Port Mill B&B, Fremantle review: Weekend away

The location

If you're heading westside for the weekend, Fremantle, Perth's better half, is the place to stay. Only a 30-minute train ride from the CBD, this B&B harks back to Freo's working-class roots with the facade of an old flour mill and a splash of Parisian charm.

The place

Through grand, wrought-iron gates, the B&B's entrance and courtyard is enclosed by limestone walls with Juliet balconies and flowerboxes. It's quaint, just like the four bedrooms inside. Each room can sleep two people and has an ensuite bathroom and private balcony - the perfect spot for your morning café au lait and croissant. The rooms aren't huge, but much of your time will be spent on Freo's main street, or at the famous markets around the corner.

The experience

Fremantle has a completely different vibe to Perth. It's like a Byron Bay of the west, filled with chilled-out cafes and hipster eateries, such as Run Amuk hot dogs, which does seriously good bratwursts in buns. There's also the Little Creatures brewery on the water, where the locals come to sip on craft beer and watch the sun sink into the ocean. The stunning beaches of Rottnest Island are also only a 25-minute ferry-ride away.

Don't miss

So you've gone all this way, you might as well make it a long weekend, right? From November 21-23 this year, the annual Gourmet Escape festival - a foodie and wine-lover's dream that has Heston Blumenthal's tick of approval - takes place on the Margaret River (about three hours' drive south). Pick up a bottle of French champagne to enjoy back at your Parisian-style digs.

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