I say cool a lot and I know I need more adjectives to describe stuff but… the coolest place has just (3 weeks ago) opened in Fremantle’s East End: The East End Bar and Lounge.

I went there on Saturday night and seriously the place is fab you have to go check it out. The decor is a cross between a gentleman’s smoking lounge and Moulin Rouge with a bit of Soho House thrown in. Chesterfields, Louis XV chairs, standard lamps, chandeliers, brocade fabric and three different types of flocked wall paper. A lot of care and detail has been put in to the surroundings.  Another thing I liked was that the place wasn’t completely gutted: many of the original features from the bars previous incarnation as a working man’s Irish pub are still there and it all fits together nicely. It’s a unique place not only for Fremantle but for Perth.

Left: Downstairs where the dance floor is. Right: Upstairs another lounge area.

Whatever about the decor, the drinks are great as well. A huge plus is that there’s table service so if you have a good spot lounging in a wing backed chair you can stay where you are. We moved around quite a bit and sat at the bar for a while. A barman with Russel Brand hair served up some good drinks, I had a whiskey sour and negroni and another fruity raspberry thing that I can’t remember the name of.

There’s a big dance floor and when we arrived, which was about 9.30pm, a seven piece band was playing. It managed to be nice and loud but you can still hold a conversation with the person next to you without screaming at each other. No doubt all the fabric draped everywhere helps the acoustics. There’s two large plasma screens mounted over the dance floor showing MTV, I’d rather see some Nouvelle Vague or trashy Russ Meyer screening, MTV doesn’t suit the tone of the place.

Currently it’s open on Friday and Saturday night and the dress code I’d say is more smart than casual; everyone seemed to have put a bit of effort in with their clothes.

The East End Bar and Lounge,
189 High Street,
Fremantle,
WA 6160.

Ph: (08) 9335 3331