The Old Synagogue

The Old Synagogue is a Fremantle hospitality precinct with four distinct venues under one roof: Tonic + Ginger, The Arbor, Mr Chapple and L’Chaim. Set at the corner of South Terrace and Parry Street, the building dates back to 1902 and was Western Australia’s first synagogue. It is now a state heritage-listed site that brings a significant part of Fremantle’s history together with several different ways to eat and drink.

Tonic + Ginger is the precinct’s Southeast Asian restaurant, with a menu inspired by flavours from across the region and dishes designed to share. The restaurant’s setting features pendant lighting and has received multiple awards. For a more casual visit, The Arbor combines a beer and wine garden with three levels of greenery and outdoor space by day, then becomes a basement dancefloor on weekends. The venue says it can accommodate up to 500 people, making it the largest and most group-oriented option in the complex.

Mr Chapple is a bar on the South Terrace and Parry Street side, with views towards Fremantle’s Cappuccino Strip from both ground level and the rooftop. It serves coffee from 8am, seven days a week, as well as food and beer later in the day. L’Chaim offers a more concealed experience: this intimate cocktail bar is hidden behind a bookcase below the former synagogue. Its cocktail focus and low-key, tucked-away setting make it the most distinctive choice for an evening drink. The venue is also home to Père Julio, a cocktail that won WA’s Best Cocktail at the 2024 AHA WA competition. It combines Don Julio Añejo, mezcal, pear, lemon and red wine.

There is plenty of variety for different occasions, from a coffee or quick bite at Mr Chapple to a shared meal at Tonic + Ginger, drinks in The Arbor or cocktails at L’Chaim. The precinct caters for corporate functions, birthdays, celebrations and private events, with multiple areas and ample seating. The Arbor, Mr Chapple and L’Chaim currently accept walk-ins only, while group and function enquiries are handled through the functions team. With its mix of dining rooms, garden spaces, rooftop views and a hidden bar, The Old Synagogue suits groups wanting options, as well as visitors keen to explore several venues in one Fremantle address.