No visit to the Margaret River region would be complete without at least one lunch at one of our region’s fabulous winery restaurants.
If you are looking for the perfect balance of a genuine wine industry locals lunch on one day, we recommend the Discovery Tour experience at Fraser Gallop Estate and a fancy Margaret River winery lunch on another day
Fresh local produce matched with a bottle of chardonnay straight from the cellar door is considered peak happiness in our household 😉
More and more restaurants are appearing in the Capes region but the best ones are still regularly fully booked, so if you are travelling from afar and don’t want to miss your first choice, I’d suggest making your restaurant bookings once you have confirmed your accommodation.
The dilemma becomes which one of the many to book. To help you choose, we at the Margaret River Discovery Co. have embarked on the terribly arduous task of dining at all of them and now suggest to you our absolute favourites.
But lets just say the lunch we love the most is considered the most exclusive lunch experience in the region. Limited to only six guests, you really need to plan ahead if you want to book a table at this place. There’s only one table!
It doesn’t get more authentic or real than the Margaret River Discovery Tour lunch.
This includes a very authentic winery lunch experience among the barrels or in the vineyards at Fraser Gallop Estate. Featuring a selection of the best local produce sourced from the best producers in the region.
But don’t just take our word for it, feel free to check out Tripadvisor for real feedback. It’s been the #1 wine lunch and wine tour experience in the Margaret River region for the past 12 years.
And the best of the rest, in no particular order –
Vasse Felix
Cnr Tom Cullity Drive & Caves Rd, Margaret River
Ph: 9756 5050
Open 10am – 5pm
Consistently one of the best. The restaurant at Vasse Felix is on the second floor of the cellar door building and looks out over some of the oldest vines in the Margaret River region. The kitchen serves everything from the full degustation experience to a cheese or charcuterie plate.
Amelia Park Wines
www.ameliaparkrestaurant.com.au
3857 Caves Road, Margaret River
Ph: 9755 6747
Open 10am – 5pm
The hottest restaurant in the region right now with Blair and Renee Allen running the show. A stylish new addition to the Caves road winery strip, Amelia Park is set to become a favourite for locals and visitors alike. Stunning food inside (Lamb Shoulder for two is the BEST!) and a stunning view across the vineyard.
Rustico at Hayshed Hill
https://hayshedhill.com.au/pages/rustico-at-hay-shed-hill
511 Harmens Mill Rd, Margaret River
Ph: 9755 6455
Open 11am – 5pm
The menu at Rustico is on par with the other traditional Margaret River winery restaurants but the setting is more relaxed and the kids can go nuts on the lawn overlooking the vineyards. Tapas style dishes are designed to be shared and the degustation menu is the bargain of the region. Awesome value and great food.
Voyager Estate Winery
http://www.voyagerestate.com.au
Stevens Rd, Margaret River
Ph: 9757 6354
Open 10am to 5pm
You can completely write the afternoon off here! Save your appetite for your lunch at Voyager, which offers the Discovery Menu in either four or six courses. There is no ala carte. Prepare your senses for much oohing and ahhhing.
Leeuwin Estate
Stevens Rd, Margaret River
Ph: 9759 0000
Open daily for lunch and Saturday evenings for dinner
The absolute must do for any serious foodie visiting the region. Leeuwin
Estate is famous for its annual concert series, Art series wines and never-to-disappoint restaurant menu. The Margaret River Discovery Co. rates this one so highly we had our wedding lunch there!
Cullen Wines
4323 Caves Rd, Margaret River
Ph: 9755 5656
Open Friday to Tuesday 11.30am – 4.30pm
Cullen is famed for its biodynamic wines and the same philosophy extends to the restaurant. You might see the chef dashing from the kitchen to the garden to harvest some fresh produce for your meal. Nothing better than sitting on the deck on Sunday arvo reading the paper, lazy lunch and glass of Semillon in hand.
Fishbone
422 Harmans Mill Rd, Margaret River
Ph: 9755 6726
Open 10am – 4.30pm
Another relatively new restaurant, serving exquisite Japanese cuisine. There’s a grassed outdoor area for children to run around once they have finished their sushi. The legendary Margaret River Chocolate Factory is just across the road for a desert option 😉
Wills Domain
Brash Rd & Abbeys Farm Rd, Yallingup
Ph: 9755 2327
Open 10am – 5pm
Wills Domain is famous for its tasting menu (which must be booked in advance). These guys have been consistently awesome for several years now. Super relaxed vibe with world class dining experience.
Arimia
242 Quininup Road
Ph: 9755 2528
Open 10am to 5pm
This place is a bit of a locals secret. We don’t necessarily want everyone to know because we want to keep it all to ourselves! You feel like you’re disappearing into the bush down a long gravel track but then rewarded by discovering a stellar restaurant experience. Executive Chef Evan Hayter is at the top of his game. Top bloke and sourcing produce directly from the surrounding property.
Settlers Tavern
114 Bussell Highway
Ph: 9757 2398
Open 11am to 11pm
Ok so this is a wild card entry in the Top 10. The “Tav”, is definitely NOT a winery restaurant, but this place is another must do on the Margaret River wine and dine scene. One of the best wine lists in Australia with a stellar selection of local producers, including lots of small winemakers that don’t have cellar door outlets, matched with great aussie pub food. These guys specialise in BBQ!
***** STOP PRESS *****
The latest and greatest new restaurant opening since we wrote this list is the new Yarri Restaurant in Dunsborough.
Not exactly a winery restaurant, but this beautiful new venue pairs Aaron Carr’s (ex Vasse Felix Executive Chef) delicious take on modern Australian food with wines from South West winemaker Snake + Herring. The cuisine reflects the six seasons of WA’s Nyungar people and country, and the ingredients are sustainably sourced from the region and beyond. In a word – AWESOME.
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The above selections are our favourites but the list of Margaret River winery restaurants is long. Our current offerings, by region (updated for 2020) :
North of the Cape
Easiest accessed from Dunsborough, Busselton or Yallingup. Allow a minimum of one hour drive time from Margaret River accommodation.
- Aravina
- Palmers Wines
- Lamont’s
- Swooping Magpie
- Rivendell Winery
- Swings & Roundabouts
- Wills Domain
Central Cape/Willyabrup Region
Allow a minimum of half an hour driving time from either Dunsborough or Margaret River accommodation
- Fishbone
- Clairault Streiker
- Knee Deep
- Brookland Valley
- Rustico at Hayshed Hill
- Cullen
- Vasse Felix
- Brookwood Estate
- Arimia
- Olio Bello
- Driftwood Estate
- Robert Oatley Wines
Southern Cape
Easiest access from Margaret River accommodation. Allow a minimum of one hour drive time from Dunsborough, Yallingup or Busselton
- Voyager
- Xanadu
- Leeuwin Estate
- Watershed
- The Berry Farm
- Hamelin Bay Wines
If you want to book the Margaret River Discovery Tour lunch, we recommend booking early in your stay so you get the most out of your holiday. We’ll also help set you up with a few tips and recommendations for they remaining days or your holiday.
The tour tends to sell out a few weeks in advance, especially in peak season, so we suggest to plan ahead as far as possible.