We all know Albo loves a beer—so it makes sense that Canberra bars are absolutely killing it when it comes to the cool factor. Our capital is home to funky wine bars showcasing the region's best drops, basement cocktail bars, huge breweries, and pumping bars with live music that shake off any small-town stereotypes that Canberra might've held in the past.
These are the best Canberra bars right now.
Dear Prudence
On the edge of the bustling Verity Lane Market precinct, Dear Prudence is a Canberra wine and aperitif bar with a must-try selection of international and local bottles. The daily glass list is expansive, so there’s something for everyone, and the small menu of charcuterie and nibbles make Dear Prudence the perfect place to end a working day or enjoy a drink before dinner.
BentSpoke Brewing Co.
It’s not all cocktails and local wines in Canberra’s bars; BentSpoke Brewing Co. is home to 26 different draught beers, cider and two hand-pumped beers, with a core range that’s all about eschewing convention and trying new ways and ingredients to make great brews. The warehouse-style brewpub also has a kitchen that pumps pub classics, with some dishes incorporating ingredients of the beer-making process, like hop salt potatoes, grain-crusted wings with brewery-made hot sauce, and a loaded pork burger with Fixie ginger beer tonkatsu sauce.
Bar Rochford
In a minimal, heritage building, Bar Rochford is a classy Canberra wine bar offering a polished experience over dinner and drinks. Grab a spot in a green leather booth or by a window bar overlooking the street to explore the comprehensive but compact menu of Aussie or Euro (mostly Italian) wines with plates like anchovy toasts with gribiche, potato galette with miso and caviar, and Wagyu skirts with Warrigal greens.
High Jinks
Good times and cocktails are a-flowin’ at High Jinks, a perfectly charming basement hideout that is the perfect spot for a nightcap or two. The flickering candles, brass bar and comfy leather banquettes at this Canberra cocktail bar bring a prohibition feeling, while the impressive signature cocktails and skilled bar team are sure to hit the spot.
Rizla
Rizla by name, Rizla by nature: this "barstaurant" is Australia’s only spot dedicated to riesling, with a collection from Canberra and surrounds alongside other hand-picked red and white varieties from Australia and beyond. There’s a seasonal menu of dishes to pair with your riesling spanning one-bite snacks like sweet potato and chickpea cigars with hot honey, larger plates, and ricotta doughnuts with caramelised white chocolate for dessert.
Sideway
Thought you had to hit Sydney or Melbourne for a Tokyo-style listening room? Uber cool Canberra bar slash music room Sideway has the capital covered, with an epic drinks menu, pizzas by SoLita and live music programming. Drop in to catch an emerging artist with a signature cocktail like a Sex in the Civic with vodka, mandarin, cranberry, strawberry gum and lime, a yuzu sake and soda, or see out the night with vinyl DJs and minimal intervention wines.
Margot
A super cute kiosk overlooking the lake, Margot is a must-do to soak up some sun with an afternoon wine, or cosy up with a mulled wine or cider on a chilly Canberra evening. This chic spot is all outdoor bistro seating, so prepare to rug up to enjoy its menu which moves from coffees and pastries in the morning to French and Aussie wines and nibbles in the evening.
Bar Beirut
Bringing all the excitement and sensory stimulation of a Middle Eastern bazaar to Canberra, Bar Beirut is a nightlife hotspot where cocktails are the real drawcard. Sip on a Don’t Tell Charlie blending Baron Samedi spiced rum, blood orange, lime, vanilla syrup and marmalade, hail the martini cart to make your perfect nightcap, or branch out with a boozy bubble tea with house-made pearls and jelly.
The Shaking Hand
CBD
An early-2023 entry into Canberra’s bar scene, The Shaking Hand is an underground venue from the team behind Sydney’s iconic live music pub The Lansdowne Hotel. The late-night spot boasts big rock ‘n’ roll vibes, $5 slices of pizza and a selection of drinks ranging from frozen margaritas to batched cocktails, natural wines, and locally brewed beers to smash between sets.
Luna
CBD
Cocktails are a must at this spot with a big pan-Asian influence, where a menu of perfectly executed classics is joined by signatures like the Citrus Valentina with vodka, lime, lemongrass and Makrut lime leaf syrup and coconut cream. Luna’s sultry art deco setting is only complemented by its menu of delicious bites, like tartare with yuzu wasabi, 63-degree egg and sweet potato crisp, a prawn and crab roll with katsuobushi and Kewpie, and fried lemongrass chicken wings with spiced vinegar.