From Reef to Table: a Food-Lover’s Guide to Exmouth

Long a beguiling destination for divers and sun-seekers, with its famous reef and luminous turquoise waters, Exmouth is now turning travellers’ heads toward a different kind of spectacle: a food scene that celebrates the ocean’s bounty, outback flavours and a relaxed West Australian spirit.

From red-dirt station feasts to sunset seafood and late-night brewery sessions, this laid-back coastal town has plenty to savour. Here’s how to taste it all.

Seafood With a View

For a semi polished meal overlooking Exmouth Gulf, Mantarays Dining & Bar is a typical first stop for first-timers to ‘Exxy’. Led by Executive Chef Joseph McGrattan inside the Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort, expect sweeping water views with a contemporary Australian menu and subtle European flair. The famous prawn bucket offers a fun, messy eating experience worth your time. Local seafood stands out; oysters three ways, Shark Bay scallops with XO butter, or market fish with piperade, best enjoyed as prawn trawlers glide past at sunset.

 

Just along the marina, the EGFC Clubhouse Sports Bar and Restaurant offers a more casual scene. Locals drop in for cold beers, natural oysters and fresh fish tacos, with goldband snapper and a slow-cooked porterhouse also on the menu. Big screens show live sport while the sun sets over the boats, making it an easygoing evening spot.

Within the Exmouth Escape Resort, Whalers Restaurant skips the ocean views but serves some of the region’s best seafood. Its relaxed garden setting frames a modern Australian menu featuring dishes like seafood gumbo, tiger prawn gnocchi and the daily catch grilled or beer-battered, often accompanied by live acoustic music.

Brews and Beats

Exmouth punches well above its weight when it comes to craft beer. Whalebone Brewing Company is the town’s unofficial backyard, a family-run brewery and distillery where long tables fill with locals and visitors. The taps rotate through crisp lagers, hoppy IPAs and seasonal sours, best enjoyed with wood-fired pizzas like the Beached As, topped with Exmouth wild prawns, or the anchovy-rich Bonechovy. Kids play on the lawn, bands strike up on weekends and the atmosphere is pure Ningaloo – easygoing and generous.

On Kennedy Street, Froth Craft Brewery brings a creative, community vibe with regular live music, comedy and film nights. Established in 2016 as Exmouth’s first brewery, it pours up to 20 beers on tap, from crisp session ales to seasonal experiments, and offers tasting paddles for those keen to sample the range. The kitchen keeps things fun with share plates, hearty burgers and mains like hickory pork ribs or a classic chicken parmi. It’s an easygoing spot to settle in after a day on the reef, with something on tap and on stage most nights.

Outback feasts and station charm

An hour south of town, Bullara Station is a dining pilgrimage worth taking. The Table, its signature paddock-to-plate banquet, is served under a star-filled sky and celebrates Gascoyne produce. One evening might feature grass-fed fillet and lamb cutlets with Carnarvon sweetcorn, the next, a pit-barbecued sirloin finished with Burnt Station Cheesecake featuring Carnarvon mango and roasted pineapple. Monday’s Stockman’s chicken parmi is beloved by locals, while burger and pizza nights keep the atmosphere friendly and relaxed. Arrive early to wander the red dirt paths and sip a sundowner around the firepit before sitting down to dinner.

For something closer to town but with a similar sense of place, The BBQ Father delivers Southern-style smoke with Italian comfort. Texas-imported smokers infuse brisket and pork ribs with rich flavour, while wood-fired pizzas and generous pasta plates carry a distinctly local twist. Both venues channel the region’s rugged character, offering hearty meals and the kind of warmth you remember long after you leave.

Bright Mornings and Café Culture

Exmouth wakes early, and so do its cafés. There’s a generous spread of spots serving everything from wholesome plant-based breakfasts to strong takeaway coffee for a day on the reef. Start at The Social Society, a breezy, art-filled space that champions local produce and sustainability. Its banana pancakes with tahini, maple and coconut yoghurt are already a local legend, and smoky jackfruit nachos make a hearty brunch.

 

Nestled in Exmouth’s ‘city’ heart, Bamboo is a gem, weaving Japanese finesse with Ningaloo’s coastal soul. This trailblazing sushi cafe hums from dawn, some of Exmouth’s best coffee: smooth oat milk lattes and vivid matcha that eclipse urban brews. The menu – tight and quality; fresh tuna sushi, chickpea salads and vegan acai bowls bursting with tropical flair. Warm ramen with tender pork and crisp karaage chicken call, alongside vegetarian and gluten-free options. Priced $4 to $20, each dish powers hikes through Cape Range or dives in Ningaloo’s coral maze. Bamboo’s charm is its warmth: staff greet like family, shaping a relaxed haven where surfers linger over gyoza. It’s a vibrant stop for wholesome dining in Exmouth’s wild rhythm.

For ocean views and a coastal breeze, Ningaloo Bakehouse and Café delivers relaxed beachfront dining with solid espresso, while Adrift Café is a long-time favourite for good coffee, hearty breakfasts and simple, fresh lunches. Exhale adds a touch of polish with beautifully plated brunches and an ever-changing seasonal menu.

Wherever you land, the vibe is warm and unhurried, much like the rest of Exmouth’s food scene. It’s the perfect fuel before a day exploring Ningaloo or winding down after an early dive, with flavours that stay easy, fresh and full of local character from sunrise coffees to starlit dinners.

Looking for places to stay in the North West? Discover the best places to stay in the region on WAGFG Stays.