Must-see restaurants in Canberra

  • Akiba

    Canberra

    Here's a place to kickstart a night out or savour 'New Asian' food with attitude. Canberra's coolest bar-restaurant is cocktails first, questions later,…

  • Pilot

    Canberra

    Elegant, seasonal dishes are the highlight at this classy fine-dining restaurant in suburban Ainslie. The menu changes daily but features local produce…

  • Agostini's

    Canberra

    Wood-fired pizza, rosé on tap and house-made gelato are just some of the charms of this cool, millennial-pink bistro, set in the ground floor of East…

  • Terra

    Canberra

    By day this atmospheric, contemporary space churns out delectable seasonal brunch dishes and fabulous coffee. At night the rotisserie takes centre stage,…

  • Aubergine

    Canberra

    You'll need to travel out to the southern suburbs to find Canberra's top-rated restaurant. While the location may be unassuming, the same can't be said…

  • Rye

    Canberra

    Scandi-inspired Rye is all blonde wood, bright lights and modish furniture, with a menu to match. Danish smørrebrød (open sandwiches on dark rye bread)…

  • Courgette

    Canberra

    With its crisp white linen, impeccable service and discreet but expensive ambience, Courgette is the kind of place to bring someone you want to impress,…

  • Cupping Room

    Canberra

    This very popular coffee-themed restaurant has lively service and a broad menu of burgers, all-day breakfasts, and light fish and vegetarian dishes…

  • Tables at Muse, 69 Canberra Ave, Kingston

    Muse

    Canberra

    This bibliophile restaurant-bookshop on the corner of the East Hotel effortlessly juggles its roles. Start with a drink from the Australian-only drinks…

  • Bar at Lazy Su, 1/9 Lonsdale St, Braddon

    Lazy Su

    Canberra

    Lazy Su’s playful Asian vibe is obvious as you enter past the wall of lucky cats. You can't go far wrong with the menu, but if you can't decide between…

  • Wild Duck

    Canberra

    Known as a favourite haunt of parliamentarians, this discreet restaurant impresses for its cuisine and its clientele. Try slow-cooked pork baked in lotus…

  • Mama Dough

    Canberra

    These folks do fabulous takeaway pizzas, but if the weather is nice an even better option is to nab a seat under the fairy lights at the handful of…

  • Malaysian Chapter

    Canberra

    Fans of authentic Kuala Lumpur hawker cuisine should make the trek around 8km northwest from Civic to this unassuming, family-run spot in the surprisingly…

  • Lilotang

    Canberra

    Artfully strung rope distracts from an industrial-looking ceiling at this upmarket Japanese restaurant in the Burbury Hotel. Highlights include steamed…

  • Highroad

    Canberra

    Locals fill the tables in the spacious corner building from lunch to dinner, supping on speciality-blend coffee in the mornings and local wines as the sun…

  • Morning Glory

    Canberra

    Nestled in the heart of the New Acton complex, this sprawling cafe has a sleek, contemporary vibe and is a popular coffee stop for local office workers…

  • Entrance to Sweetbones, 8/18 Lonsdale St, Braddon

    Sweet Bones

    Canberra

    Cruelty-free does not mean taste-free at this fully vegan cafe that crouches in a humble shopfront just off Lonsdale St. It does a mean all-day breakfast…

  • Entrance to Muse, 69 Canberra Ave, Kingston

    Morks

    Canberra

    Not exactly cheap, but nonetheless one of the best restaurants on the Kingston foreshore, Morks offers a contemporary spin on Thai cuisine, with Chinese…

  • Entrance to Elk & Pea, 21 Lonsdale St, Braddon

    Elk & Pea

    Canberra

    Mexican influences pervade the menu and cocktail list of this cool little anytime place, which includes spicy eggs for brekkie, burgers and wraps for…

  • Monster Kitchen & Bar

    Canberra

    Concealed in the ubercool Nishi Building, Monster is one of Canberra's more versatile dining spots. Hotel guests, New Acton locals and politicians alike…

  • Baby Su

    Canberra

    Neon lights and diner booths give Baby Su a more casual feel than its big sister Lazy Su in Braddon, but the same attention to detail presides. Drop in…

  • Chairman & Yip

    Canberra

    Chairman & Yip moved to this location on the corner of the Burbury Hotel in 2016, after 20 years in Civic. Locals may grumble at having to cross the lake…

  • Bookplate

    Canberra

    In the foyer of the National Library you'll find Bookplate, an award-winning cafe with a technicolour stained-glass backdrop. It's equally good as a lunch…

  • Catch

    Canberra

    Catch takes regular fish and chips and turns up the dial. Choose from market-fresh hake, flathead, snapper, barramundi or salmon, battered or grilled,…

  • Eightysix

    Canberra

    Prepare to share at this zippy contemporary place, where dishes range from delectable steamed duck buns to a whole lamb shoulder. Solo travellers should…

  • Taco Taco

    Canberra

    Fabulous Mexican-inspired food is the name of the game at this bright, friendly corner spot in the No Name Lane precinct. The menu changes regularly but…

  • Otis

    Canberra

    Sophisticated, Mod Oz cuisine is the centrepiece at Otis, with dishes like salted wallaby with vine leaves and macadamias, or roast lamb with celeriac and…

  • Selli's

    Canberra

    Black-and-white tiles and neon lights give this American-style diner an air of authenticity, an impression supported by the topping-laden burgers,…

  • Brodburger

    Canberra

    Brodburger started as a lakeside caravan takeaway joint. Now it has a permanent location, but the flame-grilled burgers are as good as ever. Not only is…

  • Bicicletta

    Canberra

    This friendly Italian restaurant is part of the Peppers hotel complex, but it doesn't feel like a generic hotel bistro. Tables spills out into a colourful…

  • Asian Noodle House

    Canberra

    A Canberra institution, Dickson's Noodle House is consistently chock-a-block full of converts slurping up its renowned laksa. The decor's nothing to write…

  • Doubleshot

    Canberra

    Always busy, this friendly cafe is a hotspot for locals who come here for fresh, on-trend breakfast options like açai bowls and breakfast burritos. At…

  • Queen's Terrace Cafe

    Canberra

    If Question Time has worn you down, stop for a bite at this (somewhat surprisingly) excellent cafe on the terrace above the main foyer. A wide range of…

  • Two Before Ten

    Canberra

    Two Before Ten is our pick of Canberra's vibrant coffee scene. Bringing a touch of Cape Cod to the centre of a city block, the excellent coffee comes from…

  • Doughnut Dept

    Canberra

    Polished concrete and brass accents give this bright cafe a classy, industrial vibe, but we'd come here even if the floor was made of mud – the doughnuts…

  • Conservatory

    Canberra

    With fabulous views of Canberra and surrounds from the windows, this little restaurant in a roped-off corner of the Arboretum's Village Centre is a…

  • Teddy Picker's

    Canberra

    A friendly, relaxed atmosphere pervades at this modern cafe in Campbell. The all-day menu, which means you can pick the best of breakfast or lunch anytime…

  • Sage

    Canberra

    In the genteel environs of the Gorman House Arts Centre, Sage offers well-regarded degustation-style dining; the five-course chef's tasting menu is worth…

  • Front

    Canberra

    Part art gallery, part cafe, the Front has a minimalist, aesthetic vibe. The brunch menu is short and sweet, with unique options like a radish, mint and…

  • Penny University

    Canberra

    Bustling Penny University is packed all weekend long with Kingston locals who know exactly where to come for hearty meals and a linger-longer atmosphere…