NOW EXPERIENCING:Madalena’s
Drinks Directory|Restaurant|Fancy occasion|Bar

Madalena’s

Monday: Closed
406 South Terrace, South Fremantle, WA, 6162
Phone
0459 250 952
Website
madalenasbar.com.au
Instagram
@madalenas.bar

Read time 3 Mins

Posted 15 Jun 2022

By
Max Veenhuyzen

A breezy neighbourhood bar by the beach, Madalena’s is a place where fun, lo-fi wines and deftly cooked seafood rule, all displaying serious chops in the food and drink departments.

Madalenas, Perth indoor seating
Why you goOn a sunny afternoon, there are few better places to enjoy a drink and snack than this breezy neighbourhood bar near Fremantle’s South Beach. Not that Madalena’s is a wholly weather-dependent prospect – day or night, warm or cold, guests flock here to drink thoughtfully chosen wines, dig into meticulously handled seafood and live the South Freo dream, even if just for a couple of hours. Following the opening of an upstairs bar in early 2022, Madalena’s regulars have twice as many reasons to visit, with the new expansion bringing sharply made cocktails and non-seafood dishes to the party.
Why you stayEveryone here looks like they’re having a blast, even the chefs in the bustling open kitchen and the easy-going staff patrolling the dining room. Throw a feel-good playlist into the mix and you’re talking a rollicking good time underpinned by serious chops in the food and drink departments. Equally likeable is Madalena’s flexitarian attitude: some patrons are content popping in for a beer and oysters, while others book weeks in advance for their chance to take the chef’s menu – and cellar dominated by natural wines – for a spin.
Customers at the Madalenas, Perth
Food and drinks pairing
What drink to orderFrom day one, wine has been one of Madalena’s cornerstones – in particular wine that has been organically farmed and made with delicious, drink-now enjoyment in mind. The by-the-glass list rotates through a dozen or so wines, each with a one-line descriptor that favours helpfulness (“perfect in the afternoon sun”) over technical jargon. Just like the staff’s approach to wine talk, actually. As you’d expect of an establishment this close to the beach, tap beers are also on hand, while tweaked classics are the focus of the upstairs cocktail bar. Check out Madalena’s take on the French 75, which sees the famous gin and lemon cocktail rendered extra refreshing by upping the proportion of sparkling wine.
What to pair it withThere’s always a shucked-to-order oyster or two on the menu, meaning punters will always have a match for whatever Champagne or other bubbly is pouring when they visit. Otherwise, the breadth of the white, orange – that is, white wines made in a similar style to red wines to create a richer, more savoury wine – and rosé selections give you options galore for playing matchmaker with the barbecued sardines, tuna tartare or whatever small plates of seasonal seafood are cooking. For those chasing something snackier and not so fishy, head upstairs for cheese plates, cured meats and tip-top views of the ocean.
Regular's tipWhile you can book tables downstairs in Madalena’s the restaurant, Madalena’s the bar – the unofficial working title of the upstairs expansion – is walk-in only and open just Friday to Sunday. Although both have separate food offerings, the dessert menu is available on both floors, making it possible to have dinner down below before finishing upstairs. Up top, the five high tables by the window are the best seats in the house – aim to arrive at 4:00pm to maximise your chances of enjoying an uninterrupted sunset view.
Apetizer at the Madalenas
Food and drinks at the Madalenas
Make it fancyLike many wine-focused venues, Madalena’s offers guests a range of harder-to-find wines poured via Coravin, a wine-preservation system that extracts wines from cork-sealed bottles using a hypodermic needle. The fine, barely-there needle means oxygen doesn’t get into the bottle and spoil the wine, and guests can enjoy rare treats from cult winemakers such as organic-winemaking darlings Ivo Ferreira and Julie Brosselin of France’s Languedoc region. Food-wise, market-price whole fish specials – goldband snapper with chamomile butter, perhaps – tick the box for celebratory feasting.
Who to takeLike most new-wave wine bars, there’s a pleasing come-as-you-are quality to Madalena’s, thanks in no small part to the diverse neighbourhood it belongs to. (It also, we’re thrilled to hear, welcomes guests straight from the beach, sandy feet, wet bathers and all.) That said, the bar is better equipped to host social occasions than anything business-related, and four seems to be the magic number. There are four seats at the tables out on the terrace, most of the share plates divide nicely among four, and splitting a bottle of wine between four translates to a glass and a bit for everyone. Like the new saying goes, four the win.
Image of the indoor seating at the Madalenas
Authour image
Max VeenhuyzenMax Veenhuyzen is a Perth food, drink and travel journalist who contributes to key Australian publications.
Tags
Drinks DirectoryPerthOutdoor areaRestaurantKiller cocktailsFancy occasionBarTop notch wine listParty vibesDate night
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