Known for galleries, government and... roundabouts, Canberra/Ngambri has become a foodie hub in recent years thanks to its proximity to some epic growing regions, convenient location for weekenders from Sydney/Eora, and buzzing biz scene.
With old-school Italian, glitzy modern Chinese and on-trend bistros, Canberra is well worth a visit for any food lover on the lookout for their next multi-course memory.
These are Urban List's picks for the best restaurants in Canberra right now.
Beltana Farm
14 Beltana Road, Pialligo
Image credit: Beltana Farm | Website
Amidst a sprawling truffle farm in Pialligo lies Beltana Farm, a gourmet farm-to-table restaurant and boutique farmstay. The seasonally changing menu heroes fresh local produce in share plates truffle lovers will froth over such as half roasted truffle chicken doused in a truffle butter jus and truffle cheesecake with Anzac biscuit, Pialligo honey, and strawberries, as well as plenty of sans-truffle delights.
We highly suggest going all out with the unearthed truffle tasting menu for $140pp (between June–August-ish) or $110pp (outside of truffle season), with paired paddock pours for $65pp.
A neat wine list rounds things out, alongside fun cocktails like the Vegemite Espresso Martini. Head there for a long lunch on Sunday or dinner Thursday–Saturday.
Insider Intel
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Check out what’s on to make the most of truffle season.
Such And Such
220 London Crescent, Canberra Civic
Image credit: Such and Such | Supplied
A modern eatery and bar, Such and Such is the second venue from the team behind awarded Canberra restaurant Pilot. Busy terrazzo textures, bright colours, eclectic art and design elements by local creatives complete the bold but welcoming venue, where the cuisine is globally inspired but, somehow, harmonious; orecchiette with cime di rapa and anchovies sits alongside prawn-topped crispy rice, potato-stuffed pierogi, and chicken momo dumplings.
There's room for 40 guests inside (plus bar seats) and another 40 outside to enjoy pre-theatre nibbles and drinks, long lunches on a set menu, or shared dinners accompanied by the sustainable and interesting wine selection.
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Hit up Such and Such for happy hour snacks 3pm–5pm, Tuesday–Friday.
Onzieme
35 Kennedy Street, Kingston
Image credit: Onzieme | Website
Onzieme proves Canberra restaurants can be cool. This small-scale, fire-fuelled restaurant has a lot of love for excellent veggies, with a nose-to-tail approach to the moderate amount of top-notch meat that makes it onto the menu, and foraged ingredients featuring too.
Minimal intervention and small-scale wines are the main event on the drinks list and, if you miss out on a booking, it's worth trying your luck for a seat at the bar.
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11e cave is a hidden underground bar in an old bank vault through Onzieme’s red door taking walk-ins from 5.30pm Tuesday–Saturday.
Rebel Rebel
23 Marcus Clarke Street, Acton
Image credit: Rebel Rebel | Instagram
An open-plan space that feels part barnyard, part warehouse with seats for 50, Rebel Rebel flows seamlessly from lunch into knockoffs into dinner without blinking an eye, with dishes like corn and manchego croquettes with prawn head aioli, fried quail with harissa and lemon, and Jerusalem artichoke with hazelnut and taleggio.
Diners chasing a small snack and glass of wine are catered to, as are those wanting multi-course meals or a $95pp set menu.
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Want to take something fun home for later? This Canberra restaurant has a shop that'll sell you a bottle, too.
Lunetta
Level 1/60 Red Hill Drive, Red Hill
Image credit: Lunetta | Supplied
Overlooking all of Canberra, Lunetta is a meticulously styled, two-part restaurant in a completely unique, mid-century landmark. If you blocked out the view of the flag waving on Parliament House you could believably be anywhere—the hills of Los Angeles? Spanish wine country?
Downstairs, Lunetta Trattoria is a casual Italian-leaning spot, but upstairs things are taken up a notch in the completely glass-walled dining room. Expect elegant and creative dishes blending culinary traditions with modern spins crafted by executive chef Tristan Rebbettes (previously Saint Peter, Mona Farm, Sepia).
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On our visit we loved the potato and ricotta-filled ravioli covered in roasted garlic honey butter and pecorino; and a vibrant green dessert with flavours of parsley, pear, pea and honeycomb under a meringue top.
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Pilot
1 Wakefield Gardens, Ainslie
Image credit: Pilot | Lean Timms
The 30-seat Canberra restaurant Pilot offers one set menu for dinner and one for weekend lunches, with a liberal dose of style, intrigue, and shared trust. Priced at $150pp, your seven-course menu will weave together nostalgic flavours, complex dishes and produce that the team is excited by on that day, all elegantly plated on an array of organically formed and textured crockery.
You can peruse the entirely-Australian drinks list, or opt for a beverage pairing (available boozy, or not). Buckle up; you're in for an unforgettable experience.
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On Thursday nights, Pilot offers BYO with a pay-what-you-want policy and 100% of proceeds going to a chosen organisation for the month, and on Sundays, you can walk in for a more casual a la carte snack and sip sesh.
Compa
148 Bunda Street, Canberra Civic
Image credit: Compa | Supplied
Noted Aussie chef Matt Moran's first foray into the capital, Compa is an Italian grill restaurant spotlighting primo Aussie meat, with some of the country's best producers on the list alongside ingredients from the Moran Family Farm. The fit-out was inspired by a '60s Italian chalet, with deep wood elements and leather seating.
As well as steaks served on and off the bone, Compa's menu covers snacks like three-cheese zucchini flowers, Moran Family Farm salami with pickles, charred octopus with roasted peppers and a dreamy cacio e pepe mac and cheese.
Drinks include Italian and local wines (with a few special bottles from Matt’s own private cellar), and plenty of Italian-inspired cocktails using locally distilled elements.
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Stop by & Sando (from the Compa crew) next door for thick sandwiches and pastries ‘til 3pm daily.
Agostinis
East Hotel, 69 Canberra Avenue, Griffith
Image credit: Agostinis | Instagram
For old-school Italian served with a lot of heart, this is as good as it gets. Agostinis is a beloved Canberra restaurant in the East Hotel—one of our favourite hotels in Canberra—reflecting owners Dan and Dion Bisa's Italian heritage.
Expect textbook pizzas, generous servings of pasta with mixed seafood or 12-hour slow-cooked lamb shoulder and Pinot Grigio ragú, and plates like smoked burrata, calamari fritti and zeppole doughnuts served with Belgian chocolate sauce and orange mascarpone, plus a whole breakfast menu starring carbonara scrambled eggs.
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This Canberra Italian restaurant is incredibly popular and perfect for dining with large groups (there’s even a private dining room for up to 40 guests), so definitely plan ahead and make a booking.
Carlotta
20 Scotts Crossing, Canberra Civic
Image credit: Carlotta | Supplied
The Lucas Group (Grill Americano, Chin Chin, Yakimono and more) has a huge presence in Melbourne and a foot in Sydney, so their first foray into Canberra was always going to be a banger.
Carlotta is one of the best restaurants in Canberra: a polished Mediterranean—mostly Italian—eatery ticking off all your staples in a rich marble and wood dining room. There’s a dedicated mozzarella section of the menu, plenty of pasta, and a wood-fired oven pumping out grilled meats and seafood.
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A few tables await outside on the leafy terrace for a Euro moment with a spritz in the heart of Canberra.
Raku
148 Bunda Street, Canberra Civic
Image credit: Raku | Instagram
You'd be forgiven for mistaking Raku for an uber-traditional Japanese joint, with its tatami-screened private booths and elegant, demure fit-out in Canberra's CBD. While you will find executive chef Hao Chen masterfully plating beautiful spreads of sashimi, nigiri and maki rolls, there's also an expansive menu of plates with thoroughly modern and Australian twists.
There are a couple of lucky counter seats, long communal tables and screened booths, and a $60pp express lunch for work days.
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This spot's popular among pollies and celebs (Post Malone had a killer night when he was in town).
Eightysix
Corner of Eloura and Lonsdale Street, Braddon
Image credit: Eightysix North | Instagram
Delivering a funky atmosphere, chic modern fit-out and warm hospitality, Eightysix is worth adding to your Canberra itinerary. The cuisine-bending menu features dishes like steak tartare with prawn crackers, housemade pappardelle with a spicy short rib ragu, and fragrant crispy eggplant with Szechuan chilli caramel. There’s also tasting menus for groups, including a vegetarian version and a tidy edit of vino, beers, and cocktails.
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Eightysix South sadly closed its doors in June 2025, but the North venue continues to thrive—make sure to book ahead at this popular spot.
Les Bistronomes
18 Blamey Place, Campbell
Image credit: Les Bistronomes | Instagram
Les Bistronomes' chef Clement Chauvin earned his chops at some of Europe's top restaurants, including Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's, so it's no surprise this spot is considered one of the best French restaurants in Canberra—perhaps even Australia. His own efforts have earned him multiple hats and accolades for his French cooking, which stays true to its heritage while adding a bit of a local slant.
The menus come in classic form, filled with usual suspects like duck à l’orange and boeuf Bourguignon, plus seasonal dishes with fresh ideas whipped up from local produce.
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Go all out with a six- or eight-course degustation of French favourites, and check for special events online.
Corella
14 Lonsdale Street, Braddon
Image credit: Corella | Instagram
An intimate bistro with a thing for native ingredients, Corella is the sort of wine bar-turned-restaurant that suits most Canberrans' wants and needs. Explore Australian ingredients like lemon myrtle (perhaps in a vinegar, served over an Appellation oyster with finger lime), Wagyu tartare plated next to salt and vinegar onion rings and… Vegemite—whipped into the cultured butter served with your saltbush focaccia.
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Equally enticing Australian ingredients are peppered through the cocktail list with native amaro and toasted wattleseed appearances.
Wilma
1 Genge Street, Canberra Civic
Image credit: Wilma | Instagram
A two-level restaurant with plenty of glitz, Wilma is a modern (mostly) Chinese restaurant in Canberra's CBD, plating up dishes from the wok, grill and offset smoker seven days a week.
A great option for a shared meal with friends and family, Wilma's menu offers tiger prawn toast with Davidson plum sweet and sour, wood-grilled pork cutlet with a peanut chilli crunch, scallops tangled in crispy egg noodles, and fun cocktails and mocktails inspired by every corner of Asia.
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Wilma is now open for lunch too, from 12pm Thursday–Saturday, and there’s a few event spaces if you’re thinking of celebrating something special.
Mezzalira
55 London Circuit, Canberra Civic
If a venue has made it in the discerning streets of Canberra since 1996, it's safe to say it's a winner. Mezzalira has done that and more, with its art-deco architecture setting the stage for big seasonal southern Italian flavours in aperitivo, pasta, small plates and desserts, available a la carte or on a six-course tasting menu.
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Also see its more mod sibling Italian & Sons.
Now check out
Main image credit: Such and Such | Anne Stroud
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