best. This cosy corner venue has street-side benches for people watching on South Terrace, while inside, booths and chesterfield lounges are ideal for groups. The leafy back garden is optimum for a balmy summer evening drinking fest. Pints from Perth's Nail Brewing, Margaret River's Beerfarm or Denmark's Boston Brewing are freshly poured from the tap or ask the bartenders to shake up a cocktail such as Disco Juice based in Bourbon, peach schnapps, passionfruit, line and mint. The wine list mixes the old and new world with sparkling from France, reds from Italy, whites and rosés hailing from South Australia and WA. Order a few share plates for your group – their chilli cheese fries and spicy chicken wings never disappoint.

Who's Your Mumma

Tucked under a residential building on the corner of Wray Avenue and South Terrace, Who's Your Mumma is a small local bar that boasts a light and airy interior, knowledgeable bar staff and great weekly drinks specials. A stylish wine cellar houses reds from the Barossa Valley, Margaret River, and the Mornington Peninsula, Rieslings from Denmark's Singlefile and rosé from Marlborough. Come down for Aperitivo Afternoons (Tuesday to Sunday, 4pm and 6pm) when you can snap up an Aperol Spritz, Campari or Negroni for just $10. On hump day, you're treated to Whiskey Wednesday specials or pop in Thursdays for their bao bun and beer combo.

Discover more of the best bars in Fremantle, from cappuccino to cocktail hour, in our WINE section.

Top image: Strange Company