13 Best Restaurants in Western Australia, Australia

It begins as temptation as your senses are teased by the smells wafting from the open kitchen. Rosemary, chili, oregano, olive oil, and tomato scents will drive you crazy until your own meal lands in front of you. And then, bliss. This modern Italian eatery rivals any classic, and there are plenty in Fremantle. Italians have been ruling the roost for decades, so much that there's been a push to dub the port city, Little Italy. La Sosta offers a buzzy atmosphere while serving creative pasta dishes that will leave you wanting more. Start with the focaccia and leave room for dessert---the tiramisu is calling your name.

Bunbury's dining scene is charging forward, and leading the way is Market Eating House. Head chef and owner, Brenton creates a menu jam-packed with delicious shareable foods cooked on the custom-made charcoal grill and wood-fired oven all within open view. Think Turkish lamb dumplings, goat cheese churros, and crayfish sliders. The industrial decor, busy, but joyful vibe, tantalizing smells wafting in the air, and attentive service may just inspire you to go back a second night. Definitely start with the market hummus and flatbread.

Located in Parmelia Hilton Perth, this elegant restaurant and bar serves top-quality seasonal fare from their State-to-Plate tapas menu. With sharing in mind, plates come in small, medium, and large portions and range from ciabatta with smoked butter and saltbush to Fremantle octopus to roasted pumpkin with fermented black garlic. Breakfast includes an à la carte menu or go for the all-you-can-eat buffet featuring a selection of hot and cold favorites like eggs made-to-order, bacon, sausages, Swiss muesli, pastries and a make-your-own pancake maker.

Bustling with locals, BWG Steakhouse serves modern Australian cuisine with an emphasis on top-quality meats cooked to perfection and local seafood. Just 7 km (4 miles) from Perth CBD, in the affluent suburb of Applecross—once home to actor Heath Ledger—the heritage restaurant commands a skyline view across a marina full of palatial leisure boats.

Waterfront Fremantle is renowned for its seafood restaurants, so going to a harborside venue for steak seems almost irreverent, but meat lovers revel in the juicy steak selection at Char Char. They dropped the "bull" from their name but you'll still get a fine piece of meat, cooked to perfection, here. This lively restaurant, with full table service, specializes in chargrilled prime beef selected from year-old, grass-fed Murray Grey cattle.

Appealing to the glitzy, moneyed, cosmetically conscious crowd in Perth, this is the "it spot" on Friday when rollicking long lunches can extend well past sunset, making it challenging to get a table—unless you book in advance. The views are as good as the people-watching, and though the classic food is expensive, it's beautifully executed.

The pastoral setting over the dammed waters of Wilyabrup Brook, encircled by olive groves in the midst of the Brookland Valley Vineyard, is almost as compelling as the cuisine—French bistro fare mixed with tropical influences from the northern Australian town of Broome. Executive chef and restaurant owner François Morvan makes use of prime local produce, creating a variety of mouthwatering dishes created especially for lingering lunches. 

Reserve a seat by the window, or on the wooden deck that juts out over the picturesque dam.

The large outdoor area at this Kings Park restaurant fills with people eyeing views of the city and Swan River (spectacular in the evening) while enjoying chef favorites such as slow-cooked lamb shoulder, chargrilled octopus, and hand-cut chips with aioli. The ever-changing menu of share plates or larger dishes highlight fresh Western Australian produce.

This whitewashed and yellow canteen scores with simple, seasonal food delivered with finesse plus window seats overlooking iconic Cottesloe Beach. The convivial alfresco area looks out to a coastal conga line of walkers, joggers, and cyclists, while at night, candles deliver a romantic feel. Reservations are recommended but don't expect to reserve a table on the deck—these highly sought spots are reserved for first-come-best-dressed walk-ins. 

Any place that takes its name from a Kalgoorlie showgirl has got to have spunk, and Lalla Rookh has it in spades. The below-street-level venue on Perth's business strip is a real find and combines a slick restaurant with dishes inspired by Italy with a tiny wine bar that introduces quaffers to local and "untampered with grape" varieties. Although wine is king here, they also serve cocktails and craft beer. 

Since 1986, chef and owner Giuseppe Pagliaricci has taken an imaginative yet simple approach to the cuisine of his native Umbria, serving elegant, homemade Italian dishes to his loyal customers. Popular in old-school business and political circles, the restaurant has prix-fixe lunches, and a fine-dining atmosphere.

This upscale restaurant has impressive modern architecture, from big windows to a wraparound deck that offers uninterrupted views of the vineyard. The seasonal menu, inspired by local produce, may include favorites like local marron and slow-braised lamb shoulder.

There's an adjacent café with an enclosed children's playground and an appropriate, cheaper menu that caters to kids but still scores on the flavor scale in a casual setting.

Verdant bushland, manicured vineyards and expansive views all the way down to Geographe Bay are show-stopping features of this modern restaurant. Expect the unexpected and be pleasantly surprised by culinary creations that change with the turning of each season. In keeping, the accent is on the use of fresh, local produce. Look out for house-cured salmon, crunchy edged pork belly with creamed truffle potatoes, or the Amelia Park lamb rack with polenta and pine nuts. The extensive dessert menu is just as appealing, so leave room for sweets. On Friday night, pasta and risotto dishes are featured.