It’s easy to love Busselton. Brimming with seaside holiday homes, fuss-free fishing and iconic 19th century jetties, Busselton offers all the charm of a coastal town. It's also home to a growing food and wine scene.
Thanks to the major redevelopment of its expansive retail space Busselton Central, this once-sleepy town is now a strong contender for the South West’s hottest destination for dining, drinking and other dalliances. Smack bang in the middle of Busso, the recently revamped shopping centre has added more than 14 new retailers to its trove, with some stellar new culinary offerings that we're hanging out to explore.
Your first stop needs to be Benesse. A long-time favourite of Bunbury and Australind locals that has recently expanded up the coast, founder Anthony Palumbo and his team are now dishing up their soul-lifting coffees, service with a smile and an ineffable sense of community in Busselton Central. This pup-friendly cafe hosts consistently-great lattes, fresh juice, tasty breaky staples and generously sized lunch dishes—perfect fuel for a day of shopping.
Next door to Benesse, there’s Inara. Before it even opened, Inara was already the most talked about restaurant in town—and for good reason. With renowned chef Daniel Johnson at the helm, the promise of authentic Levantine cuisine and a West Oz-heavy wine list, expectations were understandably high. But when it came time to throw open the doors in early November, Inara did not disappoint. The vibrant, relaxed fine diner has been an instant hit with locals, fusing the flavours of Mediterranean cuisines across its memorable menu. Follow the scent of spices to the warm dining room, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week.
Before the summer’s over, Busselton Central will also be home to Busselton Pavilion, the much-awaited megapub by award-winning WA hospitality operator John Parker and creative culinary director Brendan Pratt. Consisting of a wine store, providore, tasting room, restaurant, bar and distillery, we can’t give too much more away just yet, but this one is going to be huge. Watch this space.
In search of a familiar favourite? Busselton Central now fortunately does them, too. Readings Cinema’s brand new state-of-the-art movie theatre will be screening the freshest flicks all summer and beyond, Timezone’s flashy arcade games are ready and waiting to be played, and you’ll be able to get an Espreski and a bite to eat from WA’s very own Dôme very, very soon. On the fashion front, you can pick up some smart slacks from menswear brand Connor, sweet specs from OPSM, and stylish sneakers from Platypus.
But don’t take just our word for it, be one of the first to see Busselton Central’s glow up for yourself. Open from morning ‘til late every day of the week, it's your one-stop-shop for all of your shopping, sipping and snacking needs.
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Busselton Central and proudly endorsed by Urban List. Thank you for supporting the sponsors who make Urban List possible. Click here for more information on our editorial policy.
Image: Busselton Central