If you’ve driven hours through the WA outback to reach Kalbarri, you’ve earned a proper seafood dinner. In fact, many visitors talk about The Best Seafood Dinner in Kalbarri after a long day exploring. And as someone who’s called this town home for over 30 years, I can tell you — you’re in exactly the right place.
Kalbarri sits on the mouth of the Murchison River where it meets the Indian Ocean. That’s not just a pretty backdrop. It means the seafood here is as fresh as it gets — caught locally, served simply, and tasting like the coast itself. So, you really can look forward to The Best Seafood Dinner in Kalbarri as you take in the view.
Here’s where to go.
Upstairs Restaurant — The One Locals Keep Coming Back To
If you ask a Kalbarri local where they go for a proper seafood dinner, most will say the same thing: Upstairs Restaurant.
Tucked above Porter Street with a balcony overlooking the Murchison River, Upstairs has quietly earned its reputation as Kalbarri’s best dining experience — not through flashy marketing, but through consistently brilliant food and the kind of genuine hospitality that only a family-run restaurant delivers. Owners Honor and Wayne grew up in the Kalbarri and Horrocks area, with fishing and farming in their blood. That background shows on every plate.
What To Order
My personal recommendation — and the dish I find myself ordering again and again — is the prawn linguine. It’s the kind of meal that reminds you why you came to a seafood town in the first place: plump, fresh prawns, perfectly cooked pasta, and a sauce that doesn’t try to do too much. Clean, confident, delicious.
Other standouts that regulars rave about:
- Grilled snapper — fresh, local, and cooked exactly right. My wife Linley’s go-to every single visit.
- Seafood laksa — rich and aromatic, not something you’d expect in a small coastal town, but Upstairs pulls it off beautifully.
- Crispy pork belly — for those at the table who want something off the ocean. Yes, someone always does.
- Abrolhos Island octopus — when it’s on the menu, order it. The Abrolhos Islands produce some of the finest seafood in Australia, and this dish does it justice.
Save room for the Death by Chocolate dessert. You won’t regret it.
The Setting
There’s a reason people book the balcony table weeks in advance. As the sun drops over the Murchison River, the sky turns shades of orange and pink that you simply don’t see in the city. Dining here at sunset isn’t just a meal — it’s one of those Kalbarri moments you’ll talk about long after you’ve driven home. Moreover, many say this is the setting for The Best Seafood Dinner in Kalbarri.
The atmosphere is smart casual — relaxed enough that you can come straight from the national park, but special enough that it feels like a proper night out.
Practical Info
- Location: Shop 3, 10 Porter Street, Kalbarri
- Hours: Monday to Saturday, 5pm – 9pm (closed Sundays)
- Bookings: Text your name, number of guests, and preferred date/time to 0408 367 488
- Tip: Book ahead. Upstairs fills up fast, especially on weekends and during whale season. Walk-ins are sometimes possible midweek, but don’t risk it.
Also Worth Knowing About
Finlay’s Kalbarri
For a more relaxed, open-air seafood experience, Finlay’s is a local favourite with a completely different vibe — think bush pub meets coastal brewery. The seafood linguine and fish tacos are excellent, they brew their own beer on-site, and Sunday afternoons with live music in the garden are hard to beat. Great for families, groups, and anyone who wants a long, lazy seafood lunch.
The Jetty Seafood Shack
For something casual and unpretentious, the Jetty Seafood Shack is worth a visit. Fresh, simple, and right by the water — sometimes that’s exactly what a seafood town calls for.
A Note on Kalbarri’s Seafood
What makes dining in Kalbarri special isn’t just the restaurants — it’s what’s in the water around us. Local Western Australian waters produce outstanding pink snapper, prawns, blue swimmer crabs, and rock lobster when in season. Shark Bay prawns, just north of here, are considered among the best in the world. When a Kalbarri restaurant says “fresh local seafood,” they mean it in a way that most coastal towns simply can’t match. In summary, all of this comes together to make The Best Seafood Dinner in Kalbarri something you have to taste for yourself.
The Bottom Line
If you’re visiting Kalbarri and you only splurge on one dinner, make it Upstairs Restaurant. Order the prawn linguine, get a table on the balcony, and watch the sun go down over the Murchison River.
After 30 years of living here, it’s still one of my favourite nights out in town.
Looking for more Kalbarri dining tips? Check out our full guide to eating in Kalbarri or explore the rest of the Visit Kalbarri blog for local recommendations, travel tips, and insider guides.
Plan Your Visit
- Stay: [Browse Kalbarri Accommodation
- Vote: Support us in the 2026 Top Tourism Town Awards