Travel guide kudos for cafe

Karratha’s Empire6714 cafe has been named the city’s most recommended place to eat in the soon to be released edition of the global travel guide Lonely Planet.

Empire6714 cafe owner Tanya Argent, who has called Karratha home for seven years, said she was “overwhelmed” that her business had been recognised.

“It was a pretty big shock to be honest,” she said. “Very overwhelming.”

Having opened just before Christmas in 2014, Ms Argent said it had been a significant achievement in such a short period.

Ms Argent said Empire 6714 had been “exceptionally well received” since opening.

“The community has been really supportive since day one,” she said.

Ms Argent said her vision was to provide food options that catered for people with food allergies while using as much local produce as possible.

Karratha was described in the guidebook as “the primary base for mining and industry in the region”, with “cafes that wouldn’t look out of place in the coolest parts of Perth”.

“In the past, most travellers to Karratha ran their errands — banking, restocking, repairing stuff etc — and then got out the town before their wallet ignited,” it reads.

“That did the town a small disservice.

“While it won’t win any awards for prettiest town, it certainly has a few things worth sticking around to investigate — from tours to ancient rock art to cafes that wouldn’t look out of place in Perth.”