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Historic museums? Check. Cutting-edge galleries? Check. Wildlife lodges and family-friendly attractions? Also check. You’ll find all that—and more. Once known primarily for politics and boundary-pushing winemaking, Canberra has quietly transformed into a culinary hotspot. Today, the city serves up everything from elegant fine dining and bold new eateries to standout wine bars and truffle farms. When it comes to gastronomic wizardry, the capital’s got a few tricks up its sleeve—even rivalling heavyweights like Sydney and Melbourne.
Here Are Seven Spots To Bookmark For Your Next Canberra Break
Lunetta Trattoria
Chic but never showy, Lunetta Trattoria is the cool kid on Red Hill—perched above Canberra with killer views and laidback charm. Housed on the ground floor of a 1963 landmark, this all-day neighbourhood spot serves up Italian antipasti, wood-fired mains, and serious tratt vibes. Think Sydney rock oysters with prosecco jelly, mafaldine with beef cheek and stout ragu, and beer-brined chicken with lemony jus. The honey panna cotta with figs and candied walnuts? Chef’s kiss. The name, Lunetta (aka “little moon”), nods to the building’s dual levels—sky above, earth below—and the trattoria keeps things deliciously grounded.
Monster Kitchen and Bar
Bold, playful and proudly local, Monster Kitchen and Bar brings big flavour to the ground floor of Ovolo Nishi. Equal parts edgy and inclusive, it’s a spot where vegans and meat lovers can dig in together—no compromises. Share plates like the monster cheeseburger with maple-smoked bacon, adobo-spiced spatchcock, or braised cabbage with red wine lentils and pickled onions. Whether you go all-in on the vegetarian or omnivore set menu, flavour leads the way. At the bar, cocktails get a seasonal spin—think elderflower gimlets, negronis with a twist, and top local drops worth lingering over. Grab your best mates, come hungry, and be ready to share.
Bar Rachford
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Hidden above street level in the iconic Melbourne Building, Bar Rachford is the kind of place you hear about in whispers—a dimly lit, vinyl-spinning bar, where the drinks are strong and the vibe’s just right. The soundtrack slips from Fleetwood Mac to dub, the crowd’s lively, and the energy feels lifted from a backstreet in Berlin or Amsterdam. Let the passionate team steer your glass across the globe, but don’t skip the ever-evolving food offerings; the $90 set menu is a flavour-packed ride. Expect smoked beef tongue with anchovy mayo, duck breast with kumquat, or a knockout veg option with Jerusalem artichokes and seaweed jam. Finish strong with beetroot sorbet and lavender-honey magic. This is bar dining, turned up.
Onzieme
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This Parisian-style fixture in Kingston may look French, but the hatted Onzieme is pure modern Aussie—fire-fuelled, produce-led, and full of flavour. The menu, scrawled daily on the front grid window, changes with the seasons and showcases everything from foraged veg to Murray cod and kingfish head, all kissed by flame. Eggplants, beets, and zucchini shine just as bright as the meat, with toasted seeds and nuts bringing extra crunch. It’s relaxed but sharp, with minimal intervention, natural wines that play beautifully with the smoky, charred goodness on your plate. Feeling bold? Finish the night at 11e Cave, the moody little bar tucked just below. Go big, or go home.
Pilot
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The two-hatted restaurant in Ainslie is fine dining with a wink—playful, polished, and proudly Australian. There’s no à la carte at Pilot, just a slick degustation menu (four, seven, nine, or 12 courses) served with warmth and a sense of fun. Expect nostalgic bites like IPA pretzels or brandy butterscotch Wagon Wheels, alongside clever plates like blue mackerel chips on potato dip (“fish and chips, backwards”). Wines and non-alc pairings hero small Aussie producers, and the vibe is more stylish dinner party than stiff fine-diner. With just 24 seats, sun-dappled curtains, and a cosy courtyard, it’s small, special, and full of surprises.
Beltana Farm
Tucked among 800 truffle trees in Pialligo, Beltana Farm is a rustic gem serving seasonal Australian share plates with flair. Start with house-made potato damper and macadamia dukkah, then dive into truffle and cuttlefish salami, pan-seared barramundi with native herbs, wattleseed roasted baby cauliflower. Finish with a knockout Anzac biscuit cheesecake or earthy truffle ice cream. Come summer, the garden views and Spritzes flow; in winter, it’s all about comfort food by the fire. Truffle lovers, take note—guided hunts and tastings run through the cooler months. Fresh, local, and full of flavour—this is farm-to-fork done right.
Canteen
By day, it’s a ramen bar; by night, it’s izakaya. Canteen, tucked inside Fyshwick’s Dairy Road precinct, rolls out handmade rye noodles behind shelves of sake and small-batch wine. The menu? Creative and crave-worthy. Try the dan dan egg (a spicy pork twist on a scotch egg) or dive into ‘The Classic Daddy’ ramen with pork belly, soy egg and togarashi. The ‘Funguys’ mazesoba hits hard with mushroom XO. Rice bowls, katsu and plant-based bites keep things balanced. Sake is beginner-friendly, cocktails are playful (hello, Roku gin slushy), and the all-Aussie wine list has just one cheeky Japanese cameo.