The Ultimate Margaret River Lunch Stop: Olio Bello
Margaret River ..not just about wineries
There’s no shortage of places to eat in the Margaret River region. If you’re searching for the Ultimate Margaret River Lunch Stop, you’ll find plenty of options to consider. Between the winery restaurants, the craft breweries, the farm gates and the cafes lining the main street, choosing where to stop for lunch can feel overwhelming.
But ask anyone who knows this region well, and one name keeps coming up: Olio Bello.
Tucked away on Armstrong Road in Cowaramup — just minutes from the pristine beaches of Gracetown — Olio Bello is the kind of place that stops you in your tracks the moment you arrive. And once you’ve been, you’ll understand why locals consider it the best lunch stop in the entire Margaret River region.
More Than Just a Restaurant
Most visitors come for the food. They stay for everything else.
Olio Bello is a 320-acre certified organic olive farm, home to over 8,000 olive trees across 12 unique groves. Everything here — the food, the oils, the beauty products in the farm shop — flows from the land around you. It’s one of the most awarded boutique producers of organic olive oil in Australia. You can taste exactly why the moment your meal arrives.
This isn’t a restaurant that happens to be on a farm. It’s a farm that happens to have a brilliant restaurant. That distinction matters, and you feel it in every bite.
The Pizza ~ order it
If you’re visiting Olio Bello for the first time, start with the pizza. It’s my personal favourite, and I’m not alone — reviewers consistently call it some of the best pizza they’ve ever had, full stop. Not just in Margaret River. Ever.
The secret is what goes into it. The olive oil used in the dough, the sauce, the finish — it’s all produced right here on the farm, cold-pressed and certified organic. The result is a base with genuine flavour and character. Supermarket olive oil simply cannot replicate this.
Standout options have included a venison chorizo pizza with Italian passata, caramelised onion, roasted capsicum, mozzarella and basil. It’s the kind of combination that makes you wonder why you’ve been eating ordinary pizza your whole life.
Other dishes worth ordering:
- Hand-rolled pasta — the lamb ragú draws raves from nearly every table that orders it. Rich, slow-cooked, and finished with farm olive oil.
- Augusta crumbed whiting with chips — the fish is sourced from Augusta, about 30 minutes south, and served with an olive oil mayo that is genuinely exceptional. Fresh, crispy, and totally local.
- Seasonal salads and chef specials — the menu shifts with what’s on the farm and in season, so there’s always something worth trying beyond the regulars.
- Cakes and desserts — don’t skip these. Whether you’re stopping just for coffee or finishing a long lunch, the cakes at Olio Bello have their own devoted following.
The Olive Oil Tasting — Don’t Rush Past the Shop
Before or after your meal, take 15 minutes in the Gourmet Tasting Room. It sounds like a tourist trap. It absolutely isn’t.
Olio Bello produces several distinct olive oil varieties — including Arbequina, Koroneiki, and their award-winning Premium Blend — each with genuinely different flavour profiles. The Premium Blend took a Silver Medal at the 2025 WA Olive Awards. It was described by judges as having “fresh and zesty aroma of fresh herbs” with a “warm, spicy finish.” Try it drizzled on bread with dukkah and you’ll understand what great olive oil actually tastes like.
The farm shop also stocks marinated olives, tapenades, chutneys, preserves, sauces, and an organic beauty range — all made on-site. It’s the kind of place where you arrive planning to buy one bottle and leave with a box.
Perfect for Everyone — And That’s Rare
What makes Olio Bello genuinely special as a lunch stop is that it works for every kind of visitor to Margaret River.
Couples — the setting under the olive trees, with the farm stretching out around you, is quietly romantic in the best way. Unhurried, beautiful, and completely unlike a winery restaurant.
Families with kids — there’s a large lawn for children to run around, toys and colouring materials at the table, and a kids menu that’s actually good. One of the most family-friendly spots in the region. It doesn’t feel like a compromise for adults.
Foodies — the provenance of every ingredient, the quality of the olive oil, the hand-rolled pasta, the seasonal specials. This is serious food in a relaxed setting.
Wine lovers who want something different — Margaret River is world-famous for its wine, but there’s a whole other layer to this region. Olio Bello is a perfect reminder that great food culture goes well beyond the cellar door.
If You Want to Stay Longer
Olio Bello also offers luxury lakeside glamping accommodation — eco tents with stunning lake views, set among the olive groves. It’s one of the most unique places to stay in the Margaret River region. It books out fast, especially in peak season. If you’re planning a longer trip, it’s worth looking into early.
Practical Info
- Address: Armstrong Road, Cowaramup WA 6284
- Open: 7 days from 10am
- What to know: Bookings are recommended, especially on weekends and during school holidays. It fills up — particularly in spring and summer when the region is at its most beautiful.
- While you’re there: Allow at least 90 minutes. Between the meal, the tasting room, the farm shop, and a walk among the olive trees, there’s no reason to rush.
The Bottom Line
Margaret River has no shortage of memorable meals. But Olio Bello offers something most restaurants here can’t — a sense of place that goes all the way down to the soil. The pizza alone is worth the drive. Everything else makes it an afternoon you won’t forget.
If you’re planning a trip to the Margaret River region and you only have time for one lunch stop, make it this one.
Exploring the Margaret River region? Check out our full dining guide, things to do in Margaret River, and where to stay for more local recommendations from Visit Margaret River.
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