Image: Roel Loopers
The walls of Moore & Moore have many a tale to tell. Located in the Moores Building, one of Western Australia’s most historical sites in Fremantle, this charming building was once home to an old cartway. It has since been subject to a royal visit, and today is a haven for coffee and art lovers alike.
“I love that this building brings together beautiful things that already have so much character,” says Café Owner Simon Naber.
Everywhere you look, from the floorboards to the limestone walls and 1860s building facade, it’s easy to imagine the life that once existed inside these walls in 1844.
Simon opened Moore & Moore in 2008 after working on an Australian cruise boat as a chef.
“I love the idea of being able to get to know a local community and create a hub for them,” says Simon. “I appreciate a good coffee and I know we’re doing something right when customers say, ‘I know I can get a good coffee here any time.’”
Moore & Moore serve Karvan Coffee’s blend #4, which is described as Karvan’s “boldest espresso blend”, meaning it is designed to cut through milk to deliver buckets of flavour. It also features Karvan Coffee’s single origins, which change regularly depending on the season’s best beans.
To accompany the locally roasted coffee, Simon says the café’s food offerings are also a focus. The popular Pot of Moore consists of a Tuscan-type breakfast with fresh tomato salsa, caramelised onion, roasted capsicum and a cracked egg on top. “We offer fresh wholesome food people would find straight from the garden,” says Simon.
A drawcard for visitors is the adjoining Moores Building Contemporary Art Gallery, a council-run exhibition of artwork from local artists. “We see some of Western Australia’s best artists exhibit here as well as local students,” says Simon. “The gallery space changes every two weeks and it’s consistently a blank canvas waiting to showcase new artists.”
Whether you take a walk through the gallery, hang-out in the courtyard or relax over a coffee, Simon says a visit to Moore & Moore Café makes for an interesting experience.
“I love seeing people’s reaction to this place, that’s what’s amazing,” he says.
