View From Shelter Brewing Co Credit Taya Reid
02.05.2023

Gone are the days of any food-centric soul or beer aficionado bypassing Busselton, with the town’s culinary map growing into new and delicious territory.

Busselton has long been linked with a host of memorable experiences dominated by salt water, long jetty walks and postcard sunsets, but it’s the emerging food scene gaining the Geographe Bay hub some attention of late. There’s a sunlit brewery glinting proudly on the foreshore, more than a few premium choices for caffeine addicts and perfect runny-egg hunters, and the jewel in Busselton’s foodie crown, the Origins Market.

The Good Egg - Busselton - Credit Taya Reid
The Good Egg is a local favourite. Photo credit Taya Reid.

Rise

The real measure of a chef is in the basics; sourdough, poached eggs, cinnamon scrolls. Busselton has a number of ways to test that theory with a coffee in hand if you’re in town before wine o’clock. Fresh loaves roll out the door at Baked on Queen Street, and more than a few jam donuts. At the Good Egg, you can be upstairs in a shared workspace trying not to drip egg yolk on your laptop, or downstairs with the kids and buttermilk fried chicken waffles on your plate.

For all day indulgence, there’s a hint of Brittany in every French buckwheat crêpe at Bistro Breton. The menu is holiday grade satisfying from Croque Monsieur to prosciutto with Margaret River Region raw honey, or salted butter caramel and Chantilly cream. Forget what I said earlier, because you can BYO the sparkling wine haul from your Caves Road adventures if you like your Francophilia with a side of bubbles.

Inside Shelter Brewing Co Credit Taya Reid
Shelter Brewing Co is a love letter to Busselton. Photo credit Taya Reid.

Gather

Shelter Brewing Co seems to emit light from within, and it’s not surprising given the venue’s prime position on the Busselton foreshore, with floor to ceiling glass and clever minimal design making way for that famous view.  Shelter is a love letter to Busselton from two local families firmly entrenched in the hospitality scene, the Credaros and the Packard-Hairs. As a result, the community vibe is palpable in the warmth of the service, and children are welcomed in Shelter’s family forward atmosphere.

Brewed before your eyes, there are five signature beers and a cider on tap every day including pale ales, sours and lager. Shelter also delivers regular feature beers in short runs, with concepts and flavours inspired by childhoods spent in Busso, and the local sights and sensations.  An Italian pizza oven dominates the kitchen, which serves up simple share style seasonal fare. With wine-soaked local mussels and a crunchy pomegranate and buckwheat pumpkin salad up for grabs, it’s not all chips and burgers, but of course, you can have those too.

Leaving the kids at home? The Fire Station is a well-established favourite with locals, boasting a vast revolving list of boutique wine and craft beer, and live music most Saturdays.

If that variety isn’t enough, the Rocky Ridge Brewing Co features taps of over 25 stalwarts and limited releases to dizzy and delight you. They’ve buddied up with LS Merchants to ensure those who prefer grape to grain are satisfied, too. Margaret River Burger Co stand by to feed you while you make your difficult beverage decisions.

Origins Market Busselton
Origins Market hosts a community of local producers, growers and makers.

Immerse

Origins Market offers brilliant family-friendly dining in the heart of Busselton.

The market food hall offers a dozen eateries serving up international cuisines. From traditional wood fired pizza to spicy tacos and Cuban sandwiches, from contemporary nasi goreng and Indonesian sate to freshly rolled sushi rolls, you won’t be disappointed. Then go on top it off with freshly scooped gelato and hand stretched sweets, freshly roasted coffees and delicious artisan breads and cakes.

Qualified chefs, one from a former Michelin star restaurant in London (Tom Cook of Cook Digs), serve up their fresh foods the way they know you will love them. Catering to all dietary requirements, you will find a dish that suits everyone including vegetarian, vegan and coeliac options. The food hall serves lunch from Thursday to Sunday and dinner on Friday and Saturday nights.

If you are after a loaf of the best sourdough in the region or one of Dusty Buns Bakery’s famous cronuts you can count on them to be available from 7am Thursday to Sunday. Combine your dinner with a drink at the Homestead Bar which serves Homestead beer on tap, award winning Mandoon Winery wines and a range of top south west wines and Western Australian spirits.

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