10 of the best Dunsborough restaurants, bars and cafes you need to try

Monique Ceccato Monique Ceccato
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From the sprawling, family-friendly pub to cute coffee stops, this is your guide to the best Dunsborough restaurants, bars, and cafes.

Impossibly blue beaches, world-class wine, and thick West Australian bushland: Dunsborough sits at the intersection of all the major drawcards of the Margaret River region. Transport options in the region are quite limited, but fortunately, Dunsborough restaurants, bars, and cafes aren’t. You don’t have to venture too far from your accommodation for a great coffee or cocktail, with these ten venues some of the best in the area.

The shortlist:

Best for brunch: Wild and Woods

Best family-friendly spot: Meelup Farmhouse

Best date spot: Yarri

Best outdoor dining: Chow’s Table

1. Merchant and Maker

al fresco dining setup at Merchant & Maker, Dunsborough
Snag an outdoor table for lunch at Merchant & Maker. (Image: Bianca Kate Photography)

Nowhere in Dunsborough does sandwiches and cinnamon scrolls quite like Merchant and Maker. Each morning, their in-house bakery springs to life, pumping out slow-ferment loaves, organic focaccia, and, on Thursdays, traditional Danish Rugbrød. Visually, the cafe-turned-general store is inspired by Scandinavia, too, subscribing to the northern European region’s trademark minimalism with simple black, white, and timber finishes. But, when it comes to what’s on the shelves in the general store, it’s all very much local. There are housemade condiments and meal jars, cheese from makers in the region, and all manner of chocolate goodies from local companies.

Next door, owners Steve and Anna have opened another love letter to Denmark, Elski. Grab a scoop of their Danish ice cream (all made on-site from fresh ingredients) to go and enjoy as you wander down to the beach.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $

Atmosphere: Casual

Location: 8/35 Dunn Bay Rd, Dunsborough

2. Wild and Woods

a plate of food at Wild and Woods, Dunsborough
Feast on the vegan and gluten-free menu at Wild and Woods.

For anyone with intolerances and allergies, the carby, Italian-heavy menus so loved by Australian venues can be difficult to digest. Avoid the discomfort of dining on a limited menu or things you shouldn’t, and make a beeline for Wild and Woods, where gluten-free, vegan, and dairy-free aren’t dirty words. Not everything is completely allergen-free, but things like their vegan risotto patties, falafel wraps, and gluten-free and dairy-free banana and raspberry loaf are just what intolerant stomachs need. If you’re staying in self-contained accommodation, you can pick up gourmet granolas and mung bean fettuccine to take back to base in their small eco store, too.

Location: 2/237 Naturaliste Terrace, Dunsborough

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $-$$

Atmosphere: Casual

3. Meelup Farmhouse

the Meelup Farmhouse in Dunsborough
Enjoy delicious seasonal dishes and breathe in fresh country air at Meelup Farmhouse. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Any cafe that keeps kids entertained is a winner in parents’ books. Meelup Farmhouse goes beyond crayons and colouring in books, offering little ones a bag of feed and meet and greets with the hobby farm’s resident animals. There’s a flock of silky hens (whom the feed is for), Winston the goat, three alpacas (Maisie, Daisie, and Haisie), Lizzie and Sir Raymond the Highland cows, and Mila the farm dog, who roams the back deck wearing her ‘do not feed me’ bandana. The food at Meelup Farmhouse is too good to want to share, anyway. Think brunch or lunch with char sui pork belly scrambled eggs, mushroom and sage gnocchi, or confit duck leg curry paired with a mimosa or a glass of regional wine.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Relaxed

Location: 54 Sheens Rd, Naturaliste

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4. Chow’s Table

hands using chopsticks to get food, Chow’s Table, Yallingup
The menu is a fusion of modern Chinese and Malaysian cuisines.

In a region full of modern Australian restaurants, Chow’s Table carves its own space. Specialising in modern Chinese and Malaysian cuisine, the winery-side eatery is the kind of warm and inviting place you go to share a great meal with even greater company. It’s what owner and head chef Malcolm Chow wants of his food, designing his menu in such a way that promotes ‘shared feasting’. For $90 per person, you can select three small and three large dishes for the table, all served with complimentary steamed rice (based on two people). As it shares the same property as House of Cards Wine, the wine list is heavily skewed towards their varieties, with a handful of other regional drops thrown in for good measure.

Cuisine: Modern Chinese/Malaysian

Average price: $$$

Location: Unit 12/5 Quininup Rd, Yallingup

Atmosphere: Relaxed

5. Commonage Coffee Co

pastries on display at Commonage Coffee Co, Dunsborough
Grab a takeaway coffee and pastry from this quaint cafe.

A morning coffee among the gums is quintessential Dunsborough. It’s an instant shoulder-dropper—a letting go of all that pent-up city-life tension—which is exactly why people escape to this part of the world. Breathe in the fresh country air with your hands wrapped around a mug of site-roasted Commonage Coffee Co. coffee, and enjoy the bushland outlook from the flagship cafe. There are muffins, cake, and sandwiches at the counter to sate a hungry stomach, or, for the sweet tooth, chocolate next door at Yallingup Chocolate.

Cuisine: Cafe

Average price: $ – $$

Atmosphere: Casual

Location: 855 Commonage Rd, Yallingup Siding

6. Yarri

staff busy preparing inside Yarri restaurant
Every dish in this moody restaurant celebrates local ingredients and seasonal flavours.

Everything that the team at Yarri does is influenced by nature, seasonality, and the Margaret River Region; it doesn’t get much more local than using timber collected from site to flesh out the restaurant’s interiors or a menu full of dishes using fresh produce from the large tended garden at sister property Snake and Herring. Each morning, a bounty of freshly picked fruit and vegetables is delivered to head chef Aaron Carr, who expertly crafts it into dishes for the evening’s three-course dinners or seven-course tasting menus. Expect anything from lamb and Jerusalem artichoke with garlic to tiger prawns with saltbush. Though the timber, worn leather, and limestone interiors are beautiful, the best place on a summer evening is out the back on the deck, surrounded by festoon lighting and gums.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$$-$$$$$

Atmosphere: Relaxed

Location: Unit 7/16 Cyrillean Way, Dunsborough

7. Bungalow Neighbourhood Social

Sourdough ferment pizza, natty wine, and local beer; it’s the name of Bungalow Neighbourhood Social’s game. They pride themselves on their 48-hour dough, backing up their quality wood-fired Margherita and pizza con patate with a solid lineup of Italian-inspired share plates. Think homemade focaccia with whipped ricotta, carbonara crocchette, and gnocchi with zucchini cream and gremoulata. The menu here is as easy-going as the atmosphere, with the mid-century beach-bungalow-style interiors really leaning into the barefoot Dunsborough lifestyle.

For a slightly more ‘grown-up’ feel, pop into the wine room next door. Here, vinyls crackle and spin, and anything from biodynamic Piedmont Barberas and Belgian saisons are on the pour.

Cuisine: Modern Italian bar-style

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Casual

Location: 226 Naturaliste Terrace, Dunsborough

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8. Wayfinder Cellar Door and Restaurant

a table-top view of a dish alongside a glass of wine at Wayfinder Cellar Door and Restaurant
Dine on the mouth-watering seasonal menu alongside local wines. (Image: Tom Pearsall)

For the most part, the Margaret River region’s cellar doors are all on-site, with urban centres strictly cafe, bar, and restaurant territory. Wayfinder is the exception to the rule. In the heart of Dunsborough, this small tasting room brings drops from three sustainably minded Australian brands—Swell Season, Wayfinder, and Tasmania’s Small Wonder—to you with minimal effort on your part. Sit through a wine tasting in the light and breezy front bar, or sit among the art in the back section of the urban cellar door to wine while you dine. The menu here is succinct (particularly at lunch when it’s ‘grazing menu only’) but varied enough to have something to please even the most discerning of diners.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$-$$$$

Atmosphere: Relaxed

Location: 239 Naturaliste Terrace, Dunsborough

9. Eagle Bay Brewing Co.

If Vasse Felix is the founding father of the Margaret River wine region, Eagle Bay Brewing Co. (EBBC) is the same for the region’s craft beer industry. Established in 2010, the brewpub was one of the first companies to play with the status quo, brewing interesting small-batch beers with story and heart. At EBBC’s core are kolsch, pilsner, and cacao stout, the range bolstered by a rotating roster of seasonal beers and collabs. Try them in a tasting paddle at the brewhouse, overlooking the rolling hills of the family farm and the Indian Ocean beyond. Pizza is always a good match for their beers, or go for a few shared dishes like the fried prawns with chilli crunch cabbage or charred cos with pickled shallots.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Casual

Location: 252 Eagle Bay Rd, Eagle Bay

10. Lady Lola

the restaurant interior at Lady Lola, Dunsborough
This old patisserie has been refurbished into a classic Italian-style bistro. (Image: Peggy Voir)

Slotting in beside two of Dunsborough’s most celebrated venues is no easy task. But Michelle Forbes and Marinela Antonic’s Lady Lola—a whimsical acronym for ‘love of life’s adventures’—does so with ease. In 2021, the pair transformed an old patisserie into a classic Italian-style bistro with a dash of bar and slice of deli, serving salumi, shared plates, and a daily menu of pastas, risottos, and other international favourites. Their cocktail list reads long, but the wine list is even longer, starring everything from Marri Wood Park Chenin to a Tuscan sangiovese. Cosy up with a glass at the long communal table, or make the most of WA’s balmy evenings on the deck overlooking the Dugalup Creek.

Cuisine: Italian bistro

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Relaxed

Location: 4/16 Cyrillean Way, Dunsborough

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Monique Ceccato
Monique Ceccato is a freelance travel writer and photographer hailing from Perth. Though she now spends most of her time overseas, WA's sandy beaches, jarrah forests and world-class food and wine scene will always feel like home.
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Australia’s second-oldest wine region is also one of its best, but you may not have heard of it

(Image: Tourism Western Australia)

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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    A 25-minute drive from Perth is all you need to be amongst generations of grape growers. 

    You might not know Swan Valley, but the vines here twist through almost 200 years of history. Today, plump grapes are still plucked, pressed by juice-stained hands and fermented into wine – a journey led by the same families who will pour it into your glass. And with that first taste, you’ve unknowingly become part of a generations-old tradition. 

    So, sit back and take a sip of a crisp white under that sun-speckled pergola and listen to the warbling of magpies – here’s what makes the Swan Valley so special. 

    Western Australia’s oldest wine region 

    Mandoon Estate bathed in the warm glow of sunset.
    Sip your way through Swan Valley’s rich wine heritage. (Image: Tourism WA)

    In 1829, the very year Europeans settled in Perth, the first vines were planted in the Swan Valley. Later, Croatian and Italian migrants blended their southern European winemaking traditions into the local viticulture, a combination that works so well in the Mediterranean climate here. 

    The result today is crisp, tropical Verdelho, dark, fruity Shiraz and plenty of Chenin Blanc – a third of the country’s Chenin Blanc is crushed here. 

    So where to start uncorking? Mandoon Estate has an Aboriginal art gallery and a sculpture trail, where you can taste an Indigenous food platter of smoked crocodile and emu sausages. 

    For a taste of the valley’s Italian heritage, head to Pinelli Estate Winery. Or, for something indulgent – and a little unusual, considering the inland location – RiverBank Estate Winery serves lobster straight from tanks, paired with that Chenin Blanc. 

    If you prefer something stronger in your glass, Talijancich Wines knows a thing or two about fortified drops: try its aged tawny, Muscat and liqueur Verdelho. 

    Sensational dining 

    A beautifully presented dish paired with champagne.
    Pair great food with a scenic winery setting. (Image: Tourism Caversham)

    The Swan Valley follows that great Australian wine-country tradition, with everything from unfussily fantastic pub meals and beer gardens to unexpected fine dining at cellar doors. 

    Start at Edgecombe Winery, which does brunch as well as drops. Their brioche French toast with raspberry and rhubarb coulis, poached pear and roasted pistachios will taste best when you’re perched at a table outside. Don’t forget to explore their orchard and wetland afterwards. 

    Pick up a box of freshly baked macarons from Maison Saint-Honoré (bien sûr) before heading to Valley Social for a North American barbecue-inspired feed. Chow down on beef brisket burnt ends and wash them down with a hemp-infused craft beer. 

    Baskerville Tavern is brewing beer again in the former Feral Brewpub. Order their Monday special – a classic chicken parmi – and try Slumdog Brewing’s regular range, including a tart blueberry sour made with fresh and freeze-dried berries. In winter, it’s time for their seasonal seven-malt stout, with notes of dark chocolate, coffee and caramel. 

    An unbeatable visitor’s centre

    In Guildford is the Swan Valley Visitor Centre in a restored 1866 courthouse. Its award-winning staff know everything about anything happening in the Swan Valley. Pick their brains (and pick up a free map) before setting off. But, check out the centre’s Welcome to Country mural by local Whadjuk artist Chloe Caylon first. 

    Scenic drives 

    Use that handy Visitor Centre map to get a bit of everything on the Swan Valley’s 32-kilometre scenic loop, which connects over 150 attractions. Think roadside produce stalls, art galleries and historic buildings. Just remember to organise that designated driver if you’re extra keen on the vineyard stops. 

    Other drops 

    If the thought of wine makes your temples pulse, there are plenty of other tipples to tickle your fancy. Txoko Brewing in Baskerville takes its name from a Basque gathering place for cooking, drinking and socialising. Work through its rotating beers and plates of Spanish croquettes and sardines, then settle on the grass while the kids let off steam in the playground. 

    AmberChes Spirits Distillery uses locally sourced botanicals and fruit to make saltbush gin, lemon myrtle gin and Gincello, a twist on limoncello. Try its award-winning sloe gin, which was named Australia’s best at the 2025 Gin Guide Awards. Better yet, have a go at making your own in a hands-on gin-blending and distilling class among the vines. 

    Historic architecture and an arts scene 

    Traditional art celebrating First Nations culture.
    Explore the stories behind the Swan Valley. (Image: Tourism WA)

    Next: Guildford. It is one of WA’s earliest colonial settlements – but the history here goes back much further. The Whadjuk Noongar people are the land’s Traditional Custodians, whose Dreaming tells of the Wagyl serpent creating the gum tree-lined Swan River. Today, Guildford’s original town layout remains largely unchanged. Follow one of four heritage walks past 19th-century buildings, galleries and James Street’s antique shops. 

    Take home pantry staples 

    The display counter at Margaret River Chocolate Company.
    Treat yourself to a chocolate-filled detour. (Image: Tourism WA)

    Sometimes the little stops are just as good as the big hitters. Pull over at Margaret River Chocolate Company for free tastings of white, milk and dark chocolate. Then stop by Harvey Cheese Swan Valley for Lemon Myrtle Ash Brie or St Duke’s Red. End at The House of Honey, where you can sample local honey and get buzzy on honey ice cream pancakes. 

    Nature and wildlife 

    A close-up of a koala in its natural habitat.
    Add a little wildlife adventure. (Image: Tourism WA)

    If the kids have had enough of winery lawns, save the bottles for later and head to Caversham Wildlife Park. Here, you can hand-feed kangaroos and meet koalas and wombats. Catch working sheepdogs and sheep-shearing demonstrations at the Farm Show. Elsewhere in Whiteman Park, hop aboard a vintage train or tram, or cool off in the splash pool. 

    Finish at Bells Rapids, where fuchsia grevillea, crimson bottlebrush and yellow wattles bloom each spring. 

    Start planning your culinary escape at swanvalley.com.au.