SOUTH BEACH HOTEL, South Fremantle”

Nikola Jurin grew up in South Fremantle and used to ride his bike past the Davilak, the shabby old hotel at the end of South Terrace.Little did he know that one day he’d buy the place, turn it into the South Beach Hotel and become a key figure in the ongoing renaissance of the southern reaches of the port city.

Over the past five years Nikola and his team have totally transformed this historic pub, letting its history shine while bringing the menu, service and atmosphere into the 21st century.

The South Beach Hotel is now the jewel in the crown of South Beach. With its salt-etched exterior, turned timber posts and lush ferns near doorways, the SBH looks like a beach hotel should look: unfussy, comfortable in its environment.

Inside, aged jarrah floors glow with stories: no doubt young Diggers would have tipped back a schooner or two before heading to the front.

Horse trainers would have whispered stories of likely winners here, wharfies would have sung about revolution and market gardeners enjoyed a cold beer after a hot day in the sun.

The South Beach Hotel lives and breathes its 111-year history on its walls.

The SBH menu offers top quality meals for great prices, and exceptional care is taken. It may be pub food, but it’s really good pub food.

Famous for its Tuesday Steak Extravaganza ($15 for steak, chips and salad, available noon to 9pm) the SBH also offers Monday Fish & Chips $13, Thursday Pasta or Parma $14, Saturday Big Boy Burger $13 and Sunday Roast and Carvery $17. The $12 lunch menu is on noon-3pm Monday through Friday.

The SBH kitchen is open noon to 9pm 7 days a week, including public holidays.

South Beach Hotel
396 South Tce, South Fremantle
(08) 9335 2088
http://www.sbh.net.au