Food
The evolution of the culinary landscape in Canberra is quite extraordinary. There are some restaurants here that could punch above any in the other capital cities. There’s this new energy and exploration.
Rebel Rebel is a fun wine-bar vibe sort of place. You might have beautiful prawns with burnt butter, maybe some sea succulents – really simple, but absolutely stunning. They do a cracking brunch as well.
Miss Van’s – which started in a shipping container – has one of the best banh mi in the country.
Pilot is the epitome of fine dining in Australia, where everything is perfect, but nothing is too formal.
Further out, XO is a modern Asian restaurant with one of the most delicious meals: an “Asian bolognese”. One of the owners has Vietnamese heritage and his mother created it.
I’m a bit of a coffee snob. If I’m having coffee away from home, it’s got to be somewhere good. Barrio Collective is a tiny hole in the wall and, though they’re pretty precious about what they serve, they’re not precious about what you order – they won’t stop you from having a certain sort of milk. Down south, Red Brick is a legendary local roaster as well.
Wine
I don’t think people realise the depth of Canberra’s surrounding wine region. Yes, there’s riesling and shiraz but you’ll also find Lark Hill, one of Australia’s best wineries that’s also biodynamic. Some people think that’s a dirty word when it comes to wine but, if they never told you it was biodynamic, you’d just think it was a cracking wine. Elsewhere, Clonakilla is a great example of organic wine; Mallaluka is one of the leaders in the region of natural wines. And Ken Helm is the elder statesman of the region. If you’ve never had a Helm riesling, you haven’t lived.
In the city, Paranormal Wines is part bottleshop, part sit down and have a pasta or natural wine sort of place. You can grab a bottle and drink it at a picnic in the park across the road. In Canberra, you’re (mostly) allowed to do that.
Culture
On top of the food revolution, one thing people don’t realise about Canberra is the amount of artists that are here. There’s a thriving art community and many amazing galleries.
There’s so much to explore at the National Gallery of Australia. One thing we do as a family is wander through the sculpture garden and sit by the lake with a bottle of champagne.
A highlight of the calendar is the Canberra Art Biennial in October (formerly known as Contour 556). Artists submit works that reflect and or interpret Canberra’s history in some way. That’s not just as the capital city we call Canberra but also the 50,000 years of it being Ngunnawal land.
You can do classes at Canberra Glassworks and watch people working and plying their craft. Drill Hall Gallery is a great example of an independent gallery that celebrates local artists.
Neighbourhood
It’s hard to fathom that Lonsdale Street in Braddon was once full of car yards. It’s now the beating heart of what it means to have a day out in Canberra. Start the day at Gather, one of the city’s best cafes, where you’ll find house made kombucha, killer coffee and a progressive menu. The Italian Place Enoteca will quell your small goods, pasta and Italian wine urges. On Sundays, the Haig Park Village Markets just down the road offer fruit and veg direct from farmers, food from around the world, and play activities for kids.
Drop into the local brewer BentSpoke before hitting some amazing eateries: Yat Bun Tong for xiao long bao, Bamiyan for lamb mantu; Zaab Street Food for modern Thai and Laotian and cocktails, plus Italian & Sons for exquisite Italian. And be sure to look down in nooks and crannies along Lonsdale Street – there are some real gems like the fancy op shop Goodbyes.
Green space
The beautiful thing about Canberra is you can drive for 20 minutes and you’re in the bush. There are the most extraordinary nature reserves around. The National Arboretum is a mosaic of living forests and gardens. It connects you with nature and the views of the region are stunning.
Nearby there’s the Australian National Botanic Gardens, which replicates different climate zones of Australia. There are rainforest environments, with all the flora and fauna to represent them, and the soil under your feet; then all of a sudden it feels as though you’re in the desert. It’s quite surreal. And it’s like magic for kids.
If you’re a birdwatcher the Jerrabomberra Wetlands is for you.
Nightlife
Bar Rochford is easily one of the best bars in the country. It has the most welcoming feeling about it. Its head chef, Josh Lundy, does simple, contemporary food; the cocktails and wine list are amazing; the tunes are played on a turntable. It’s cool without trying to be cool.
Corella is a great example of a modern wine bar that crosses over as a restaurant. Sit at the window so you can watch the energy of Lonsdale Street at night. Tilley’s Devine has Saturday night jazz – if you like jazz but you don’t like to get home too late, this is your scene. The Basement is the go-to live music venue if you want to bend the arm to the wee hours.
Further out, Capital Brewing Co. is one of the most fun places to go to if you like beer. It’s a huge warehouse but there’s no sign, and you wouldn’t know it if you drove past it. And for late-night wine in a tiny little underground space, go to 11e Bar A Vin, a speakeasy underneath restaurant Onzieme. Look for the red door on the side of the building – that’s how you get in.
Stay
Ovolo Nishi (from $265 a night) is known for its architecture, and the staircase leading up to it is probably one of the most photographed things in Australia. It’s centrally located in New Acton so if you want to celebrate the city and have a good time, it’s a good place to say.
If you’re here with family, the East Hotel (from $197 a night) is your go-to. It’s a family-run hotel and the attention to detail is amazing. Plus it has Agostinis, a ripping Italian restaurant.
