Take a break from the big smoke and take in Esperance’s salty air instead.
Not only is the seaside destination’s bright blue water truly spectacular, there’s plenty of good eatin’ and drinkin’ to be had. Here are our favourites in Esperance, from the best restaurants and pubs, to its wonderful coffee windows and great grocers:
With a thriving seafood industry, sampling Esperance’s local produce is a must. If you want it cooked by the best, pop into low-key seafood restaurant Fish Face. Owners Dalia and Craig Adams are the best in the business and serve up an ever-changing menu of local catch. Best of all, the restaurant is BYO so you can afford that extra serve of the best scallops on earth. Hot tip: on Monday nights, Esperance Sri Lankan Taste take over the Fish Face kitchen for a weekly Sri Lankan feast!
1 James Street, Esperance
A trip to Esperance is not complete without a coffee (and maybe a cheeky pastry) from Downtown Espresso Bar. You’ll forget you’re 750km from the city when you step up to this funky little coffee window that’s famous for the best cold brew and turmeric lattes in town. It’s a hot spot for locals and tourists alike, making it a great place to people watch and peruse a copy of the wonderful Esperance Tide magazine.
94C Dempster Street, Esperance
That’s right, craft beer fans, Esperance has its own beer. After a dip in the Eleven Mile lagoon, continue out to the Lucky Bay Brewing microbrewery. Made with premium local barley, you can work your way through the now 12-strong range. Lucky Bay Brewing run tours or you can just pop in for a paddle and take some chunky 1L cans to go.
63 Bandy Creek Road, Esperance
If you’re staying at Duke Of Orleans Bay Caravan Park or visiting Wharton’s Beach, make sure you pop into the family owned and operated Condigup Tavern – a wonderful little cafe, bar and restaurant with the kind of relaxed, rustic and honest vibe you can only find in Australia’s great southern.
Corner of Ayre and Parish Streets, Condingup
Turns out this area of the world is pretty perfect for growing olives, and Yirri Grove Olive Farm grows four different varieties. Nestled at the edge of the groves, the restaurant offers a real paddock to plate experience featuring their delicious, hand-picked olives and oils.
1544 Fisheries Road, Myrup
You can’t say you’ve been to Esperance unless you’ve popped into Esperance French Hot Bread for some of the best baked goods in the Great Southern. Their pie selection is unmatched, and make for the perfect fuel before a day adventuring.
85 Dempster Street, Esperance
If you’re chasing the best fresh local produce to line your picnic hamper before a beach picnic, Bob & Jim’s is the place to go. Offering fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, eggs and dairy, small batch artisan wares, international specialist foods and more, why not save yourself the trouble and grab one of their incredible seasonal hampers.
73 Dempster Street, Esperance
Every country city has that go-to pub for a bit of extra fun on the weekends, and The Pier Hotel is that one-stop shop for a great pub feed, a few rounds of pool, or a late night boogie in the nightclub. The self-proclaimed “social networking hub” of Esperance, if you wanna make a few new local friends, The Pier is the place to be.
47-49 The Esplanade, Esperance
Offering one of the best outdoor dining spots in the state, Taylor Street Quarters‘ epic Esperance Bay views are only matched their epic food, coffee, beer, wine and cocktails selections. With Lucky Bay Brewing on tap, live music in spring and summer and a huge grassy outdoor area, it makes for a dangerous Sunday session proposition – or any day of the week for that matter.
1 Taylor Street, Esperance
If you’re lucky enough to be in town on one of the every-second-Saturdays it’s held, make sure you pop into the Esperance Growers Market at the Esperance Scout Hall – offering a delicious array of local produce from growers within the area.
If a quick caffeine hit is what you’re chasing, head straight for the Tanker Jetty and hit up the Coffee Cat. They take their beans very seriously, and the proof is in the pudding, with a nary a bad word to say from locals and visitors alike.
With all the hiking, swimming and adventuring you plan on doing, sometimes a big old carbo hit is in order, and Ricardo’s Pizza is the place to get it. According to the locals Ricardo has the best pizza in town, and you won’t be arguing after a huge Devine Lamb or Carbonara Pizza.
9b/81 Dempster Street, Esperance
Neighbouring Coffee Cat in their nifty new matching container kiosks, Sir Juice are another must-visit when you’re near the Jetty. As well as tasty and refreshing juices, they’ll sort you out with some delish paninis or comforting, nourishing soups.
It would be easy to miss Cloud Eleven, tucked away off Dempster Street – but if you find it, you’ll stumble upon a bright, spacious café. With an in-house coffee roaster, extensive tea range and delightful local ceramics (and even the occasional bouquet of local wildflowers!), Cloud Eleven is all about loving local.
Shop 13, 75-79 Dempster Street, Esperance
For a classic pub feed, it’s hard to go past 33 Degrees. Freshly renovated in 2021, the pub is dishing up crowd pleasers (think parmies, ribs, loaded fries) with a spectacular view – made all that much better with an ice cold beer in your hand.
51 The Esplanade, Esperance
One of Esperance’s newer spots, Out Of The Blue‘s unpretentious comfort food is already making a splash. Generous servings of fish and chips, big ol’ burgers and bowls of spaghetti and meatballs you just can’t wait to dive into.
81 Pink Lake Road, Esperance
–
Header image: Taylor Street Quarters