Known for galleries, government and... roundabouts, Canberra has become a a foodie hub in recent years, thanks to its proximity to some epic growing regions, convenient location for weekenders from Sydney, and buzzing biz scene.
With old-school Italian, glitzy modern Chinese and on-trend bistros, Canberra/Ngambri 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.
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, and eclectic art and design elements by local creatives complete the bold but welcoming venue, where the cuisine is globally inspired but, somehow, harmonious; savoury crullers sit alongside prawn okonomiyaki, 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 $105pp set menu, happy hour snacks (3pm–5pm, Tuesday–Friday) or shared dinners accompanied by the sustainable and interesting wine selection.
Onzieme
35 Kennedy Street, Kingston
Onzieme proves Canberra 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.
Bada Bing Dining Club
Shop 1/122 Alinga Street, Canberra Civic
Image credit: Bada Bing Dining Club | Instagram
Cosy Canberra restaurant Bada Bing Dining Club is all about Italian comfort food served with style. As well as textbook wood-fired pizzas, the menu offers antipasti (don't skip the Roman street food fave, suppli), house-made pastas, and main event proteins.
Seating in the wood-panelled restaurant includes cosy booths for groups, low tables, and a few spots around the bar, and there's a gorgeous private dining room with a Sistine-style ceiling fresco.
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 $90pp set menu. Want to take something fun home for later? They'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 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).
On our visit we loved scooping beef tartare onto crispy rice and seaweed crackers; 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.
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 Black Angus and Berkshire pig charcuterie 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 nduja and cannellini bean scarpetta, prawn casarecce with chilli, garlic, lemon and pangrattato, and a dreamy cacio e pepe mac and cheese.
Drinks include Italian and local wines, (plus special bottles hand-selected from Matt's own private cellar), and plenty of Italian-inspired cocktails using locally distilled elements.
Agostinis
East Hotel, 69 Canberra Avenue, Griffith
Image credit: Agostinis | Supplied
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 Wagyu amd Chianti ragú; and plates like beef carpaccio, fried sardines, and zeppole doughnuts served with Belgian chocolate sauce and orange mascarpone. This Italian restaurant is incredibly popular and perfect for dining with large groups, 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 a polished Mediterranean—mostly Italian—restaurant ticking off all your staples, with a dedicated mozzarella section of the menu, plenty of pasta, and a wood-fired oven pumping out grilled meats and seafood.
The interior has rich marble and wood details, and there are a few tables outside on the leafy terrace for a Euro moment with a spritz in the heart of Canberra.
Raku
148 Bunda St, 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. 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. This spot's popular among pollies and celebs (Post Malone had a killer night when he was in town), so make sure you book.
Eightysix
Lonsdale Street, Braddon (North) and 45 Furzer St, Phillip (South)
Image credit: Eightysix South | Instagram
Sharing only a few similarities, the two eightysix restaurants are worth adding to your Canberra itinerary, no matter which side of town you're on. On the northside, expect a funky atmosphere and blended menu with dishes like habanero steak tartare with prawn crackers; lemon ricotta gnocchi with asparagus, snow peas and chevre; and fragrant crispy eggplant with Szechuan chilli caramel.
In the Woden restaurant things are Italian; classics like Caprese, pumpkin and mascarpone tortellini with hazelnuts and sage burnt butter, and prosciutto-wrapped figs with gorgonzola sauce. Whichever direction you take, a chic modern fit-out and warm hospitality are a given.
Les Bistronomes
18 Blamey Place, Campbell
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 as one of the best French restaurants in the country. 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.
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 diners' wants and needs. Explore Australian ingredients like lemon myrtle (perhaps in a ponzu, served over a scallop with pickled chilli), desert lime and... Vegemite—whipped into the cultured butter served with your saltbush focaccia.
There's equally enticing Australian ingredients peppered through the cocktail list, and a $90pp set menu for the decision-averse. This is a capital spot, showcasing flavours unique to Australia in an elevated setting.
Wilma
1 Genge Street, Canberra Civic
Image credit: Wilma | Instagram
A two-level restaurant with plenty of glitz, Wilma is a modern (mostly) Chinese spot 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 Peking duck rotis, tiger prawn toast with Davidson plum sweet and sour, hot-smoked char siu pork belly with peanuts and chilli and glossy Balmain bug egg noodles. There's a great value set menu for $69pp, and fun cocktails and mocktails inspired by every corner of Asia.
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. Also see its more mod sibling Italian & Sons.
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Main image credit: Bada Bing Dining Club | Website
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