Margaret River’s buzzing main street

You may be a good couple hours from Perth, but Margaret River’s dedication to good coffee might be a step ahead of the big cities.

Margaret River Bakery: A Margs icon serving freshly baked bread, croissants, pies and coffee since the 1960s. Whether you after a leisurely brunch or grabbing something on the go, they’ve got you covered.

Sidekick Cafe: Great coffee, excellent service, and a simple menu make Sidekick an obvious choice for your morning start.

Riversmith: Looking to linger over your morning coffee? Riversmith has room to spread out, a varied menu, and some lovely outside tables that are a treat when the sun is out.

The Hairy Marron: The Hairy Marron is a bike-hire meets café. Positioned right on the Wadandi Track at the bottom of town, this is a picturesque hidden gem, where you can grab a coffee, hire a bike, and spend the morning discovering Margaret River’s tracks, trails and majestic river.

Along the Margaret River main street, it seems you are never more than a few metres from a great meal.

Miki’s Open Kitchen: Miki is a local legend and dining at Miki’s is a bucket list experience. Miki clearly cares about ingredients and presentation when it comes to food, and ordering ‘Miki’s Complete’ – a seven-course journey through Miki’s unique and creative modern Japanese cuisine is advisable.

de’sendent: Located at the top of Margaret River’s main street, de’sendent offers intimate, refined dining. Co-owner and Chef Evan Hayter is deeply passionate about where his ingredients come from, how they’re grown and ensuring they’re sourced from like-minded producers.

Morries: Always on trend with the menu, cocktails, and wine list, Morries can be a good option for a bit of tapas and a drink, or a special occasion dinner.  Aim to visit during Happy Hour.

Swings & Roundabouts Margaret River: Wine on tap? It’s a thing, and it’s what to expect here at Swings. Grab a casual carafe of chardonnay or rose, a spot by the fire or on the alfresco porch under the vines. Perfect for tapas and a vino or for booking a longer meal. Hot tip: the woodfired pizza is fantastic.

Sometimes it’s just a burger and fries washed down with a pint and a big group of friends that makes a night out worthwhile.

Settler’s Tavern: The perfect place for people-watching with a pint offering great kid’s selections, gluten-free options, and vegetarian dishes as well as good-sized pub food using local produce. With a list of accolades including number one in the “Top 50 Places to Drink Wine in Australia’ – the Tav ticks more than a few boxes.

Brewhouse Margaret River: The only brewery that’s within walking distance of town, Brewhouse is a quintessential Margs spot. An evolving range of new brews, plus all the classics you love, a great menu, and plenty of space (including a playground) will keep you returning.

Margaret River’s main street traders offer an eclectic blend of art, fashion and everything in between you won’t find anywhere.

Hillzeez: You can’t visit one of Australia’s top surfing destinations without a visit to its signature surf shop. Hillzeez has great quality wet suits, boards, boardies and bathers. Sister store Subculture, located just across the road, is the place for skate and street-style brands.

Drapery Co: Support local artists and globally recognised designers stocking unique clothing, one-off accessories and plants to brighten up your home.

Isla Samsara: Quality over quantity is the ethos behind this local boutique. They stock sustainably made, Australian brands like Spell, Shona Joy, Alias Mae and Kivari. They also stock the sweetest clothes for little ones.

Lloyds: Another ‘Margie’s’ institution, what started as a hardware store, Lloyd’s has expanded into a one-stop shop for just about everything. Whether it’s kitchen wares, home décor, birthday cards, sun hats, or indoor plant pots – Lloyds is your place.

Margaret River Artisan Store: Take home something uniquely Margaret River from this eclectic little shop. They offer a range of products from the region’s creatives like quality clothing, hand-dyed linen sheets, and featured artist pieces framed and ready to hang.

Public art and murals adorn the walls of Margaret River’s main street – but you have to search a little to find them. Uncover the town’s thriving art scene trail with Margaret River Art Trails. Each artwork on the trail has a QR code that links to an immersive webpage full of background information, allowing you to see the artwork through a different lens. Meet the artists and understand the creative process of the region’s largest collection of street art.

Some of the artwork will even come to life with an Augmented Reality component. Watch Wanda the Whale by Cara Sanders, or a time-lapse of Ian Mutch, Jack Bromell, and Wadandi elder and artist Sandra Hill’s iconic collaboration piece Wadandi Boodjarra with audio commentary.

Incorporate some well-earned wellness into your schedule with a sauna or Pilates session, you’re on holiday after all.

Skuhlpt: A dedicated sanctuary to indulge and invest in yourself. They offer reformer and floor-style Pilates classes for all levels. They also offer heated mat Pilates and Vinyasa classes for an extra bit of burn.

MEND Margaret River: The recovery centre and spa without the pretence. MEND is a humbly luxurious space using the benefits of hot/cold & bodywork/massage therapy to recover, recharge and realign.

This article was produced as a partnership between The Margaret River Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association.