From bountiful farmhouse feasts to refined multi-course degustations worthy of a fine art exhibition, consider this your ultimate guide to wining and dining in The Margaret River region.
The Margaret River region’s Mediterranean climate is ideal for viticulture. And since the first vines were planted at regional pioneer Vasse Felix in 1967, wineries have sprung up in almost every direction, from Busselton in the north to Augusta in the south. Today, the local industry numbers more than 200-strong, has close to 100 cellar doors, and has an ever-growing contingent of top-notch winery restaurants that are expressive of the region.
While this idyllic pocket of WA has garnered many a column inch for its wine, particularly chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, over the last two decades, it’s at risk of becoming overshadowed by the burgeoning local winery restaurant scene.
Now a hotbed for veteran chefs from across the country and abroad, as well as creatively minded up-and-comers, the Margaret River plays host to a raft of critically acclaimed eateries, many of which boast dramatic vineyard views, and, of course, tightly curated wine pairing menus that often encompass both current vintages and harder to find cellared wines.
While you may not be able to get to all of the winery restaurants in Margaret River in just one trip, a few certainly deserve a spot at the top of your holiday to-do list. Read on for details of where to start.
The shortlist:
- Best family-friendly spot: Swings & Roundabouts
- Best farm to table: Cullen Wines
- Best for fine dining: Wills Domain
Vasse Felix
Thanks to Dr Tom Cullity, who decided to become a winemaker in the 1960s, Vasse Felix is home to the oldest vines in Margaret River. Today, the winery continues to raise the bar with outstanding chardonnay, as well as masterful Modern Australian fare. Under the guidance of head chef Cam Jones, the kitchen has gone from strength to strength, showcasing local produce in a truly unique way. Dining here is akin to performance art, with all the meals served on beautiful pottery hand-thrown by local ceramist and master potter Ian Beniston.
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Refined
Address: Caves Road (corner of Tom Cullity Dr), Cowaramup
Amelia Park Restaurant
Though unassuming when you first arrive, Amelia Park Restaurant is anything but. Opened in 2017 by husband and wife duo Blair and Renee Allen, the sleek dining room is impressive on all fronts. Renee is in charge of the front-of-house, where you can expect impeccable service and panoramic views of the vines, while Blair heads up the culinary side. He’s centred the kitchen around the Jarrah-fired oven and grill and the a la carte menu around Amelia Park’s high-quality beef, lamb, and homegrown heirloom vegetables. Like most regional menus, it changes seasonally, but ordering the Amelia Park lamb is always a good idea.
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$-$$$$
Atmosphere: Refined
Address: 3857 Caves Rd, Wilyabrup
Leeuwin Estate
Renowned for its Art Series wines, in-house art gallery, and staging of summer concerts, Leeuwin Estate’s in-house restaurant has five-star alfresco dining with sweeping views over the neighbouring karri forest. The Leeuwin Restaurant menu, driven by head chef Dan Gedge, doesn’t shy away from less quotidian ingredients: indulge in the restaurant’s six-course tasting menu, and you might sample cuttlefish, raw scallop, and Akoya pearl oysters. If you’re looking for an extra special occasion venue for lunch in the Margaret River, this is it.
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Refined
Address: Stevens Rd, Witchcliffe
Fishbone Wines
In a region climactically similar to the Mediterranean, it’s fair that the wines and menus lean into the flavours and styles of the region. That makes Fishbone Wines and their Japanese restaurant an anomaly. To pair with their fresh, fruit-forward wines, the casual eatery has curated a menu boasting salmon sashimi, beef tataki, and different sushi rolls, even dipping into Korean-inspired cuisine with bulgogi fries and a bulgogi bowl. In a big win for Fishbone, they’re one of the few Margaret River winery restaurants that welcome dogs (on the terrace only).
Cuisine: Japanese
Average price: $$ – $$$
Atmosphere: Casual
Address: 3857 Caves Rd, Wilyabrup
Voyager Estate
The expansive and meticulously groomed gardens at Voyager Estate are much adored, as are this winery’s organically farmed reds, whites, and rosés. But to visit and forego a long lunch at this winery’s restaurant would be regrettable. Besides the grand feel of the dining room, with its lofty ceilings and chandeliers, there’s an equally impressive menu, one which pays homage to the seasons and complements the estate’s grapes. Expect dishes such as cured and smoked local mackerel with deep-fried curry leaf and a medley of sea greens, and seared venison with fermented and fresh rhubarb.
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Refined
Address: 41 Stevens Rd, Margaret River
Swings & Roundabouts
For wine and a feed without the five-star finery, book a table at Swings & Roundabouts . Here, they bring casual, brewery-esque fare—think pumpkin and pancetta gnocchi or a garlic-marinated prawn woodfired pizza—to the table, along with approachable Meditteranean-style wines. It’s good, honest food in a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere. Kids even have their own succinct menu to order from and a gelato bar to patronise for dessert.
Cuisine: Italo-Australian
Average price: $$-$$$
Atmosphere: Casual
Address: 2807 Caves Rd, Yallingup
Glenarty Road
A self-proclaimed ‘little farm’, Glenarty Road is much more than the sum of its parts. This Karridale winery has been in the same hands for five generations, and the warm homeliness and hospitality radiate out of the simple timber farmhouse, which sits in the midst of the working farm. Despite the moreish food, impressive cool-climate wines, and fetching rustic chic interiors, which look plucked straight from the pages of Vogue Living magazine, both the restaurant and winery are gloriously devoid of any wine snobbery or culinary pomp. The three- and five-course house feasts are a celebration of the regenerative farm’s bountiful produce, best enjoyed with a glass of the estate’s ‘wild wines’. It’s not just fruit trees and veggie patches supplying the restaurant’s pantry either: owners Ben and Sasha McDonald rear their own grass-fed cattle and sheep, and even the charcuterie is housemade here.
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$$-$$$$$
Atmosphere: Relaxed
Address: 70 Glenarty Rd, Karridale
Wise Wine
As far as claims to fame go, Wise Wine ’s is monumental; it’s the only Margaret River winery restaurant with a view of both vines and the ocean. Seeing the glistening Eagle Bay from the dining room is reason enough to visit. However, the approachable, modern Australian menu and extensive wine portfolio—directed by Larry Cherubino of Cherubino Wines —only add to the venue’s allure. There’s a wide spread of meat, seafood, and vegetarian dishes to order a la carte, changing regularly to reflect what’s in season.
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Relaxed
Address: 237 Eagle Bay Rd Eagle Bay, Naturaliste
Rústico at Hay Shed Hill
Modern Australian cuisine reigns supreme in these parts, but it’s not the only offering. At Hay Shed Hill , tapas is on the menu instead. Diners at Rustico Margaret River can savour a shared degustation menu that spans ten different dishes across five courses and includes some surprisingly luxe ingredients for the rather reasonable price of $85 a head – think Abrolhos Island scallops, western rock lobster, and duck liver. It’s a seriously indulgent feed.
Cuisine: Spanish
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Casual
Address: 511 Harmans Mill Rd, Wilyabrup
Cullen Wines
Biodynamics is as important as a perfectly balanced wine to the team at Cullen Wines . All grapes are sourced from the winery’s two Biological Farmers Association of Australia-certified vineyards, and 90% of the produce used on the restaurant’s set menu comes from its five separate biodynamically cultivated gardens. The result? A nutrient-rich and unbelievably tasty four-course meal designed by head chef Ben Day that showcases produce in its purest form.
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Refined
Address: 4323 Caves Rd, Wilyabrup
Wills Domain
To reach the heady heights of fine dining nirvana, book a table at Wills Domain .
This Margaret River winery restaurant’s eight-course ‘chef’s signature’ degustation menu (you’ll want a three-hour seating for it) is overseen by veteran chef and culinary director Jed Gerrard – who steered eminent Perth restaurant Wildflower to critical acclaim – and the talented Sergio Labbe, who heads up the team as chef de cuisine.
Expect a menu littered with sustainable, wild-harvested produce and a who’s who of the finest WA ingredients, such as Manjimup rainbow trout and truffles, Arkady lamb and Wagin duck.
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$$-$$$$$
Atmosphere: Refined
Address: 17 Brash Rd, Yallingup
For more insider tips and inspiration, see our ultimate travel guide to Margaret River.
