13 places to eat with a fireplace

Grey skies and crisp days call for good food, warming drinks and a seat close to the fire.

Across the Margaret River Region, cellar doors, breweries, restaurants and neighbourhood bars are stoking the flames for winter. Settle in for a long lunch overlooking the vines, share a wood-fired pizza or linger over a local red as the weather rolls in outside.

Here are 13 cosy places to eat and drink by the fire this winter.

At Eagle Bay Brewing Co, the indoor fireplace sits between the restaurant and bar, making it an easy place to gather when the weather rolls in.

Head Chef Hayden Vink brings plenty of South West experience to the kitchen, with a seasonal menu designed for relaxed lunches and shared plates. Pair it with a freshly poured Cacao Stout, brewed using cacao husks from local chocolate makers Bahen & Co, and you’ve got winter sorted.

Nestled among the vines, Xanadu Wines brings a sense of occasion to winter dining without losing the warmth. A striking stone fireplace forms the heart of the restaurant, creating a cosy backdrop for a leisurely lunch and a glass of estate-grown wine.

Head Chef Andrea Gasparini draws on his Venetian heritage and local ingredients to shape Xanadu’s changing seasonal menus. For an easy day out, shared door-to-door transport is also available from Margaret River and Prevelly through The Xanadu Gourmet Chauffeur.

Fireside dining is the name of the game at Broadwater Resort’s restaurant Tonic by the Bay. Settle into a Chesterfield couch with a coffee or share plate, and let the crackle of the fireplace do the rest. Come evening, the outdoor fire pit is lit – the perfect spot to gather with a drink and catch some live tunes (Fridays and Sundays).

Clairault Streicker Wines’ two beautiful stone fireplaces set the scene for a relaxed meal or a seated wine tasting. Dig into a seasonal, share-style menu made with fresh, local ingredients while sipping on a selection of their top wines – a great way to warm up and unwind in the woolly weather.

Beerfarm keeps it warm (and a little bit wild) with a roaring fire set inside an old digger bucket. This novelty piece is fired up in the heart of the main bar – you’ll definitely defrost with a beer and a feed here. They also have new above-table heating, so the whole venue stays toasty no matter where you put it down.

Tucked off Caves Road, Mr Barval Fine Wines is the kind of place that invites you to slow down. The fire’s lit, the mulled wine’s on, and their beautifully curated grazing platters make the perfect pairing. Drop in between 11 and 5, find a cosy corner, and stay as long as you like.

Set within Witchcliffe’s character-filled heritage Witch and the Windmill building, Amato Vino brings rustic charm to a winter tasting.

Take a seat on the undercover verandah beside the outdoor potbelly stove, with blankets on hand for especially crisp days. Explore Amato Vino’s distinctive wines with a tasting or wine paddle, add a cheese plate and settle in for a cosy afternoon.

Other Side of the Moon at Pullman Bunker Bay Resort keeps things toasty with not one – but two – stone fireplaces and sweeping views over Bunker Bay. The fires are lit early, so by midday, the whole place is glowing with warmth. Bonus: in season, you might catch a whale breaching out in the bay.

Housed in a converted 1960s woodworking warehouse, Bungalow Neighbourhood Social brings a laid-back beach-house feel to the heart of Dunsborough. Settle in by the fire with a hand-stretched sourdough pizza, natural wine or locally brewed beer, surrounded by mismatched furniture, greenery and plenty of mid-century charm. It’s a cosy neighbourhood hangout made for easing into a winter evening.

Continuing those ocean views, Wise Winery sits high above Geographe Bay in Meelup Regional Park. With beautiful views, wines, and a distillery onsite, it was also crowned Best Restaurant Within a Winery at the 2024 Gold Plate Awards. Their winter menu is a must-try, especially when enjoyed by the cosy fireplace.

Featuring a Cheminese Philippe 3 fireplace – industrial, glass-walled, and perched on a plinth – Wild Hop Brewing Co. sure knows how to make a scene. Throw in a massive wood-fired Zesti oven blazing away in the open kitchen, plus a rotisserie serving up smoking, flame-licked goodness right before your eyes, and you’ve got yourself a solid spot.