Fremantle is famous for its so-called “Cappuccino Strip”, but the best brunches in Perth’s charming port city are hidden beyond the obvious spots.
Converted petrol stations, moody attics, avant-garde contemporary art galleries… the locations alone are enough to make you want to explore Fremantle’s eclectic café scene, and that’s before you’ve seen what’s on the menu. Escape the crowded, costly cafés of the Cappuccino Strip and grab brunch at one of these 10 Freo favourites.
You can’t miss this quirky café on South Terrace — firstly because of the giant mural of two rainbow-coloured zebras splashed across its walls, and secondly because of the giant crowds that fill its tables every Saturday morning for brunch. Situated inside an old antiques store, Ootong & Lincoln is big on homemade and wholesome food — chooks are roasted in-house, jams are preserved on-site, and there are loads of meat-free meals on the menu.
Chalkys bills itself as the best of Fremantle’s West End, and it’s hard to disagree when you’re tucking into something from the huge all-day breakfast menu washed down with a top-notch cup roasted by renowned Melbourne institution Dukes. This industrial-chic café is quintessentially Fremantle, occupying the huge arched windows of the historic Fremantle Municipal Tramways Building.
With local art hanging on the walls and vintage décor filling the space, this Holland St eatery — as the name suggests — is one of Fremantle’s coolest cafés. Expect generous, arty, colourful plates of food to come out of the kitchen for brunch — cream-covered lemon meringue pie, French toast topped with a radiant berry compote, and golden goat’s cheese, caramelised onion and sweet potato tarts are some of the specialties.
The moon rabbit is an Asian fable about an obliging bunny who sacrificed himself to feed the gods, and although there’s no hare on the menu at this North Fremantle café, the Rabbit in the Moon does offer plenty of mouthwatering brunch options to satisfy any appetite. Grab a table with a view of the water, then order one of the café’s legendary sweet treats like an over-the-top “freakshake” or a ginormous plate of waffles.
Fremantle is peppered with artistic conversions of heritage buildings, but few are as stylish as the uber-cool Moores Building, now home to a cutting-edge contemporary art gallery plus one of the neighbourhoods best brunch spots. Moore & Moore plates up a fresh and seasonal all-day breakfast in the gallery’s shady courtyard, with a particular focus on sustainability — produce is sourced locally and ethically, and there are stacks of gluten-free and veggie options.
With brilliant names for dishes like “Cereal killer”, “We’re all going on a summer hollandaise” and “I didn’t quit sugar”, brunch at this cheery Collie St café tastes every bit as delicious as it sounds. Duck Duck Bruce is the brainchild of married couple Sean and Charlie and their best mate “Woody”, who’ve used second-hand furniture and first-class hospitality to transform a charming heritage home into one of Fremantle’s most welcoming eateries.
Open for brekky every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Kazoomies isn’t your classic bacon-and-eggs brunch spot — esteemed chef Nimrod Kazoom instead produces richly spiced dishes inspired by North Africa and Spain, such as falafel waffles and the award-winning lamb shakshuka. And the location is just as spectacular, enjoying a prime waterfront location in the scenic timber E Shed Markets on Victoria Quay.
Wander off Fremantle’s Cappuccino Strip and you’ll stumble across this homely café located, you guessed it, in the attic of a humble two-storey red-brick building. Exposed beams and comfy couches provide the backdrop for a trendy brunch at the Attic — think modern Latin American flavours like jalapeño, quinoa and green chilli — plus, prices are a lot friendlier than anywhere you’ll find on Freo’s main drag.
Husband-and-wife team Cat and Dave Exham returned from travelling the world to open this South Fremantle café, and there’s a distinctly international streak that runs through the exciting brunch menu. The owners are also passionate about “upcycling” — tables are made of disused pallets, recycled wine bottles become lights, and even the bar was taken from an old bridge. Most meals can be made dairy- or gluten-free, too.
This South Fremantle café roasts its own beans on-site, but they take their food as seriously as they take their coffee. Port City Roasters’ compact brunch menu is sprinkled with creative dishes like the passionfruit, mandarin and ginger French toast or the Sriracha-spiced eggs Benedict, neatly complementing the freshly roasted specialty coffee and the super-stylish fit-out of a converted petrol station.
