Canberra Eating Recommendations

Social life in Canberra centers around eating. On any given weeknight, you'll struggle to get a table at many restaurants. On weekends, the restaurants are packed to the brim. This is because (1) it is a city of public servants, with high disposable incomes and short working hours relative to other cities (2) there isn't much else to do- the pub/bar/club scene is disappointing, and on Saturday nights it is common for all movies to sell out.

As such, I spent many hours in cafes and restaurants around Canberra. Here is my list of the best places to eat in Canberra.

All photos are my own, from previous blog posts :-)

Favourite brunch spots:

• Pizzazz, Kingston - great menu that changes weekly. Really good sweet options.
• Ona Coffee, Manuka - yum, friendly and relaxed with nice outdoor seating (for sunny days).
• Farmer's Daughter, Yarralumla - good food and coffee.
• A Bite to Eat, Chifley - great food, lots of choices, cosy and cute decor.
• Beess & Co, Yarralumla - delicious food, friendly service, lovely outdoor seating.

Ona Coffee

 Pizzazz

 Pizzazz

 Favourite coffee:

• Cafe Velo, Kingston
• Bittersweet, Kingston
• Ona Coffee, Manuka
• Farmer's Daughter, Yarralumla
• Lonsdale Street Roasters, Braddon
• Paperplate Cafe, Parkes 

 

 Favourite gourmet baguette lunch spots:

• Dobinsons, Civic (the standalone cafe, not the stall inside Canberra Center)
• Idelic, Kingston

Favourite cheap eats/drinks:

• 2 for 1 Monday night steaks at the Durham, Kingston
• $8 for a huge meal at Burmese Curry House, Civic
• $8 barramundi, chips and salad at the Canberra Labor Club, Civic (certain weeknights only, and you also need membership for one person in your group which costs $5 for a year)
• $6 deluxe cocktails at the Helenic Club, Woden (need a member, can't remember the cost)
• $9.50 for a huge kebab from Turkish Halal Pide House, Yarralumla (I don't think it's that amazing taste or quality wise, but it sure is huge)
• Global Cafe (Ethiopian), Civic

Favourite desserts / sweets:

• Max Brenner, Belconnen
• Tarts from Silo Bakery, Kingston
• Goodberry's Frozen Custard, Wanniassa (and has just opened in Belconnen too apparently)

 Goodberrys

 Max Brenner

Favourite pizza: Pork Barrel, Parkes

 Pork Barrel

Favourite laksa: Asian Noodle House (Dickson is preferred to Civic, but not by a huge margin)

 Asian Noodle House

 Favourite Thai: Soi-VII Thai, Griffith

Soi-VII Thai

Favourite Vietnamese: Griffith Vietnamese, Griffith

Favourite dumplings: Shanghai Dumpling House, Acton (Civic)

Favourite Indian: Blu Ginger, Civic

 Blu Ginger

Favourite turkish: Turkish Pide House, Civic (There are other branches but I haven't tried them)

Favourite steak: The Durham, Kingston

Favourite burger: Brodburger, Kingston

Brodburger

Favourite modern Australian: 

• Podfood, Pialligo
• The Artisan, Narrabundah