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Strange Company

5 Nairn Street Fremantle 6160
Phone
No phone number
Website
strangecompany.com.au
Instagram
@strange_company_fremantle

Read time 4 Mins

Posted 06 May 2022

By
Max Veenhuyzen

Everyone’s welcome at this new-era Fremantle small bar where boho cool meets contemporary styling (and drinking).

Strange Company outdoor seating
Why you goAfter a lifetime of embracing its bohemian image, Fremantle and its forward-thinking publicans are upping the ante with new-wave bars that are leaner, sharper and more focussed than before, yet remain unquestionably Freo in spirit. Bars like Strange Company, one of the front-runners of this new movement, if not its outright champion. Taking over a former wetsuit factory, this wood panelled bar-slash-restaurant brings together sleek design, user-friendliness and a polished food and drink package: all the things you could ask for in a local establishment open every day of the week. The address is central, too: the bar is a short stroll to (and some might say distraction from) the port city’s famous Cappuccino Strip, and when you add it all up it’s easy to understand why the buzz here seems constant.
Why you stayIf you can’t wait till the next census for a snapshot of what modern-day Fremantle looks like, an afternoon of people-watching at Strange Company will reveal plenty. From the dressed-up to the dressed-down, the young to the not-as-young, broad is the church that congregates here. The congregation is also a loud one. Spurred on by an upbeat, finger-clicking backing track, these revellers conjure a lively house party atmosphere that the whole street wants in on. (It doesn’t hurt, mind you, that the person hosting this particular party lays on really great food and drinks.) Whatever side of the bar they’re on, everyone here seems to be having a beaut time.
Customers at the Strange Company
Cocktails at the Strange Bar
What drink to orderWhich came first: Strange Company’s diverse crowd or the bar’s considered, across-the-board beverage focus? There’s something for everyone here, and the hand-written specials menu packs the most interest of all. Cocktails courtesy of bar manager Alex Handley and his team are imaginative without compromising on deliciousness. Check out their easy-going Martini made with the Brazilian cane spirit cachaça, accented with orange bitters and chardonnay. The citrussy Sardinian Drifter, on the other hand, brings together chamomile-infused sake and peach in a way that suggests more Japanese-Italian fusion at the cocktail bar can only be a good thing. While the core beer selection features a healthy cross-section of lagers, ales and other popular styles, the guest taps and tinnies push the boat out with sour German beers (Goses and Berliners, say) and high-alcohol IPAs. Wine styles also lean towards the maverick and small-scale, with West Australian producers well represented.
What to pair it withAlthough the menu might be difficult to pigeonhole, Mediterranean and South American flavours are recurring motifs. Ceviche is sharpened by the zingy, limey dressing known poetically as tiger’s milk. Angel-hair pasta is loaded crab and chilli, while grilled baby eggplant is paired with smoked almonds and a salad of red mizuna leaves. Although management has invested in a full-service kitchen, there’s also the (very European) option to snack on tinned fish, charcuterie and cheese: table picnic ahoy. Otherwise, the chef’s selection leaves you free to give your undivided attention to the drinks list as well as the people you came in with.
Appetizers at the Strange Bar, Perth
Staff at the Strange Bar, Perth
Why we love itGee, the staff here know how to make you feel welcome, don’t they? As busy as the space might get on occasion, bartenders and hosts are unfailingly warm and give everyone that passes through the door the impression that they’re (sincerely) happy to see them. The feeling is very much mutual.
Who to takeAnyone. Everyone. As the name might suggest, Strange Company is a study in inclusivity and being many things to many people. Date night? Low-lit tables hug the edges of the room and offer couples a modicum of intimacy. Here with a group? Tables for four are scattered both indoors and out. Here with a bigger group? Two communal tables are on hand for all-in feasting purposes. Rolling solo? Take a seat at the long bar and strike up a conversation with staff and fellow revellers: there’s energy here, certainly, but Strange Company manages to avoid the full-blown anarchy of Freo’s more hedonistic nightspots.
Customers at the Strange Bar, Perth
Authour image
Max VeenhuyzenMax Veenhuyzen is a Perth food, drink and travel journalist who contributes to key Australian publications.
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Drinks DirectoryDate nightKiller cocktailsGood for groupsVego Food OptionsBarPerthBrilliant beer listCasual catch-upWheelchair accessible
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