Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in Volume 6 of B.H. Magazine, pre-order your copy of Volume 7 now.
There’s something quietly electric happening in Margaret River. While the region’s reputation was built on world-class wineries and pristine coastline, a new generation of venues is rewriting the script on what a weekend escape can look like.
Today’s Margaret River offers spirited fine dining in moody dining rooms, sprawling modern pubs serving Indonesian rendang alongside fish finger sandwiches, and tiny eco-cabins where Wi-Fi takes a backseat and outdoor baths come to the fore. It’s a region that’s managed the rare trick of evolving without losing its soul, and the result is a destination that rewards curiosity and a healthy appetite for the finer things in equal measure.
This is your one-stop guide to an unforgettable trip to Margaret River.
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Where to Drink
Vintners Wine Bar
An eco-village, vintage stores, and an enchanting cafe are among the unexpected delights waiting in Witchcliffe, a tiny, zero-traffic-light hamlet south of Margaret River.
The latest reason to stop and stay a while in Witchy is this hybrid wine bar and cellar door from respected, longstanding producer, McHenry Hohnen. Whether you’re after current or museum releases, imported vino, or modern French cooking designed to elevate every sip, Vintners has you covered.
Rhum Burgundy
During his tenure at small bar Morries Anytime, bartender Billy Phillips established himself as the region’s premier shaker of tins and stirrer of frostbitten martinis.
At Rhum Burgundy – an intimate, two-storey drinks den with a focus on, yup, rum cocktails plus pinots and chardonnays – he’s added publican to his résumé. The result? A spirited night out where the drinks are seriously good – the Chartreuse-laced Nuclear Daiquiri is as refreshing as it is potent – yet the service leans easy-going and likeable.
Busselton Pavilion
Yes, this 500-person modern drinks emporium is big, but look past Busselton Pavilion’s impressive scale and discover the soul of a small bar.
Big-name beers sit comfortably alongside their boutique counterparts, while cool vino and whip-smart cocktails – of both the non-alcoholic and alcoholic variety – complete the lineup. (Bonus points for using house-distilled spirits in concoctions like the Pink Gin Fizz.) A bustling all-day kitchen does everything from counter meals to chef collaborations in its new Supper Club dining space.
Where to Stay
Busselton Hilton Garden Inn
Busselton (and its airport) may be the gateway to the Margaret River region, but this upwardly mobile hub is more than just a stopover, as proven by the opening of this 110-room hotel in early 2024.
Sitting pretty on Geographe Bay, it offers views of Busselton Jetty – the longest timber pier jetty in the southern hemisphere. Busselton Hilton Garden Inn combines this regional charm with all the perks of a global accommodation powerhouse, including a 24/7 retail space and grab ’n’ go counter.
Windows Estate Petit Eco Cabin
Surrounded by bushland, Windows Estate’s adults-only cabincore fantasy honours the same green values as the rest of this organically farmed Yallingup vineyard.
This handsome and cosy two-person retreat embraces passive solar design principles, uses fallen timber sourced from a family farm, and swaps Wi-Fi and TV for a vintage outdoor bath and tranquil lakeside views. Heads up: it’s just one cabin, so you’ll need to book early – but the reward handsomely outweighs the effort.
Edge Luxury Villas
Fireplace? Check. Bathtub? Of course. Calming lakeside views to help guests make the most of that bathtub? You bet.
These four thoughtfully designed villas tick all the fancy boxes, but their sustainability creds are just as impressive: think off-grid solar power operation, rainwater harvesting, plus a commitment to rewilding and preserving the natural habitat of this 137-hectare property, deep in the heart of wine country. It’s proof that luxury and green thinking can (and should!) go hand in hand.
Where to Dine
Glenarty Road
Slow and steady wins the farmhouse dining race. What began with Sasha and Ben McDonald – current custodians of this fifth-generation Karridale farm – serving simple, home-cooked meals has evolved into refined five-course lunches, overseen by another husband-and-wife team, Jessica and Adam Court.
Despite the restaurant’s evolution, the focus on estate ingredients remains unwavering – whether it’s showcasing pristine oxheart tomatoes and cucamelons on the crudités plate; using the parrilla grill to coax maximum juiciness from SheepMaster lamb, or transforming grapes into both conventional and maverick cuvées.
The Banksia Tavern
Part American diner, part Aussie corner pub, this fresh-faced neighbourhood bar likes to cosset and comfort guests – pies, fish finger sandwiches and ace hand-cut chips, unsurprisingly, star on the menu.
Less expected, though, is how emerging talent Laura Koentjoro Harding effortlessly colours outside the pub grub lines, as she dishes up splendid birria tacos or references her Indonesian heritage – laksa! Rendang! These change-ups are playful and delicious – praise that, incidentally, also applies to the bar’s diverse and thoughtful booze program.
de’sendent
Just as they did at influential off-grid restaurant Arimia, de’sendent owners Ann Spencer and Evan Hayter are serious about highlighting local produce.
Their fluid, kaiseki-inspired tasting menus – and you should definitely do the tasting menu – might begin with oysters in honeydew and grape juice, move swiftly to a hall-of-fame sweetcorn and crab consommé, then elegantly dismount with nutty macadamia creamed rice. Factor in a drinks list that’s as sharp as the service and you’re looking at one of Margaret River’s finest nights out.
What to Do
Margaret River Farmers Market
Supported by a strong agricultural foundation and a community committed to local food, this region provides an ideal setting for one of Western Australia’s leading farmers’ markets.
For those without kitchen access, a range of ready-to-eat options is available, including baked goods from Harlequin Dessert, sustainable meals from Eco Kitchen Margaret River, and Il Pane Di Arturo’s artisan sourdough. The market is held every Saturday morning at the local TAFE campus.
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