The 10 Best Rottnest Island Restaurants To Visit

Chow for now: the best places to eat and drink while exploring Rottnest Island.

After spending lazy, hazy days on your favourite patch of sand, hunt down the best spots for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks on Wadjemup / Rottnest Island. Our pick of the best places to eat and drink on Rottnest Island spans a dinky bakery known for its jam doughnuts to a low-key wood-fired pizzeria and a cool beach club hideout.

Ready for a feast? Here are the best Rottnest Island restaurants.

1. Lontara at Samphire Resort

Chef Russell Blaikie is known as a master of seafood and his menu at Lontara, part of the Prendiville Group, is dedicated to tracing the maritime spice routes that have influenced Southeast Asian food culture. The restaurant is located in the heart of the Samphire Resort, which along with the quokka, has caused Rottnest Island stocks to soar. Expect world-class produce such as charred Fremantle octopus, Albany rock oysters, and chilli salt soft shell crab tempura.

Food at Lontara Rottnest Island — Lontara offers sophisticated beachside dining. (Image: Rottnest Island Authority)

2. Hotel Rottnest Bar and Bistro

Spend the day snorkelling off the coast of Rottnest Island, one of the top things to do here, and then come ashore to the Hotel Rottnest Bar + Bistro in Thomson Bay when the afternoon sun is slanting low in the sky. Drop anchor on the deck and order crisp Shark Bay calamari, Albany rock oysters, and grilled northwest snapper from the seasonally inspired menu while admiring the eternal blue of the Indian Ocean.

3. Frankies on Rotto

Oh to be a castaway on Rottnest Island and have to survive on food from Frankie’s On Rotto! The casual restaurant welcomes all comers – including quokkas, who have been known to make cameos on the deck. The eatery is also popular with families who nudge their children toward the nearby playground while waiting for their meals to arrive. Order bruschetta for breakfast, loaded fries for lunch and pepperoni pizza for dinner.

Pizza and pasta at Frankies On Rotto — Thrive on food from Frankie’s On Rotto! (Image: Rottnest Island Authority)

4. Geordie Cafe & Art Gallery

The Geordie Cafe & Art Gallery is a good place to sample seasonal southwest Oz cuisine. While away an afternoon here and you will get a serve of art on the side: the licensed cafe doubles as a gallery where diners sit and sip espresso (or something stronger) surrounded by artworks of the island. Pick up some paninis to take away for a picnic on Geordie Bay or colonise a corner of the café to enjoy oyster po’ boy sliders.

5. Pinky’s

Set below Bathurst Point Lighthouse, Pinky’s has views over Pinky Beach and is the ultimate wind-down destination after a day of sun, sea and sand. Keep it simple and seasonal with a toasted cheese and mushroom sanga or level up with lobster with smashed cucumber and green goddess dressing.

6. HAVZA

The newly-opened eatery, HAVZA brings the flavours of the Mediterranean to Rottnest Island. Positioned alongside the shores of The Basin, you’ll enjoy a relaxed tapas experience with dishes such as crayfish borek with bechamel and dill, spanakopita, and spotted cod with charred green beans. Keep in mind that HAVZA is season-dependent and will re-open in November 2024.

7. The Lane Cafe

Anchor your mega yacht and shimmy ashore in your best-bejewelled sandals and nautical stripes for breakfast at The Lane Cafe . Sip on freshly squeezed juices, smoothies and acai bowls at The Lane, which is located in Sommerville Mall. The menu riffs on classic mod-Oz comfort cuisine such as red wine-braised beef cheeks with celeriac puree and roast heirloom carrots (a winter dish) and Lane lunch bowls such as halloumi and roast pumpkin salad.

The Lane burger — The Lane provides classic mod-Oz comfort.

8. Isola Bar & Restaurant

Island time calls for relaxed, aperitivo afternoons sipping on spritzes, and Isola Bar e Cibo is the best spot to do it. The Italian-inspired venue boasts a breezy coastal aesthetic to match the tasty Italian menu (Think: burrata with heirloom tomato and basil oil, calamari fritti, and tiramisu), all to be enjoyed while taking in the South Thompson Bay views.

Isola Rottnest Island — Enjoy tasty Italian fare made with quality WA produce.

9. Lexi’s on Rotto

Lexi’s is as redolent of Rotto as the island’s rugged landscape. Park on the red-and-white striped deckchairs outside the e mobile food van – located at West End – to enjoy hot and cold drinks (chai lattes or an iced long black) – and snacks such as muffins, protein balls, toasties, pies and soup. Open every day from 10 am to 3 pm, the van is the little sister to Frankie’s on Rotto and is now as much a part of the landscape as the nearby Wadjemup Lighthouse.

10. Rottnest Bakery

Be sure to arrive early at Rottnest Bakery, one of the best places to eat on Rottnest Island, to get your hands on a sticky jam-filled doughnut. It’s well worth making the pilgrimage to pick up everything from fresh pastries for a family picnic or a round of hot coffees and croissants to go. The bakery, which is also known for its pies, has also opened the Chook Shack which sells a beautifully basted bird with hot chips.

Beachside pie from rottnest bakery — Be sure to arrive early to Rottnest Bakery.

This article was originally written by Carla Grossetti and updated by Rachael Thompson

Unlock more of Rottnest Island before you visit with our travel guide.

WA might be enormous, but the right insider knowledge brings its mysteries a whole lot closer.

“Western Australia is a land of record-breakers,” says Carolyn Tipper, a Travel Director working on AAT Kings Western Australia tours. “It has the second-longest fault line, the second-largest meteorite crater, the second-fastest flowing river—it just keeps surprising you. And every area has its charm.”

From tropics to deserts, Australia’s largest state is a land of extremes. You can’t see all of Western Australia in a lifetime, but with the right guide, you can discover its hidden pockets of magic.

Carolyn wishes to reach her guests’ hearts. “I want them to enjoy and be in awe,” she says. “I want them to have the holiday of a lifetime.”

1. Mimbi Caves

You wouldn’t expect a Great Barrier Reef in the outback – but that’s what you’ll find at Mimbi Caves. Once part of a 350-million-year-old reef, these caves hold marine fossils, ancient Indigenous rock art, and Dreamtime stories shared by a Gooniyandi guide.

“That’s when the real connection happens,” says Carolyn, who has taken guests through on the AAT Kings Wonders of the West Coast and Kimberley tour . “When guests connect, not just with the land, but with the people who have called it home for tens of thousands of years.”

Eye-level view of traveller exploring Mimbi Caves. — Walk through ancient limestone passages. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

2. Kalbarri National Park

Nothing prepares you for the Kalbarri Skywalk: a 25-metre platform jutting over Murchison Gorge, 100 metres above the red cliffs and river below. From July to October, join the AAT Kings Untamed Pilbara and West Coast tour to see over 1000 wildflower species paint the park, and listen as an Indigenous guide shares their uses, bush foods and medicine plants.

“I want our guests to have an emotional experience,” says Carolyn. “It’s not just about seeing the land, it’s about stepping into the stories.”

An aerial view of the Kalbarri Skywalk, one of the secret places in Western Australia, with visitors on the edge. — Stand on the Kalbarri Skywalk in Western Australia. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

3. Hamelin Bay Wines

Margaret River isn’t just a top wine region – it’s a winner in every category. Where the Indian and Southern Oceans collide, granite cliffs rise, limestone caves sprawl and Karri forests tower. It almost distracts from the world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.

Almost.

Out of over 100 cellar doors, AAT Kings pick Hamelin Bay Wines as a favourite. Hosted tastings of small-batch wines on the Western Wonderland tour end with a group meal. The menu shifting with the seasons.

“Get off the beaten track to one of WA’s most relaxed venues for some amazing red and white signature wines,” explains Carolyn, “accompanied with upmarket pub food.”

Spectacular views.

A person raising a glass of Chardonnay against a glowing Western Australia sunset. — Sip world-class wines at Hamelin Bay in Western Australia. (Image: Getty)

4. Wildflower Guided Walk, Kings Park

Western Australia is home to 12,000 native plant species – 3000 bloom in Kings Park’s Botanic Garden. Stroll past Kangaroo Paw, Banksia and blooms from the Goldfields, Stirling Ranges and Kimberley. “The diversity of Western Australia is immense,” says Carolyn, who leads guests through on the South Western Escape tour .

Couple enjoying the view from the Lotterywest Federation walkway at Kings Park and Botanical Garden. — Wander among thousands of native plant species. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

5. Hoochery Distillery

Did you know that between Kununurra and Emma Gorge lies the state’s oldest continuously operating distillery? Well, the oldest legal one. Set on a family farm, Hoochery Distillery was hand-built using materials found on the property, conjuring up award-winning rum from local sugarcane, wet season rainwater and yeast.

Today, visitors can sample a hearty nip of rum, along with whiskies and gins – all crafted using traditional, labour-intensive methods. It’s the ideal way to soak up the ‘spirit’ of the Kimberley on the AAT Kings’ Untamed Kimberley tour .

People enjoying a rum tasting at one of the secret places in Western Australia. — Sample award-winning rum. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

6. Geraldton

The wildflowers of the Midwest will make your heart blossom. In Geraldton, the Helen Ansell Art Gallery brings the region’s botanicals to life in vivid colour and intricate detail. In nearby Mullewa, wander bushland trails lined with everlastings and native blooms. Further afield, Coalseam Conservation Park bursts into carpets of pink, white, and yellow each spring. Do it all on the Wildflower Wanderer tour with AAT Kings.

woman walking through Wildflowers, Coalseam Conservation Park — Chase vibrant wildflower trails. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

7. El Questro

Wake up after a night under the stars at Emma Gorge Resort, ready to explore the mighty beauty of the El Questro Wilderness Park. With deep gorges, thermal springs, and cascading waterfalls, time slows here.

Join the AAT Kings’ Wonders of the West Coast and Kimberley tour to drift through Chamberlain Gorge, where sheer sandstone walls glow burnt orange in the sun, archer fish flick at the surface, and rock wallabies peer down from ledges above. Then, step into Zebedee Springs, a secret oasis of warm, crystal-clear pools among prehistoric Livistona palms – a moment of pure, wild stillness.

Emma Gorge Resort at El Questro. — Wake to adventure at Emma Gorge Resort. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

8. Lake Argyle

Once vast cattle country, Lake Argyle now sprawls like an inland sea – Western Australia’s largest freshwater lake, created by the damming of the Ord River. Scattered with over 70 islands, its glassy waters teem with life, like freshwater crocodiles, barramundi, bony bream, sleepy cod and over 240 bird species. That’s nearly a third of Australia’s avian population.

Glide across the lake’s surface on a cruise as part of AAT Kings’ Untamed Kimberley tour , where the silence is only broken by the splash of fish and the call of birds. For Carolyn, this place is a perfect example of how WA’s landscapes surprise visitors. “Lake Argyle is a big puddle of water that became a game-changer,” she says. “Seeing it from a boat, coach, and plane is mind-blowing. It puts time, isolation and the sheer scale into perspective.”

Aerial View of Triple J Tours on the Ord River, near Kununurra. — Glide past islands on Western Australia’s largest freshwater lake. (Image: Western Australia)

Discover more of Western Australia’s hidden gems and book your tour at aatkings.com.

10 of the best restaurants on Rottnest Island