On the Mid West coast of Western Australia, just over 400km north of Perth, Geraldton (or Jambinu) is known for its coastal charm and being a centre of the western rock lobster industry. You’ll find a wealth of Aussie food classics here but also dishes that take cues from Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. The thread that links them, the local produce, from land and sea. And of course it’s mandatory to set your watch for the sunset, and perhaps a sundowner to go with it.
Breakfast
Cafe Fleur
Cafe Fleur
Homemade cupcakes, fairtrade Karvan coffee, and their three-cheese scrambled Kalbarri eggs with hollandaise are just a few reasons this West End cafe is a solid start to the day. Fresh local produce reigns, as does Cafe Fleur’s signature Jaffle-pressed pancakes with monthly special toppings (Lemon Curd and Blueberry with coconut compote on my visit). Their breakfast menu features classic favourites like avocado toast, to more innovative dishes like Brekky Croquettes with poached eggs and a fire-roasted capsicum sauce, served up in a light-filled rustic dining room – think chunky wood tables, exposed brick with plenty of natural light and leafy pot plants.
Open from 7am. 186 Marine Terrace
Wonda Bake
Its old-school milk bar feel with Formica tabletops, fluorescent lights, and locals reading the daily paper in the small dining area is part of Wonda Bake’s charm. The bakery specialises in sweet and savoury pastries with chocolate eclairs, croissants, cupcakes, ready-made sandwiches, and pies displayed in glass cabinets and a short made-to-order breakfast menu that includes an English fry-up. A block from the Foreshore, and open early, make Wonda Bake a post-swim ritual for many locals (they have a second entrance directly from the beach).
Open from 6am. 116 Marine Terrace
Beached Barrel
Small-batch artisan doughnuts are served fresh from this beachfront hole-in-the-wall venue. Doughnuts are yeast-raised and made from scratch daily. There are the classic sweet versions – some glazed, others dusted in sugar and even a doughnut ice cream sandwich. But it’s the savoury doughnuts that shine, like the Tradie Doughie with a fried egg, Swiss cheese, bacon, and smoky BBQ sauce, all on a brioche-style doughnut. Coffee, milkshakes, smoothies, and a burger list (on brioche rolls) fill out the menu.
Open from 7.30am. 26 Foreshore Drive
Lunch
Laian
Laian
Step into Laian, a modern sun-kissed diner by Geraldton Cathedral, for chef Nadeem Turkia’s flavours of the Levant. Committed to using local produce, it makes for a celebration of the region’s bounty. Think, Southern Rangelands lamb in house-made sausages, and western rock lobster in filo-wrapped pies. The menu features Middle Eastern classics like shawarma wraps, and falafel platters, to salt and pepper squid with saffron aioli. The fresh lemon and mint iced tea are the perfect tonic.
56 Cathedral Avenue
Bánh Mì Up
The vibrant flavours of Vietnamese street food at Bánh Mì Up start with their signature roast pork Bánh Mì filled with crispy pork belly, homemade pate in a fresh baguette topped with sliced chilli, coriander, spring onion and fried onion. The menu boasts rich Pho noodle bowls with a beef broth made onsite and simmered for hours, then topped with your meat of choice – lemongrass beef, grilled chicken, BBQ pork – garnished with fresh mint, coriander, chilli, and lime. Delicate bao buns come with a choice of five different fillings. Tables are limited as it’s a primarily a takeaway venue, making it good for a quick bite.
98 Marine Terrace
Jaffle Shack
It’s the humble toasted sandwich elevated with premium ingredients and unexpected filling combinations at Jaffle Shack, from a classic ham and cheese jaffle to reliving childhood meals with house-made baked beans and mozzarella cheese. Or go gourmet with slow-cooked pulled pork with Asian slaw; smoked salmon with asparagus, cream cheese, and dill. The jaffle range is extensive (there’s eighteen) and split into breakfast, veggie, or gourmet, with a choice of bread (white, multi-whole, flatbread, and gluten-free). There are two outposts – one beachside, the other in the West End – with Karvan and Jaffle Shack coffee beans brewed to order.
188 Marine Terrace and Geraldton Foreshore
Drinks
30 Knots Distillery
30 Knots Distillery
Named after Geraldton’s untamed blustery winds, 30 Knots is the city’s first on-premises distillery, showcasing its award-winning handcrafted small-batch rum and gin. Upcycled shack interiors are made from jetty timbers and scrap metal, with a pre-loved furniture filled bar attached to the cellar door, and a sunny deck on which to sip smooth gins infused with native botanicals to spiced daiquiris. The food menu is perfect for grazing and features all Western Australian produce, including cured meats, lemon myrtle marinated feta, sundried tomatoes, and char-grilled pepper relish.
Open Friday to Sunday afternoons until 6pm. 166 Chapman Road
Old Man & the Sea Rooftop Bar
Neatly perched on The Gerald Apartment Hotel’s third floor, Old Man & The Sea is Geraldton’s only rooftop bar with west-facing views towards the port and coastline, making it a spectacular spot to watch the sun dip below the Indian Ocean at sunset. Decked out in a nautical theme utilising old fishing paraphernalia, the bar is stocked with West Australian beers (Gage Roads) and South West wines, paired with solid bar fare. Local market fish, seafood linguine all play to the coastal theme, as does a classic cocktail menu inspired again by the sea with the “Coastalpolitan” and “Spoon in the Dunes.”
25 Cathedral Avenue
Bob’s Boutique Bar
Bob’s Boutique Bar
A popular evening spot with a menu of small plates and Geraldton’s most extensive gin collection of 70 bottles, the sleek interiors of Bob’s Boutique Bar give off a sophisticated cocktail bar feel – velvet lounges, neon lighting, and a dark and moody colour palette. Come for a nightcap or pre-dinner gin martini and snack on Asian-inspired dishes like squid ceviche with sweet coconut cream, tempura prawns and Peri Peri chicken with wombok salad.
25 Cathedral Avenue
Dinner
Salt Dish
A heritage building with white-washed walls, wooden floors, and a cosy backyard al fresco dining area, this refined diner is popular for lunch, and its book ahead Friday and Saturday-only dinners. Inspired by his mother’s cooking, Hungarian-born chef and owner, Csaba Sellei, uses fresh local seafood and game with international inspirations on a weekly changing two and three-course menu. You might find char-grilled Abrolhos octopus with almond puree, red peppers and crispy potatoes, or roasted duck leg with stewed apple, butter bean puree, and celeriac remoulade.
35 Marine Terrace
The Provincial
The star at this pub-style restaurant is their southern Italian inspired wood-fired pizzas. House-made doughs fermented for 24-hours are crafted with fresh local ingredients to make a Margherita using Australian buffalo mozzarella and extra virgin olive oil to the Aussie classics like ham and pineapple. The pasta dishes are popular, with West Australian tiger prawn and pancetta linguine a fan favourite, as is Geraldton caught market fish as a main. It’s casual dining with an outdoor courtyard and a dedicated Spritz cocktails list and draft beers on tap.
167 Marine Terrace
