La Cabaña

La Cabana is a coastal Mexican bar and taqueria at 400 South Terrace, South Fremantle, doing fire-cooked food, tacos and a serious margarita list from a weathered corner building. The draw for dog owners is the big covered courtyard out the back, which stays usable in rain or full sun.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the leafy covered courtyard, which is where most people sit anyway. Inside the main building is off limits. House rules are simple: leashed at all times and kept on the ground rather than up on the seats. Staff are accommodating and will usually bring a water bowl out for your dog, though carrying a spare is never a bad idea on a warm Freo afternoon.

Pepsi: I scored my own water bowl before the humans even ordered. Ten out of ten, would supervise taco consumption again.

Worth knowing

The kitchen runs wood-fired and charcoal cooking: chargrilled corn with tentacles, fish tacos, lamb tacos, hand-crushed potatoes, sweet potato splinters and a proper spread of vegan and vegetarian options, with local seafood tostadas when the boats are in. It opens Wednesday and Thursday from 4pm, and from midday Friday through Sunday; Monday and Tuesday are closed. The courtyard fills early on summer evenings and weekends, so arriving before 6pm makes an easier dog table.

Getting there and parking

South Terrace is the main strip of South Fremantle, about 10 minutes walk south of the Fremantle city centre. Free street parking runs along South Terrace and the side streets, though it tightens up on weekends. The venue is wheelchair accessible through the front gate.

Close by with the dogs

South Beach is a short walk west, with the off-leash stretch between Douro Road and Scott Street letting dogs swim and run off-leash under voice control; see the South Beach dog off-leash area page for the boundary details. The Groyne is another off-leash green option nearby, and South Beach Cafe is a casual dog-friendly coffee stop on the same stretch. Further along South Terrace, Madalena's Bar is another dog-welcoming spot.

More of the area is on the South Fremantle destination page, and the wider list sits under dog friendly restaurants in WA.