Restaurant Highlight - Banksia Tavern
Think vinyl spinning, comfy booths, staff that feel like friends all washed down with a cocktail and contemporary take on a tavern menu. Banksia Tavern brings a polished retro vibe to Busselton dining and we were able to have a chat with owner Brendan McCarthy to ask him all things Banksia Tavern and Busso.
What’s the story behind Banksia Tavern?
The idea came about when I moved back to Busselton after spending a number of years living interstate and overseas. My folks have lived in the area for a long time, and I was keen to get back to the South West. I'd been based in Melbourne, where our group owns a handful of cocktail bars, and we'd been looking at the idea of a project down this way for a while and got very lucky when the Banksia site became available.
While we've always loved the cocktail bar realm, we were interested in creating something broader – a venue that brought together great food, great drinks, music and community under one roof. The inspiration was the idea of a classic old-world tavern.
Banksia is our interpretation of good old-fashioned hospitality, built around local food, local producers and creating a warm, welcoming space for the community.
Who’s part of the team at Banksia?
We're a pretty hands-on group at Banksia Tav and it feels more like a family business. The team is made up of myself and my partner Laura, who leads the kitchen as Head Chef, along with fellow owners and couple Luke and Lilia, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the venue.
Recently, we've been excited to welcome our Venue Manager, Rav into the ownership group as well, which has been a really exciting step for both him and the business.
One thing we all have in common is we've always been hands-on operators. We built much of the venue ourselves, we're all actively involved in day-to-day service, and we genuinely enjoy being on the floor, talking to guests and helping shape the experience.
It's a close-knit team and we're incredibly proud of the culture we've built together.
Most popular item on the menu?
Chef Laura's Steak Frites is our highest seller atm but you also can't go past the Bloody Fancy Crab Sticks. Her rotating desserts are also pretty special!
Most popular drink?
That would be the Hazy Days Margarita! A very tasty blend of Espolon blanco tequila, house lime sherbet syrup, agave and blood orange.
What do guests love most about dining with you?
The atmosphere. We've worked really hard to create a venue that feels warm, welcoming and genuinely connected to the community. Guests appreciate that Banksia feels personal. We're all on the tools day-to-day, we've built a great bunch of regulars over nearly three years of operating, and our diverse events calendar gives people plenty of reasons to keep coming back.
What do you love about Busselton?
The simplicity of it all. The pace is a little slower, folks are friendly, and you're never too far from the beach, the bush or a great winery.