A Gourmet Adventure: Margaret River Region’s Best Restaurants
When visiting Western Australia’s southwest, add these best restaurants in the Margaret River Region to your must-dine list.
The Margaret River Region has over 100 dining options, from epicurean feasts overlooking rolling vines to casual beachside cafes. With so many dining options in Western Australia’s southwest, we gave ourselves the entirely enviable task of creating this Margaret River restaurant round-up, where fresh local produce is always the key performer.
Located three hours south of Perth, the region sprawls across Busselton, Dunsborough, Yallingup, Margaret River and Augusta. Many of these fantastic restaurants are attached to wineries in incredible settings, and you might also enjoy reading our travel guide to the region.
With menus inspired by the pristine environment, you won’t be able to resist indulging at any time of the day or night.
Glenarty Road
At Glenarty Road, an element of trust is required when ordering the set-course feasts. Here’s the thing, you won’t know what you’re getting until it appears on the table in all its rustic glory. This is the very definition of farm-to-table dining, with almost every dish foraged or sourced from the 83-hectare farm, which features vineyards, vegetable gardens, orchards and livestock. If there’s one guarantee though, you’ll have never tasted anything quite like it since everything is sustainable, seasonal, harvested daily and unique to this farmhouse kitchen. Take it a step further, by experiencing your own food and wine foraging adventure on-site, then indulging in the spoils afterwards. This is true Margaret River dining in a nutshell.
70 Glenarty Road, Karridale
Yarri
Although located in the township of Dunsborough, you’re unmistakably in regional WA when dining at Yarri, particularly when lounging on the deck with a glass of local Snake + Herring wine, the surrounding forest as your scenery. The interiors are equally lush, a blend of local Yarri timber, limestone and layered textures of leather and terracotta. Chef Aaron Carr works closely with local producers to showcase the region, with dishes inspired by the six Indigenous seasons to pay homage to the traditional owners of the land.
6/16 Cyrillean Way, Dunsborough
Chow’s Table
What’s not to love about a restaurant nestled between a chocolatier and a winery? Especially when it’s one of the few Asian eateries in the region and overlooks cascading vineyards from the architecturally-designed dining room. Chow’s Table is no red-lantern affair, instead serving up a deliciously contemporary Chinese-Malay sharing menu. Highlights include Albany Akoya with white miso butter, Shark Bay tiger prawn curry laksa, and pork and chive dumplings washed down with local beers and wines, including the likes of neighbouring House of Cards winery.
12/5 Quininup Road, Yallingup
Bunkers Beach House
Overlooking secluded Bunker Bay, this casual eatery is always bustling, with locals and visitors alike. Book in for a lunch at Bunkers to enjoy a set menu that treats you to the freshest local seafood matched with beachfront views and the region's most outstanding wines. Think kumquat, ricotta and fennel, prawns and chimichurri and market fish with bisque and a bounty of sides. Post-lunch, take a stroll along the boardwalk leading to the crystal waters of the Indian Ocean.
Farm Break Lane, Naturaliste
Voyager Estate
Famed for its Cape Dutch architecture and Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon wines, Voyager Estate began merely as a vision for farmer/regional pioneer Michael Wright in the late 1970s. Today, sustainability is at the heart of this iconic family-run estate, that also happens to boast one of the finest restaurants in the state. A reflection of the Mediterranean climate and ingredients in tune with the seasons, settle in for the long haul with their seven-course Discovery degustation menu, or try the four-course Terrior menu - each dish paired with Voyager Estate wines, of course! One of the best winery restaurants in Margaret River, time and time again. A must when visiting the region.
41 Stevens Road, Margaret River
Rustico at Hay Shed Hill
Given the Margaret River Region’s Mediterranean climate, sharing tapas with your loved ones at Rustico is one of the most idyllic ways to dine. The five-course degustation menu takes away any stressful decision-making, with dishes like duck liver parfait, Abrolhos Island scallops, stracciatella and oysters paired with Hay Shed Hill wines. We also recommend ordering a jug of sangria or a glass of their cheeky Pitchfork Pink while overlooking those quintessential vineyards; and as the sun begins to set and tasty tapas begin arriving to your table, La Dolce Vita doesn't even begin to cover it.
511 Harmans Mill Road, Wilyabrup
Wild Hop Brewing Company
How does a free-range rotisserie chicken brined for 48 hours and infused with aromatics, served with duck-fat potatoes sound? Or a Margaret River wagyu steak teamed with bang-bang Korean cauliflower, paired with a batch brewed beer? If that's a yes, Wild Hop Brewing Company is the answer, so roll on in to sip at the source. Set in the Yallingup Hills, this family-run brewpub overlooks a picturesque dam, Gunyulgup Valley and endless rolling vineyards from the expansive deck and industrial chic dining room. Furry friends are welcome too.
1301 Wildwood Road, Yallingup
Arimia
Living by their philosophy of sustainability, long-term farm cultivation is at the core of Arimia. The elegant yet low-impact restaurant serves ingredients grown and reared onsite from their kitchen garden and paddocks, where saddleback pigs regenerate the land. Adhering to the seasons, the menu might feature trout, scallops, marron or wagyu beef paired with Arimia wines, such as the 2021 Verdelho Vermentino or the 2019 Heretic Wines Pinot Noir. Keep an eye out for their year-round culinary events and book a stay at their guest house for the ultimate farm-to-bed experience.
242 Qunininup Road, Wilyabrup
Meelup Farmhouse
Just metres from Meelup Beach, Meelup Farmhouse is a predominantly outdoor venue that's home to alpacas, Silkie chickens, a hairy cow and a farmhouse dog. Luxuriate beneath the gum trees over a picnic hamper or indulge in the seasonal menu crafted by head chef Dean Williams. Orange and poppy seed pancakes and wood-roasted mushrooms with charred Yallingup woodfired sourdough feature on the brunch menu. Farmhouse grazing is encouraged all day, and the more substantial mains include housemade sweet potato flatbread with roasted vegetables and aromatic duck curry with black rice. Scenery and nourishment that's good for the mind, body and soul.
54 Sheens Road, Naturaliste
Amelia Park Restaurant
Already famed for their lamb and beef, it’s only natural an award-winning winery restaurant would evolve at Amelia Park, that also serves to highlight more of their outstanding produce, from heirloom vegetables to local cheeses. Wood-grilled wagyu skewers, the Amelia Park lamb rack and smoked Manjimup rainbow trout are just some of the dishes diners revel in at this sophisticated restaurant with owner/head chef Blair Allen at the helm. Begin the experience with a tasting at the cellar door, or book a private tasting overlooking Wilyabrup Valley.
3857 Caves Road, Wilyabrup
Clairault Streicker
When John H. Streicker first visited Margaret River from the US in 2001, like so many, he was intoxicated with the region and acquired his first vineyard a year later, followed by two more vineyards and a protea farm later forming part of the estate. The grounds at Clairault Streicker are so quintessentially Margaret River that a vineyard picnic is an idyllic way to spend the afternoon - unless you’ve scored a booking in the restaurant to enjoy their take on seasonal delicacies. A wine tasting of Clairault’s wines is also essential, or create your own label with an interactive wine-blending experience, followed by an indulgent lunch or cheese platter.
3277 Caves Road, Wilyabrup
Blue Manna Bistro
Being metres from the coast in the heart of Dunsborough and working closely with Oceans Fresh Seafood, Blue Manna Bistro effortlessly lays claim to one of the state’s finest seafood restaurants. As expected, crab plays a starring role on the menu, with an Asian twist. Soft Shell Crab Jianbing (Chinese crepes) sit alongside whole crispy fish, sake-steamed Shark Bay clams, oysters and Angus beef. Enjoy your meal with a Raspberry Chilli Margarita or one of the many Margaret River Region wines, such as the Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon or the Forester Rose.
1/16 Cyrillean Way, Dunsborough
This round-up is only the tip of the iceberg, with dozens more delicious restaurants to explore in the Margaret River Region. Give yourself plenty of time to explore with our guide on where to play, dine and stay, and while you’re at it, delve into the region’s cultural experiences for a unique perspective of WA’s southwest.