The Old Synagogue

Fremantle has a colourful history, with every building telling a tale or three, and The Old Synagogue is no exception.

Built in 1902, the Fremantle Synagogue serviced the Jewish community until 1910 before moving up the river relocating to Perth. Since the site in Fremantle has been an auction mart, rug shop, clothing store, and gallery and café before claiming its latest guise as The Old Synagogue.

The Old Synagogue was painstakingly restored and relaunched in 2019 with a mix of four venues that suits day and night: a café bar, modern Asian restaurant, speakeasy cocktail bar and a three-storey pub. Positioned in the heart of Fremantle’s entertainment district, its rebirth is the brainchild of Ross Drennan and Drew Flanagan from Nokturnl Events. Their previous projects include Oktoberfest in the Gardens and New Year's Eve festivities on the Perth Foreshore.

From 7am, Mr Chapple opens for breakfast, then serves drinks until dark. A former 1920s shop that now boasts a rooftop terrace overlooking South Terrace, and a cosy fireplace inside for the chillier months, it's a versatile meeting place for brunch or a beer. Indulge in breakie dishes like orange hotcake stack with coconut yoghurt, pineapple maple crush and chocolate syrup or if craving something savoury opt for a soft-shell crab croissant with fried egg, pickle, and chilli hollandaise. Come happy hour, the wine list features Australia labels with rotating wines of the month selected by Freo local sellers, Old Bridge Cellars.

By lunchtime, the doors to Tonic & Ginger open. Housed in the main Synagogue building, tables are set under a mass of delicate hanging lights, surrounded by the iconic red bricks of this almost 120-year-old building. Executive Chef Leigh Power has injected his passion for south-east Asian street food into the menu with a selection of bites like shiitake mushroom and Chinese broccoli dumplings, and chicken pot dumplings with sesame caramel, through to larger dishes for feasting: WA snapper baked in a fragrant yellow curry in banana leaf is our favourite. A large part of the menu offers spicy plant-based options including their famed firecracker whole baked cauliflower with bang bang sauce.

The Arbor is one of Fremantle's best spots to soak up the sun or be social well into the night. Spread over three levels, grab a drink on the ground floor, then a seat on the rooftop alcove overlooking the Fremantle footy oval, or head underground in the concrete bunker bar that is a new edition to the site created during its architectural revival. Come dusk, all three bar levels are heaving, as it's popular with a night-time crowd (it can cater to up to 500 people) and features live music and a modern pub menu.

L'Chaim, a toast meaning "to life" in Hebrew, is worth finding if seeking something a little more intimate. Tucked far beneath the main Synagogue building, find the door hidden in the wooden wall that leads to a book filled hallway to another secret door where a new world awaits. Be transported back to the prohibition era with plush red velvet booths and low-lit lighting, walls littered with books and unique décor carefully sought from local antique and second-hand shops. Behind the bar, master mixologist Matt Bodycote shakes contemporary spins on classic cocktails: Coconut Pandan Negroni adds a creamy texture to the traditional gin-based drink, or their take on a Bloody Mary, called Dear Maria, is tomato juice-based with burnt rosemary and tequila. On weekends, there is even more old-world charm at L'Chaim with a live pianist.

Photo credit: The Old Synagogue