Planning a winter getaway to the Margaret River region? From long winery lunches and stylish cellar doors to casual breweries and excellent cafes, we’ve rounded up our favourite places to eat and drink in Margaret River, Dunsborough, Yallingup and Busselton.
This guide has been compiled with recommendations from former Australian restaurant critic John Lethlean, aka my husband :)...
Restaurants
Vasse Felix
A proper restaurant with creative food that manages to stay unpretentious. The wines need no introduction. In our opinion, the region’s go-to for a very smart meal out.
Chow’s Table
A chef-owned restaurant with great integrity and superb modern Asian food. Owner Mal Chow works a marvellous synthesis of his Malaysian Chinese heritage and modern restaurant kitchen style. A big favourite with the region's winemakers.
Masseria
Part of the Larry Cherubino juggernaut, Masseria manages a lovely balance of good Italian-inspired food, stylish surroundings, professional waitstaff and a wine portfolio that includes both the owner’s product and some gear he brings in from Italy. Very easy to like. The perfect long-lunch restaurant in Margaret River.
Wills Domain
Wills works the creative angle for all its worth, and the aspect, overlooking Yallingup’s rolling hills, is fairly special. This is the kind of restaurant you need to put aside at least three hours for a long and surprising lunch. They do it very well. Close to Dunsborough and Yallingup.
Ilma Beach House
Location, location, location. In a state with so much coastline but so few restaurants actually on the water, Ilma stands out for its rare proximity to the salty stuff on Bunker Bay. It's one of the world's great beaches… you won't be surprised by the food, but it is professionally competent, according to anecdotal feedback anyway, and they've done a lovely job with the interior design, which complements the setting exceptionally.
Wayfinder
A nice little bistro in the middle of Dunsborough that doubles as an urban cellar door for two separate vineyards owned by the same people (one in the Margaret River region, the other in northern Tasmania). Good food, and a sensible à la carte approach.
Busselton Pavilion
If you’re eating out in Busselton, this is probably your best bet for informality with style. Caveat: the owner is a Claymates mate.
Informal eating and drinking
Beerfarm
Every other person looks like they've stepped out of an Angus and Julia Stone video circa 2005, but the atmosphere is a lot of fun, the food very consistent and good value for money and the beer, apparently, is very good. A great dog-friendly venue.
Wild Hop
Pretty much the same as above, if you replace dogs with children.
+81
More takeaway than restaurant, the good news here is surprisingly authentic Neapolitan pizza. And they work at night. And they open at 5:30am!
Cellar Doors
Vasse Felix
The wine, the setting, the architecture, the staff… This is certainly one of the region's most sophisticated cellar doors and the tasting experience here is worth every cent (not to mention the bonus of being able to go through the Holmes À Court family’s gallery). But choose your moment… It can get fairly touristy.
Cherubino
It looks like a slice of Tuscany (Larry's family is actually Calabrian) but what this rockstar winemaker does, he does with style, no question. See above. What we like about visiting Cherubino is the opportunity to try wines from a far broader slice of W.A. than simply Margaret River. They have vineyards in all the key wine production areas of the state and the portfolio is vast.
Victory Point Wines
Small in every sense, Victory Point is a classic passion project for a retired corporate lawyer and his wife who have devoted themselves to the world’s best wines for decades. On the Cowaramup side of the highway, at Victory Point you'll find some unusual varieties (we love their Cabernet Franc) and a cellar door that really caters to wine enthusiasts. Recommended.
Vallée du Venom
Little known outside the region, Vallée’s owners have created a charming Yallingup cellar door space to showcase a quirky portfolio of garagiste wines. Let the billionaires do their thing and check out some real people making real wine.
Menzies Vineyard
Intimate, personal and delicious. A family-owned relative newcomer with some serious wines from the heart of the famed Wilyabrup region. A must-visit before everyone else finds out about it.
Fraser Gallop Estate
A great Claymates favourite and simply one of the region's best wineries. Their cellar door is friendly, intimate and unpretentious and their single-vineyard wines are truly outstanding. Put it on your list.
Wayfinder Vineyard
There’s a lot of talk in the region around the new winery, cellar door and restaurant at Wayfinder’s Wilyabrup vineyard. Fully off-grid, architect-designed, and built with a minimal ecological footprint in mind, Overstory, the brand’s parent company, doesn’t do things by halves, which is why the hire of chef Brendan Pratt to run the restaurant is significant. Pratt made his name at Vasse Felix and continued his influence in recent times as the executive chef across the Parker Group, in Perth and Busselton. We’re selfishly delighted to hear he’ll be back on the tools at Wayfinder in the second half of 2026. A great chef with a great feeling for then region and what works here.
Idée Fixe
Another who does things with an eye for detail and style is Vasse Felix’s Paul Holmes a Court. The opening of their Idee Fixe sparkling wine house, near Margaret River, signals another sophisticated arrow in the region’s quiver. Paul has taken the old Watershed vineyard and buildings and transformed it all to make a very smart destination showcasing their methode Champenoise wine range. The good news is that a “bistrot” is under development on this lovely site with its handsome raw stone-clad buildings. It won’t happen until 2027, but expect a French-ish attitude to the food - built around the Idee Fixe wines, obviously - and for things tom be done in manner Holes a Court always manages: complete, clever and design-led.
Cafes
Merchant & Maker
Consistent. Professional. And always with good staff. The gold standard in Dunsborough, and the snacky cafe food here is typically excellent.
Commonage Coffee Co.
A roaster in a proper bush setting, this is a charming little place (with two cellar doors - Marque and Deep Woods - super close). Your cafe as destination.
Bon appétit! We would love to hear from you if you have other favourites to add to our list. We will be adding to this list as we find new and delicious places for you.
Looking for more things to do during your Margaret River winter escape? Claymates also offers private pottery classes for groups of up to 14 people in Cowaramup.
FAQs: Visiting Margaret River
What are the best restaurants in Margaret River?
Vasse Felix, Chow’s Table, Masseria and Wills Domain are among our top picks.
What are the best cellar doors in Margaret River?
Vasse Felix, Cherubino and Victory Point Wines offer standout tasting experiences.
Is Margaret River worth visiting in winter?
Winter is one of the best times to visit Margaret River for long lunches, wine tasting, cosy accommodation and fewer crowds.
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