INARA Busselton: The Levant, Reimagined

Inside Western Australia’s most unexpected culinary journey

Some of the world’s most memorable meals have little to do with white tablecloths or elaborate techniques. They are built around a simple idea: gathering together.

Across the Levant, tables overflow with warm bread, vibrant vegetables, fragrant spices and dishes designed not for one person, but for everyone. Meals stretch long into the evening, conversations flow freely, and hospitality is considered an art form in itself.

It is this spirit that defines INARA, the Busselton restaurant quietly transforming the South West dining scene through the flavours and traditions of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Meaning “Ray of Light” in Arabic, INARA opened in late 2023 as the culmination of a decades-long dream for owners Daniel and Joanna Johnson. While its contemporary dining room sits firmly in the heart of Busselton, the inspiration reaches thousands of kilometres beyond Western Australia, tracing a path through the markets, kitchens and culinary traditions of Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus and beyond.

For Chef and Co-Owner Daniel Johnson, the journey began more than twenty years ago.

Having built a career across luxury resorts and acclaimed restaurants throughout the Maldives, Oman, Bali, Vanuatu and Australia, Johnson developed a fascination with Middle Eastern cuisine after discovering the work of pioneering Australian chef Greg Malouf. What began as professional curiosity soon evolved into an enduring obsession with the region’s ingredients, techniques and stories.

Years spent working throughout the Middle East only deepened that connection. While leading kitchens abroad, Johnson found himself immersed in a culinary culture where vegetables are celebrated with the same reverence as premium cuts of meat, where recipes carry generations of history, and where the act of sharing food remains central to daily life.

It was also abroad that he met his wife and business partner, Joanna, while the pair were working at the spectacular Alila Jabal Akhdar in Oman. Together, they would eventually return to Western Australia carrying a shared vision: to create a restaurant that captured the generosity, warmth and extraordinary flavours they had experienced throughout the region.

The result is one of Australia’s few dedicated Levantine dining destinations.

At INARA, dishes arrive designed for the centre of the table. Silky hummus, warm bazlama bread, smoky vegetables, housemade sujuk, charred halloumi and vibrant seasonal produce encourage guests to sample widely and linger longer. Familiar ingredients reveal new dimensions through the use of sumac, pomegranate, pistachio, yoghurt, mint and citrus, creating layers of flavour that feel both ancient and remarkably contemporary.

The beauty of Levantine cuisine lies in its balance. Rich yet fresh. Complex yet comforting. Vegetables often take centre stage, elevated through fire, fermentation, spice and texture. Every dish reflects centuries of culinary exchange across the Eastern Mediterranean, where cultures, ingredients and traditions have intersected for generations.

Yet INARA is not simply recreating the Levant in Western Australia. The restaurant draws heavily on its South West surroundings, pairing local produce, premium meats and regional ingredients with the flavours of the Eastern Mediterranean. Margaret River wines sit comfortably alongside spice-led cocktails, while the menu celebrates the exceptional quality of Western Australian produce through a distinctly Levantine lens.

Since opening, INARA has become far more than a restaurant. It has emerged as a gathering place for locals and visitors alike, hosting food festivals, collaborative events and long lunches that embody the communal spirit at the heart of the concept. Whether joining friends for a leisurely feast, settling in for Sunday brunch or discovering Levantine cuisine for the first time, guests are welcomed into an experience built around connection.

In a region renowned for wineries, beaches and coastal escapes, INARA offers something unexpected: a culinary journey that begins in Busselton and travels across the Eastern Mediterranean without ever leaving the South West.

Arrive

Located within Busselton’s vibrant town centre, INARA blends contemporary design with relaxed South West hospitality. Indoor and alfresco dining create an inviting setting for long lunches, sunset cocktails and lingering dinners.

Dine

The menu celebrates the cuisines of the Levant through generous shared plates, vibrant mezze, wood-fired dishes and seasonal produce. Signature feasts offer the most immersive introduction to the restaurant’s layered flavours and communal dining philosophy.

Drink

An extensive wine list showcases the best of Margaret River and the South West, complemented by cocktails inspired by the spices, herbs and citrus notes of the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Verdict

Part destination, part cultural journey and entirely memorable, INARA brings the warmth and generosity of Levantine hospitality to Western Australia’s South West. It is the kind of restaurant that reminds us that some of the best travel experiences happen around a table.

Visit inarabusselton.com.au for more!