NOW EXPERIENCING:Honky Tonk Blues
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Honky Tonk Blues

Friday: 6:00 PM – 1:00 AM
81 High Street, Fremantle, WA, 6160
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@honkytonkfreo

Read time 4 Mins

Posted 08 Jul 2024

By
Max Veenhuyzen

People at the bar inside Fremantle's Honky Tonk Blues

Meet the Southern American-inspired saloon with live country music, spirited dancing, whiskey galore and diner-style classics that Fremantle didn’t know it needed.

Live music and line dancing draws a crowd at Honky Tonk Blues in Fremantle
Why you goNo one else in Fremantle – and perhaps even all of Western Australia – is having more fun on a Sunday night than the Honky Tonk Blues crowd. A loosely arranged grid of line dancers – many dressed in Western garb complete with ornate, calf-high buckaroo boots and cowboy hats – has commandeered the dance floor, scooting and kicking to the high-energy Shania Twain cover being performed by The Hoedown. Later, soul-blues duo Papa Peet will take to the stage to keep the live music going. The sound system is crisp, there’s plenty of activity electrifying the neon-lit bar, and an entire city is being reminded that, when done well, a themed bar can be a good time for all.
Why you stayWhile Western Australia is no stranger to American-inspired watering holes – dive bars! Whiskey saloons! Prohibition-era speakeasies! – Honky Tonk Blues represents a new frontier for the genre. Set inside the former home of the historic RSL Wyola Club, this is a spirited, sincere tribute to the sounds and saloons of America’s southern states. Owners Ben Bell and Josh Paparo have put plenty of themselves into the space, not least because they completed much of the woodwork and panelling in the bar themselves. While you already know about the dance floor, wallflowers aren’t forgotten. Booths near the front of the bar are great for smaller groups, while the games room and outdoor beer garden offer more opportunities to cool those dancing heels.
Whiskey is a drawcard at Honky Tonk Blues in Fremantle
A busy bar scene inside Fremantle's Honky Tonk Blues
What drink to orderNo prizes for guessing that American whiskeys are the star of this show. While house pours such as Maker’s Mark and Jack Daniel’s will suit those at the start of their rye and bourbon adventures, older and harder-to-find whiskeys are available for more seasoned drinkers: think American classics such as Rittenhouse rye, or 10-year-old Eagle Rare bourbon. Although Mexican in origin, tequila and mezcal also chime with the bar’s Southern American theme, while Scotch and Irish drops wait in the wings for their chance to impress. Sure, bartenders can fix Negronis, Old-Fashioneds, Margaritas and other classics, but this isn’t the place for cocktail acrobatics. (If that’s what you’re after, consider making the short walk to tiki-leaning Junglebird, the owners’ sister venue, a few doors up on High Street.)
What to pair it withAll that boot scootin’ sure does work up an appetite (and thirst). The kitchen keeps the party going with a tight, on-theme menu of diner and American barbecue classics that serve as both fuel and ballast for revellers. Sharing? Consider the fries, dixie drumsticks, mac’n’cheese bites or the hefty Honky Tonk platter that brings together most of the items on the menu. Ordering individually? Burger options include pulled pork, fried chicken and a classic cheeseburger, all served with fries. Plus, there’s a sirloin steak that takes things a little more upmarket with the inclusion of potato rosti (and salad). Bonus points, too, for a kitchen that stays open until 10:00pm.
Burgers and ribs are among the Southern American specialities at Honky Tonk Blues
Regular’s tipAlthough there’s often a cover charge for touring acts, entry to Honky Tonk is free on most nights, including its popular Wednesday line-dancing class. Considering the evening’s program includes a lesson, live music, plus plenty of opportunities to put what you’ve learned into practice, it’s not surprising it’s one of the busiest nights of the week. It also doesn’t hurt that Wednesdays see the kitchen offer a $25 burger and drink deal (there’s also a Thursday night steak-meal deal, plus Friday evening happy hour). On Mondays, the bar hosts an open mic night that gives emerging performers a chance to strut their stuff.
Oeople enjoying Honky Tonks Blues in Fremantle
Who to take“This bar sounds good for one beer,” – or so cautioned friends of owners Josh Paparo and Ben Bell when they first floated the idea of a Southern American-themed music bar in Freo’s West End. Good thing management didn’t pay any heed to the naysayers. If they had, the port city would be without one of the more enjoyable and original drinking establishments it’s seen in some time – a place that’s as suited to date night as it is to a catch-up with friends or a quiet solo outing to listen to live music, often without a cover charge. Like we were saying, no one is enjoying themselves quite like the Honky Tonk crowd.
Authour image
Max VeenhuyzenMax Veenhuyzen is a Perth food, drink and travel journalist who contributes to key Australian publications.
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Drinks DirectoryA+ spirits listDate nightWheelchair accessibleGood for groupsMeal and a bevParty vibesCasual catch-upGreat tunesAfter work drinksBarHappy hourSpecialty BarOutdoor areaPerth
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