The best winery restaurants in Margaret River

By Monique Ceccato
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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:

Vasse Felix

the indoor dining at Vasse Felix, Margaret River

Indulge in a menu that highlights regional flavours and creativity, complemented by the their award-winning wines. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

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

a waiter serving customers outside Amelia Park Restaurant, Margaret River

Relax with a glass of wine on the deck.

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

a couple enjoying wine on the outdoor deck of Leeuwin Estate, Margaret River

Savour the art of fine dining in a picturesque setting (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

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

the winery restaurant exterior of Fishbone Wines, Margaret River

Delight in the unique flavours of Japan at Fishbone Restaurant.

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 dining interior of Voyager Estate

Everything from the furnishings to the food celebrates the region’s classic wine-country charm. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

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

friends dining al fresco at Swings & Roundabouts, Yallingup

Enjoy lunch outdoors on the spacious deck. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

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

the view of the vines from Glenarty Road

Glenarty Road winery and restaurant is set on a working farm.

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

External shot of Rustico at Hays Shed Hill Margaret River

Rustico at Hay Shed Hill delivers a different kind of winery restaurant experience. (Image: Paris Hawken Photography)

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

friends dining inside Wills Domain, Margaret River

The menu at Wills Domain is thoughtfully crafted to enhance the wine selection. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

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.

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 first and only underwater winery is hiding in Margaret River

    By Taylah Darnell
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    This is wine redefined, from the sea floor to your glass.

    Australia is known for its diverse wine regions that produce top drops in droves. We’re home to the best shiraz in the world and some of the coolest oenophile-approved experiences you can find. But this WA venture is taking it to new depths – literally. Welcome to Australia’s first underwater winery.

    Underwater wine: how it works

    It may be situated among Western Australia’s famed Margaret River wineries, but Subsea Estate doesn’t resemble your typical vineyard. Instead of unfolding across verdant hills, its cellar door can be found off the coast near the town of Augusta, where the Southern and Indian oceans meet.

    Augusta in Western Australia

    The winery is hidden underwater off WA’s coast. (Image: Ryan Murphy)

    A 20-metre dive below the ocean’s surface, the 413-hectare estate comprises specially crafted wine barrels anchored to the sea floor. It’s an intricately designed production process that is painstakingly adhered to by the team at Subsea, made up of leading wine pioneers from both Australia and abroad. But why? And what is the result?

    The technique was first introduced by French company Winereef, which has spent over 17 years perfecting its world-first subsea winemaking operation. The concept posits that the ocean’s current and natural sway stirs the wine and keeps the yeast in suspension, which creates a secondary fermentation process.

    Subsea Estate in Augusta, Western Australia

    The wine barrels are secured to the sea floor by specialist divers.

    Hydrostatic pressure, the weight produced by the water column pressing down on an object due to gravity, allows the yeast to produce flavour notes not available on land.

    But it doesn’t stop there, because the ocean’s energy is constantly changing, and each batch produced is completely unique. The wines all have their own character, touched by Mother Nature in a different way and offering the truest expression of each season.

    How to experience it for yourself

    If you’re intrigued, you’re not the only one. Subsea Estate’s innovative winemaking process has attracted attention from across the country – which is why its cellar door is open to the public seven days a week. And no, you won’t be pairing your wine with a scuba suit.

    Subsea Estate in Augusta, Western Australia

    The Subsea cellar door sits on Augusta Boat Harbour. (Image: Lauren Trickett)

    Sitting pretty back on land in Augusta Boat Harbour, Subsea Estate invites guests to sip its one-of-a-kind creations with views of the ocean that nurtured them. While walk-ins are welcome, the best way to explore Subsea’s range is with a guided experience. Join a member of the team for a 90-minute Subsea Estate & Rare Foods Abalone and Wine Tour.

    That’s right – not only is Subsea home to some of the world’s most innovative wines, it’s also in one of Australia’s top seaside towns for seafood. Your tour starts in the on-site abalone facility, where you’ll witness firsthand how these premium seafood delicacies are prepared for export. Guests can get up close to the tanks and even hold a live abalone if they wish.

    Ocean-stirred wines are paired with fresh abalone. (Image: Lauren Trickett)

    From there, you’ll be led to Subsea’s cellar door, where you can watch local fishermen return with their catch across Flinders Bay from the sunny deck. Not only will your host walk you through the entire winemaking process, but you’ll enjoy the results firsthand – paired perfectly with the fresh abalone from earlier.

    The details

    Subsea Estate is located in the town of Augusta, around a 3.5-hour drive south of Perth. The cellar door is open from Monday to Sunday, 9am–4pm. Bookings for the Subsea Estate & Rare Foods Abalone and Wine Tour are essential. The experience is priced at $89 per person and can accommodate groups of up to 15 people. While the tour allows for up to 1.5 hours, guests are encouraged to linger for as long as they please.