Fun Stuff

Welcome to Local Good Friends, our series celebrating the people, places and businesses that make Western Australia such a special place to live, work and explore.

This edition takes us to La Cabaña in South Fremantle, where coastal Mexican flavours, West Australian produce and relaxed beachside hospitality come together in one unforgettable dining experience.

Founded by chef Ben Fossilo, alongside Madi Fay and Jarrah Stevenson, La Cabaña has become one of Perth's favourite neighbourhood restaurants. Since opening, Eagle Bay Brewing Co. has proudly been part of its carefully curated beer offering, both on tap and in the fridge.

We caught up with Ben to learn more about the story behind La Cabaña and the philosophy that continues to make it one of Western Australia's most loved dining destinations.

Inspired by Mexico, Grounded in Western Australia

For Ben, the idea for La Cabaña began thousands of kilometres away.

After travelling through Mexico during several winter escapes, he experienced authentic tacos and tortillas for the first time.

"It completely changed my understanding of what Mexican food could be."

When the time came to open his own restaurant, he wanted to capture that feeling while creating something uniquely West Australian.

Together with lifelong friends Madi Fay and Jarrah Stevenson, he found the perfect site just 100 metres from South Beach.

A Restaurant Built for the Coast

La Cabaña was never intended to be a formal dining room.

Instead, the vision was simple.

A place where people could wander in with sandy feet, order a margarita or a beer, share great food and spend the afternoon with friends.

"Mexican food is relaxed. It's social. It belongs outdoors."

That easy-going atmosphere has become one of the restaurant's defining characteristics and perfectly suits the coastal lifestyle of South Fremantle.

A West Australian Take on Mexican Cuisine

While deeply inspired by traditional Mexican cooking, La Cabaña's menu celebrates local ingredients and seasonal produce.

Ben explains that Mexican cuisine is incredibly regional, with dishes changing dramatically depending on geography.

That inspired the team to imagine Western Australia as though it were another coastal region of Mexico.

"We wanted to stay true to the flavours and techniques of Mexican food while using the incredible produce we have right here."

It's an approach that feels both authentic and distinctly local.

Drinks Made for Sharing

While tequila often steals the spotlight, Ben believes mezcal is one of Mexico's greatest treasures.

"So many different regions produce completely different styles."

In Mexico, enjoying a cold beer alongside a mezcal is part of everyday life.

For Ben, it's a pairing that perfectly captures the relaxed, social spirit of the cuisine.

A Longstanding Connection with Eagle Bay

For Ben, Eagle Bay Brewing Co. has always represented everything he loves about the South West.

"I have great memories of surf trips down south, finishing at the brewery for a few cold beers."

That shared appreciation for quality, community and relaxed hospitality has made Eagle Bay beers a natural fit at La Cabaña since the restaurant first opened.

Ben's Perfect South Fremantle Day

When he's not in the kitchen, Ben's ideal day close to home looks something like this:

• An early swim at South Beach.
• A session at South Beach Sauna.
• Coffee and breakfast at Third Wheel.
• Margaritas and tacos at La Cabaña.
• A pint at the local pub.
• Cocktails or wood-fired cooking at Wild in the Street.
• Finishing the day watching the sunset over the beach with fish and chips.

"It's a pretty quintessential South Freo day."

Built by Community

Opening a restaurant in February 2020 should have been the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

Instead, two weeks later, the world changed.

COVID-19 forced La Cabaña to close almost immediately after opening.

Rather than defining the business, however, it became one of its greatest strengths.

"The community really got behind us."

Local support through takeaway orders and words of encouragement helped the restaurant survive those uncertain months.

"It gave us the foundations for everything we've become."

Today, that sense of community still sits at the heart of La Cabaña.

Why We Love La Cabaña

For Ben, hospitality has always been about more than food.

It's about how people feel.

"We want people to walk in and immediately feel looked after."

Family-style dining.

Relaxed service.

Great music.

Great food.

Great company.

Those values feel remarkably similar to our own, which is exactly why we're proud to call La Cabaña one of our Local Good Friends.