Vin Populi

Packed from the moment it opened in early 2023, Vin Populi has enlivened an historic pocket of port town Fremantle that’s long been busy by day, and crickets at night. It’s a lively yet chic Italian restaurant where dishes are scrawled on one blackboard, and drinks on another (bring your specs or snap a smartphone pic before you sit down). Staff is all Italian – not always a given, in Australia – and food ranges from purist platters, like shaved coppa and prosciutto, to creative bowls, such as Fremantle sardines and chilli wrapped around handmade gnocchetti.

Brought to us by the same legends behind No Mafia in Northbridge, Vin Populi (Italian for 'wine for the people') is a light, breezy and sophisticated wine bar slash restaurant serving up antipasti, fresh made pasta and beautiful local meats alongside a cracking 160-bottle Italian-Australian wine list and sexy Italian cocktails. As an offending pasta paramour who ensures spaghetti is a diet staple, I can confirm that there’s no better place to carb-load in Freo. There would likely be a riot if the tagliatelle ossobuco or potato agnolotti were ever removed from the menu, and I would be leading the charge.

Vin Populi is Italian for ‘wine for the people’, living up to its name in Fremantle’s west end. Handing over ownership to the group behind No Mafi a in Melbourne’s Northbridge and fi ne diner Balthazar was a parting gift from the Abrugiato family, who started the original Roma restaurant here in the 1950s. The enoteca pays homage to the Abrugiatos with its soundtrack of jaunty Italian pop, exposed plaster walls and a menu of antipasti, fresh-made pasta and local meats.

There’s something about this gorgeous, effortlessly cool Italian wine bar that has us feeling like we could linger here for hours. With the most refreshing cocktails (the limoncello spritz is to-die-for), crave-worthy antipasti and a beautiful, breezy atmosphere, it’s easy to see why Vin Populi has fast become a Fremantle hotspot - and one of the best Italian restaurants in Perth. The pasta is fresh, the menu is fantastic and the wine list is incredible.

From the ever-evolving menu etched on a central chalkboard to the excellent wine list and seasonal produce peppered across plates, Vin Populi is a shining light in the Fremantle food scene. There are 17,000 reasons to visit the brand new establishment which has quickly become a cult favourite for its dreamy aesthetic and legendary dishes. Pick a spritz or glass from the wine list which revolves around Italian varietals and small, family-run WA producers.

Vin Populi is a love letter to Italy, brought to life by industry legends Emma Ferguson and Dan Morris, the duo behind No Mafia and Balthazar. Inside, the modern, breezy-fit out transports you to a sun-drenched piazza along Italy’s coastline, where you find yourself sipping a negroni at day’s end or a mid-afternoon spritz before a long lunch ahead. The chalkboard menu is refreshingly simple, listing plates with no descriptions.

There are certain openings that fly under the radar, and others that become the talk of not just the Perth is OK!. office, but the whole darn town. From the same team as the also excellent No Mafia and Balthazar, Vin Populi was one of 2023’s early standouts – we were so charmed by its easy-breezy Italianate energy, delightful staff and lush fit out, it catapulted itself straight onto our best restaurants list.

Vin Populi offers a cozy atmosphere and a delicious pasta menu featuring dishes like duck ravioli and squid ink spaghetti. Pasta Addiction specializes in handmade pasta, with popular items including pizzas and sweet potato gnocchi. Salsa Rossa on George Street in East Fremantle serves modern and seasonal Italian cuisine and is a sister restaurant to the well-known Limones Restaurant.

With its retro-themed vibe, Vin Populi is as popular as any Italian in Fremantle, and for good reason. A perfect place to enjoy tasty pasta’s, antipasti and great wine, this cosy little spot is doing Italian right. Located on Fremantle’s iconic West End, locals can expect hearty dishes and a warm atmosphere, with fantastic vino and a Martini to remember.

Fremantle’s historic streets are home to Vin Populi, a restaurant that embodies the essence of a charming Italian wine bar. The exposed brick walls and intimate setting create a warm and inviting atmosphere. The focus here is on simple, seasonal Italian dishes prepared with fresh, local produce.

Stroll into Vin Populi and be transported to a Roma Cucina, thanks to its idyllic textured plaster walls and mosaic-tiled tables. Wine bottles sit high on wooden floating shelves, and a blackboard has all the best tipples of the day. As for the menu, it’s all about pasta.

If you’re looking for a Fremantle restaurant that offers a taste of Italy, Vin Populi is the place for you. This Italian eatery boasts imported Italian wines and authentic dishes that are often ranked among the best food available in Fremantle.

This latest creation by the “it” couple of hospitality, Dan Morris and Emma Ferguson (Balthazar, No Mafia), is a love letter to Italian eating. Their sliced meats are perfect antipasti. Vin Populi’s Dan Morris and Emma Ferguson.

Meanwhile, Fremantle's Vin Populi, a sister restaurant of No Mafia, proposes a unique Italian-Australian wine and food experience, offering antipasti, fresh pasta, local meats, Italian cocktails, and doughnuts.

My Italian friend introduced me to this place and I must say that I am obsessed with the hospitality here. Amazing staff and the food is top notch. I keep coming back for Linguine Alle Vongole and octopus.

Wagyu bresaola, handmade pasta, lo-fi wines and the "Freo doctor" make a charming combo at this wine bar, which is from the team behind No Mafia and Balthazar.

Italian vino and freshly made pasta on High Street — what could be better?. * WA Good Food Guide Top 100 Restaurants