Best breakfasts in Dunsborough and Yallingup

Well, at least after spoiling your taste buds with these mouth-watering breakfasts, it will be. Say goodbye to lingering in bed that little while longer, and say hello to the best breakfasts in Dunsborough and Yallingup that will have you voluntarily jump, skip and hop out of bed.

A favourite amongst the locals, Merchant & Maker is a Dunsborough institution. Conveniently located in the heart of town, it’s become more than just a café – it’s a community hub where the warm, inviting atmosphere is rooted in their core value of ‘hygge’. This Danish concept embraces the simple joys of cosy, quality times with loved ones over delicious food and drinks – and of that, they have plenty.

The food cabinets and displays are packed with a large range of in-house specialties. Every morning there’s freshly baked organic breads, with a selection of Danish rye bread and sourdoughs on the weekends. A delicious pastry section of house-made cakes, banana bread, danishes, and cinnamon rolls will have your eyes widen as you step in.

When owner and chef Duncan Timmons took over Dunsborough’s Goanna Bush Café in 2008, he knew the Indo Breakfast’s reputation amongst the locals and returning visitors, and understood his own would be at stake if he removed it from the menu.

“We’re so happy to see people still enjoy it,” Duncan said. “It’s an Aussie take on a nasi goreng. I think it’s the balance of spice, sweetness and umami from the pesto avocado. We’ve spiced up the rice, adding house-made nahm jim and quality coconut milk and fry it to order.”

Goanna Café is kid and dog-friendly and a relaxing place for a leisurely breakfast inside the café or under the gum trees. Other favourites are the Bush breakfast, Spanish breakfast, and Smoked BBQ breakfast. The Indonesian stays on the menu for brunch and lunch, joined by smoked salmon fishcake and crab omelette gratin. The omelette is cooked with crab and white fish ‘Arnold Bennett’ style served with grilled courgettes and topped with potato rosti and a mango miso chilli butter.

Located right on Dunsborough’s foreshore, Sora Café offers a menu centred around high-quality, locally sourced ingredients with a “less is more” philosophy. The dishes are simple yet expertly crafted, and the bay views compliment them perfectly.

If you’re in the mood for something hearty, the Green Bowl with Roasted Root Veggies is packed with roasted veggies and drizzled with a miso-pear dressing. For something savoury, Sora’s Green XO Scrambled Eggs on sourdough with sesame and ginger scallion sauce will hit the spot. Plus, you can’t go past the Smoked Salmon Smorrebrod, a Danish rye open sandwich with dill cream cheese, smoked salmon, and miso sweet potato puree, nor the Pancake & Fresh Berry Stack with fresh berries, grilled banana, and maple syrup.

From bush to beach, some of WA’s most renowned chefs are creating world-class breakfasts for hungry surfers, holidaymakers and locals starting out right.

Kate Lamont is one of our state’s best-known and respected chefs and is regularly behind the tools in Lamont’s kitchen. Lamonts’ consistent quality cements the restaurant as a staple on the breakfast scene. Or maybe it’s the siren’s call of a Peach Bellini, Espresso Martini or Bloody Mary that you can order on the side. The restaurant and deli have been elevated with new bi-fold windows welcoming in the fresh salty air.

Popular Lamont’s breakfasts include buttermilk pancakes with sweet lime butter, maple syrup, mascarpone and berries; and potato rosti with roasted mushies, poached eggs and pancetta bits. The blue soft taco with fried eggs, avo, tomato, mozzarella and brown butter aioli is also a winner. For a lighter start, poached rhubarb and raspberries with roasted almond dukkha is superb.

Up the road at Yallingup Beach, Lagoon Yallingup chef/owner Ben Jacob celebrates the refined-casual restaurant’s proximity to the ocean.

Breakfast standouts include a chilli blue swimmer crab omelette with akoya oyster sambal (a family recipe and nod to Ben’s Burmese heritage), and buttermilk fish wing benedict with aniseed myrtle hollandaise and potato. They’ve also got some exciting new breakfast dishes hitting the menu very shortly with the trending French Toast taking another change in flavour with the season to apple crumble French toast, and creme patisserie.

Returning to the menu is Lagoon Yallingup’s croquette in the style of a salted cod, and another spin with a fish wing lightly crumbed and served with an ala minute pan fried potato hash with nduja, house pickles and caramelised onions. Groms have a dedicated breakfast menu with smaller servings too.

At Lagoon kiosk there’s nary a sausage roll in sight. Instead enjoy a choice of toasties, pastries and house-made granola. Seeking maximum beach time? Order online.

Ilma Beach House is the new kid on the block in Bunker Bay, quickly becoming a go-to for breakfast lovers. With stunning ocean views and a Mediterranean-inspired menu, it offers a fresh take on coastal dining.

Highlights include Turkish Eggs with spices tomato oil, labneh, and dukkah on sourdugh, and the Smoke Ocean Trout with herbed crème fraiche and fennel. For a lighter option, the Ilma Granola with Greek yoghurt and stone fruit is divine.

The interior is a showstopper too – think natural wood accents, neutral tones, and lush greenery create a calming atmosphere, making it the perfect spot to enjoy a leisurely breakfast.

Open from 8am-5pm, Thursday through Monday, reservations are highly recommended. And don’t miss The Kofe Kabana, open daily from 7am for takeaway coffee and artisanal ice creams – perfect for a beachside treat.

Meelup Farmhouse celebrates the art of brunching in boho chic style. The menu is a cut above breakfast standards, featuring fresh flavours from farm, garden and sea. Warm date and ginger rice pudding with coconut yoghurt, and chilli scrambled egg with char sui pork belly is on the cards for your next visit.

Little ones have a brunch set menu – finishing with a ‘Little Farmer’ bag of chicken feed for the free range and fabulous Silkie chickens roaming the farm!

Your favourite breakfast is where you can try a bit of everything? Pullman Bunker Bay Resort’s Breakfast Manager Lisa Cole has made it her goal that their buffet breakfast is the best hotel breakfast in Western Australia.

Guests of the award-winning resort enjoy a bountiful buffet of fresh fruit, a juicing station alongside traditional breakfast buffet options, and guests can choose to eat it in the restaurant or on the terrace with stunning ocean views. Even better — you don’t need to be a hotel guest to participate in this glorious buffet bonanza.

If you’re looking for a solid, tasty breakfast in Dunsborough with lots of space for the kids and dogs to run amok – Southcamp is it.

You can’t go wrong with the Brekkie Burger with bacon, egg, cheese and aioli, or the Mushroom Burger with tomato relish, spinach, avo and cheese. There is also a selection of acai and granola bowls, wraps, pizzas and salads, and let’s not forget about the brownies, muffins, croissants and banana bread.

The giant sandpit is a total hit with the kids, and extra plus – babycinos are free with any coffee order!