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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.