Margaret River Restaurants & Cafes
Welcome to Margaret River’s Indoor and Outdoor Dining Scene
Rene Redzepi, the world renowned Danish Chef, once said: “People will travel anywhere for good food.” And when it comes to planning that perfect Forest Rise weekend getaway, you’ll want to know where all of the good food is in Margaret River. In addition to being the primary tourist area for wine enthusiasts, we are also home to a number of top rated dining establishments that will please both epicurean and modest appetites. The prices of Margaret River restaurants and cafes are also wallet friendly; ranging from economical to moderately expensive.
It is completely understandable that a secret little weekend holiday in Australia’s premier wine country is a must-do occasion for couples, young and not so young. And yet, the beauty of a 2 or 3 day getaway can be just as luxurious and private in the middle of the week. While it may be the vineyards (view our top recommended wineries here), the oceans, the walking trails, or another event that brings you to Forest Rise, it is definitely going to be the food that will bring you back.
Satisfy Every Taste, Culinary Style, and Dietary Demands
First Meal of the Day
Within and around the Margaret River central area there is a variety of cafes, breakfast bars, coffee vans, and fast food eateries that specialise in serving residents and visitors with some of the most delectable early morning foods and beverages.
You’ll discover some of the most mouth pleasing croissants, egg dishes featuring locally grown and caught produce, meat, and fish, as well as some of the country’s best brewed coffee and tea. Forget about big named, chain eateries. In Margaret River cafes, breakfast is best enjoyed at a leisurely pace. No rush, no hassle, just fine food served with a big helping of friendly, authentic, Western Australian hospitality.
Midday Meals and Desserts
Wherever you are in the greater Margaret River region, there is a dining adventure waiting for you. We have a cornucopia of eating establishments that feature both local specialties and popular midday meals. Most of our fabulous vineyards also accommodate their visitors with restaurants or verandas for leisurely meals and snacks that can be paired with a glass or bottle of award winning wine. There are also non-alcoholic beverages for those driving and for children.
You can enhance your outdoor, travels with takeaway food and drinks from any of our Margaret River cafes, pubs, pizzerias, bakeries or sandwich shops. If you’re planning a romantic excursion through the countryside or beaches, the picture is complete with a food hamper, a blanket, a favourite bottle of wine, and your favourite special person. A truly memory making event.
Elegant Evening Dining
Margaret River is home to some of Western Australia’s top rated restaurants. We offer a choice of diverse evening dining cuisine that feature Italian, Asian, Indian, Native Australian, European, American, Mediterranean, Mexican, Vegetarian, and Seafood selections. If you select a Margaret River restaurant that does not serve alcohol, you can bring your own bottle, but there may be a corkage fee. With the right selection, you may encounter a restaurant that entertains their diners with local singers and musicians.
After a divine dinner in an atmosphere of candle lights, elegant food, fine wine, and soft music, you can top off the evening with the excitement of visiting a local pub for some beer, cheer, and dancing to a favourite local band. If your plans for the evening are to stay in and enjoy a cozy, romantic night in front of the fire in one of our beautiful chalets, you can order a special food hamper prepared by our gourmet chef or have a meal delivered from your favourite restaurant.
Our Top 2 Recommended Dining Establishments
With our vast variety of general and specialty Margaret River restaurants, cafes, dinners, fast food eateries, and pubs, we guarantee you will never go hungry. But deciding on where to begin may go more smoothly with a few recommendations. Here are two purely regional restaurants that have nearly outpaced the popularity of their vineyards. Both restaurants will leave your taste buds clapping with delight.
Rustico Restaurant at Hay Shed Hill Vineyard
The current Rustico restaurant sits on the site of the former Hay Shed Hill Café and Deli. The enhanced dining experience features the award winning Rustico Tapas, Mediterranean style cuisine enjoyed by so many diners at its Rockingham Beach location. While the Rustico does offer an ala-carte menu that emphasises a shared plate style of dining, their renowned six course degustation venue is the house specialty that requires a minimum of two people. Learn more about the Rustico Restaurant here.
Fishbone Restaurant Page
The Fishbone Restaurant is an exceptional adventure in authentic Japanese cuisine. This highly rated, locally popular, dining establishment has proudly earned a number of restaurant awards for both its Asian culinary dishes and its Sushi bar. The sand colored, angular exterior of the building belies the bounty of cultural delicacies to be found inside. The Fishbone serves a lunch menu that includes world-class Sushi rolls; Asian themed salads; starter dishes that feature pan-fried dumplings, kimchi, and edamame; several larger main lunch dishes that include Japanese Curry and Tempura Udon. Learn more about the Fishbone Restaurant here.
Food Terminology (Just for a Bit of Fun)
Nothing says Western Australia like our fondness for colloquialisms and unique names for our favourite food and liquids. We all know about the idiom, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”. Well, that tiny bit of advice will certainly stand you well when visiting our native eateries. For interstate and overseas travellers, to help you understand what’s on the menu, we’ve made a short list of our favourite Aussie terminology for food and drinks.
- Adam’s Ale is a slang term for water
- Adjigo is uniquely native yam, harvested only in Western Australia
- Anzac is a tasty biscuit made with honey hued syrup, rolled oats, and coconuts
- Aubergine is a lyrical sounding name for eggplant
- Baked Dinner is a style of traditional family dining where the meal consists of a roast or baked meat served with vegetables; now a standard selection at Australian themed restaurants
- Banger is a sausage, very popular as a breakfast food
- Barra is a reference to a variety of fresh fish
- Brekky is the term for breakfast
- Bush Tomato is a tart berry grown on a tomato-like shrub that is also called a Desert Raisin
- Bush Tucker is term for outback food
- Cauli is the nickname for cauliflower
- Chockies is the local term for chocolates
- Chook is the term for chicken
- Flake is a reference to shark meat
- Grog is a catchall term for any form of alcohol
- Ice Block is ice cream on a stick or a Popsicle
- Lamington is a square of sponge cake covered in chocolate and shredded coconut
- Lemonade is not lemon flavored water, it is the beverage 7-Up
- Lolly is a term for a variety of candy
- Middy is a local term for a mid-sized glass of beer
- Milk Bar is a local, small grocery shop or convenience store
- Muntry is a small, crisp, berry with an apple-like taste, also called a Native Cranberry
- Murphy is a potato
- Pavlova is a dessert made with fruit and whipped cream
- Pot is a pub term for a small glass of beer (pint is a larger glass)
- Quandong is a fruit that is native to the area, and it has the taste of a tart peach, also called Desert Peach
- Rockmelon is a cantaloupe
- Sammie is a reference to a sandwich
- Serviette is how you ask for a table napkin
- Silverside is how you order corned beef
- Snatch and Grab is a term for take away, or take out, food
- Stubby is the term for a squat shaped bottle of beer
- Tea is a term for an evening meal or dinner
- Tinny is novel term for a can of beer
While this is by no means an all-inclusive list of food and drink terminology, it will certainly help you navigate through the offerings at the local cafes, restaurants, and pubs. Food may be a necessity of life, but good food prepared to perfection is a delight to be savoured. Bon Appetite!