With the highest number of hatted restaurants per capita of any city in Australia, we’re serious about our food and wine (and our coffee)!
There are popular casual dining spots dotted across our suburbs too, with some of Canberra’s favourite cafes and restaurants nestled amongst local shops, like Ainslie’s Pilot (ACT’s best restaurant) which sits next to a popular pub and family-run supermarket famous for its cheese section.
Something for every taste
Whether it’s street food trucks and holes in the wall that dish out superior ramen and banh mi, local Chinese or Indian eateries packed with locals, burgers with a cult following, or lakeside wine and cheese bars, our dining scene has something to suit every taste, mood and budget.
Head to the bustling eat streets of Braddon, Kingston or Dickson for an array of cuisines and flavours or seek out a family-run local in the suburbs.
If you’re after a taste of our best, Gourmet Traveller crowned Bar Rochford the country’s top bar, and Such and Such was named the best new restaurant in ACT and NSW.
Multicultural Clubs
Canberra has a range of multicultural clubs that reflect the city’s diverse population. These clubs serve as gathering places for various ethnic communities, offering a taste of home for immigrants and a cultural exchange for locals. From the Hellenic Club to Harmonie German Club, these venues are a great way to meet people, explore different cultures, and find a sense of belonging.
Homegrown wine and beer and spirits
If you’re looking for a local drop to accompany your meal, there are plenty of options. The Canberra’s wine region is home to 140 vineyards and more than 40 wineries within 35 minutes’ drive of the city – from fresh Rieslings to bold Sangiovese, you’re sure to find a high-quality option to suit.
Canberra’s beer is also winning acclaim – head to BentSpoke’s BrewPub in Braddon or Capital Brewing’s taphouse in Fyshwick to taste some of the region’s best brews. And if your tastes run to spirits, Canberra’s distilleries are serving up everything from gin and vodka to schnapps and whisky. The Canberra Distillery and Underground Spirits are just two to check out.
Celebrated coffee
Our coffee scene has been bonkers ever since Sasa Sestic won the World Barista Competition in 2015 – you can find his ONA brand everywhere, while Redbrick, Espresso Room, Lonsdale Street Roasters, Two Before Ten and Barrio are other local success stories. The best thing? You can find great coffee pretty much anywhere you go, including the local shops.
Brilliant bread
Canberrans pride themselves as connoisseurs of top local bread and pastries – some of our best include Three Mills, Wildflour, Under Bakery and Silo, and there are many more.
Markets
Head to one of Canberra’s markets if you want fresh food from local producers. Fyshwick Markets are open Thursday to Sunday, Capital Region Farmers Markets take place each Saturday at Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC), Capital Food Market in Belconnen is open Wednesday to Sunday, and Southside Farmers Markets are on each Sunday morning at Canberra College in Woden. Harris Farm Markets at Majura Park is a popular destination for fresh food shopping and Canberra also has a wide (and growing) range of Asian supermarkets and bakeries.
If you like your food with a side of local wares, The Little Burley Market is on each Saturday on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin in Parkes, and Braddon’s Haig Park Village Markets and Kingston’s Old Bus Depot Markets are on each Sunday.
