15 Best Canberra Restaurants in 2024
What makes the best Canberra restaurants so special? Imaginative plating, passionate chefs, an emphasis on seasonal ingredients? All three? That’s just what you’ll find on our list of the best Canberra restaurants.
Celebrating the city’s finest produce, from fresh seafood to local wines, these award-winning Canberra restaurants are home to the greatest dining opportunities in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Whether you’re planning a trip to Australia’s first city or you’re a local searching for hidden gems, these are the spots you’ll want to visit.
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The 15 Best Restaurants in Canberra, Australia
1. Courgette
Aiming to prove that luxury dining doesn’t mean sacrificing an enjoyable experience, Courgette has become one of the top Canberra restaurants.
The Vibe
Courgette has a cosy décor that’s effortlessly elegant. Think crisp white tablecloths, sparkling cutlery and minimal wall art. The Garden Room, with a large picture window facing a beautiful exterior, is particularly magical.
What to Order
Chef-owner James Mussillon curates an à la carte and degustation menu (plus a vegetarian version) featuring delicious dishes such as black Angus beef fillet with white asparagus and seared Hervey Bay scallops.
Courgette | 54 Marcus Clarke St., Canberra ACT 2601 | $$$
2. Akiba
A fun-loving restaurant for the people, Akiba is an Asian diner with a Friday night vibe all week long. This, along with its outstanding menu, has made it a beloved stalwart among Canberra restaurants and a proud proponent of New Asian cuisine.
The Vibe
Come as you are to Akiba, where the interiors are a gorgeous blend of warm wood and authentic Japanese pottery and there's no formal dress code in sight.
What to Order
Take your tastebuds on a journey through Asian delicacies with a modern twist. Try Peking duck dumplings, grilled eggplant with miso and puffed rice before tucking into lemon tofu cheesecake.
Akiba | 40 Bunda St., Canberra ACT 2601 | $$
3. Black Fire
Another top choice of Canberra restaurants, Black Fire is a Mediterranean eatery that draws inspiration from Spanish and Italian cooking united with Australian ingredients.
The Vibe
Like all of the highest-rated Canberra restaurants, Black Fire manages to create a spacious dining room that still feels intimate and is an ideal setting for sharing a few plates with friends. Try and snag a window seat for views across the colourful murals on the buildings opposite.
What to Order
Head straight to the tapas section of the menu and order the smoked pork empanada, goat’s cheese churro and the semolina roll with pumpkin and ricotta.
Black Fire | 45/38 Mort St., Braddon, Canberra ACT 2612 | $$$
4. Raku
Combining the precision of Japanese cuisine with the energy of modern Australian cookery, Raku is up there with the finest Canberra restaurants.
The Vibe
Raku is a perfect Canberra restaurant to visit if you’re seeking a calm, clean aesthetic for a relaxing meal. The plates, of course, are made from beautiful raku pottery — a culturally important art form in Japan and a symbolic reminder that the same ingredients can lead to beautifully different results each time.
What to Order
In common with many Canberra restaurants, there is a choice of menus at Raku. The tasting menu is a fantastic option to experience the freshest ingredients skilfully prepared. It showcases the chef’s choice of nigiri and sashimi as well as other virtuoso combinations, from 150-day grain-fed Scotch beef fillet with wasabi sour cream to toasted sesame ice cream.
Raku | Shop DG36C/148 Bunda St., Canberra ACT 2601 | $$$
5. Bar Rochford
Set in one of Canberra’s oldest buildings, Bar Rochford has a minimal appeal and a choice of à la carte and set menus full of modern Australian delights.
The Vibe
Vintage vinyl provides the soundtrack to your evening at Bar Rochford, where a mix of high stool and table seating provides plenty of opportunities for a casual after-work drink or intimate dinner date.
What to Order
The changing menu at Bar Rochford celebrates the best Canberra food and includes set options for meat eaters and vegetarians. Standouts are the Kingfish crudo, smoked beef tongue and grilled eggplant. As you’d expect from one of the leading Canberra restaurants, the wine list here is extensive but the friendly staff will be happy to point you in the right direction to match your meal.
Bar Rochford | 1st Floor/65 London Circuit, Canberra ACT 2601 | $$
6. Onzieme
French-influenced small dish diner and wine bar Onzieme is one of the best places to eat in Canberra, Australia for those seeking petit plates of Parisian perfection.
The Vibe
Bustling Onzieme has a light and airy interior with large windows and elegant table appointments. If the weather’s fine, you can choose to sit on the terrace and soak up the sun with a glass of vino from the detailed wine menu.
What to Order
Onzieme focuses on foraged ingredients and nose-to-tail cooking so, like at many other Canberra restaurants, the menu changes frequently depending on the seasonal availability of produce. Previous highlights from the menu include Jerusalem artichoke and saffron and wood-fired spatchcock with corn and ginger.
Onzieme | 5/39 Kennedy St., Kingston, Canberra ACT 2604 | $$$
7. INKA
Canberra is known as one of the best foodie cities in Australia and restaurants like this are the reason. Innovative and exciting, INKA offers a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine.
The Vibe
INKA has a gorgeous and sophisticated décor with soft lighting, funky artwork and traditional elements from both Japan and Peru, such as decorative Peruvian pottery.
What to Order
Imaginative INKA pushes the boundaries of Canberra restaurants by delivering dishes such as crispy potatoes with Peruvian sauce and tuna tostada with truffle.
INKA | Shop B11A/148 Bunda St., Canberra ACT 2601 | $$$$
8. Pilot
No exploration of Canberra restaurants would be complete without a look at Pilot, a trendsetting and fresh establishment serving modern Australian cuisine.
The Vibe
Stylish Pilot has a pared-back interior and a monochrome palette, but a fun personality that will make any dining experience memorable. One of the most arresting features is the large, dried foliage display. Not only is this visually stunning, it's also an interesting nod to the importance of celebrating fresh produce.
What to Order
Like many of the additions to our list of Canberra restaurants, Pilot’s seven-course set menu emphasises local Australian makers to provide innovative updates on nostalgic themes such as brandy butterscotch Wagon Wheels and Hawaiian pizza scrolls.
Pilot | 1 Wakefield Gardens, Ainslie, Canberra ACT 2612, $$$-$$$$
9. Such and Such
A decidedly cool eatery, Such and Such is the younger sister of Pilot, which you’ll have spotted above on our list of Canberra restaurants. The familial resemblance is evident in the menu, which features fresh takes on Australian cooking.
The Vibe
The walls are brought to life with the addition of sculptures and prints by local artists, creating a lively setting for a dinner date.
What to Order
The menu changes frequently at this Canberra restaurant but favourite dishes among past diners are the duck with fish sauce caramel and the imaginative blue swimmer crab omelette with chilli crunch and coriander.
Such and Such | 220 London Circuit, Canberra ACT 2601 | $$$
10. Beltana Farm
This recently opened gem among Canberra restaurants is very close to the city but Beltana Farm will give you a refreshing rustic vibe thanks to its countryside setting.
The Vibe
Looking for Canberra restaurants that are excellent all year round? In the summer, Beltana Farm makes the ideal backdrop for a glass of wine and lazy sharing brunches with superb views over the garden. When the mercury drops, Beltana’s indoor double-sided fireplace is there to warm you.
What to Order
Try the tasting menu which, like at many Canberra restaurants, changes with seasonal availability. Past dishes popular with diners are bay smoked lamb rump and wagyu sirloin with black garlic butter.
Beltana Farm | 14 Beltana Road, Pialligo, Canberra ACT 2609 | $$$
11. Rebel Rebel
Celebrating the freewheeling spirit of the 1970s David Bowie hit for which it is named, Rebel Rebel is a fashionable pick among Canberra restaurants where the food is given free rein to do all of the talking.
The Vibe
There aren't many Canberra restaurants that can match the interiors at Rebel Rebel. The laid-back space has a fresh and funky design but the main feature is a spectacular beamed, apex vaulted ceiling, an installation made by a local architect using reclaimed wood.
What to Order
Rebel Rebel celebrates the best Canberra food in dishes such as blue mackerel with fregola and fried quail with harissa.
Rebel Rebel | 23 Marcus Clarke St., Acton, Canberra ACT 2601 | $$$
12. Wilma
Found in trendy Braddon, home of many up-and-coming Canberra restaurants, Wilma is a forward-thinking Asian barbecue eatery that showcases ethical, local produce.
The Vibe
The atmosphere at Wilma is suave, sophisticated and celebratory. Vintage peacock rattan chairs provide a subtle contrast to the bright orange leather couch seating, but everything combines harmoniously to create a relaxed space.
What to Order
The hot smoked char siu pork is a favourite among regulars, as is the Wilma’s snag sanga with bulldog sauce — an impish take on a traditional hot dog.
Wilma | 1 Genge St., Canberra ACT 2601 | $$$
13. The Boat House
Perfectly positioned close to the river, The Boat House is one of the best restaurants in Canberra for those seeking outstanding views and food to match.
The Vibe
The Boat House is a magnificent choice of Canberra restaurants for any special occasion or event. In fact, it may be one of the best places to eat in Canberra, Australia thanks to its wraparound deck outside that offers stunning views across Lake Burley Griffin.
What to Order
The daily changing menu offers such knockout dishes as black garlic roasted pumpkin and pepper roasted chicken breast with pine purée.
The Boat House | Grevillea Park, Menindee Drive, Barton, Canberra ACT 2600 | $$$
14. Zaab
Found in Braddon, the city’s trendiest suburb, edgy but elegant Zaab is a Southeast Asian street food specialist and one of the hottest Canberra restaurants.
The Vibe
Zaab’s grungy roots may have been refined recently but the rebellious spirit remains. The walls are adorned with graffiti-style art but the mix of bar seating, tables and couches are refined and upmarket, making this a Canberra restaurant that’s a feast for all of the senses.
What to Order
Grab a pal and order a few items from the "small stuff" portion of the menu to get one of the most varied dining experiences among Canberra restaurants. Favourites among regulars are the scallop ceviche, chicken lon and a tofu pallo, an aromatic spiced broth.
Zaab | 2/9 Lonsdale St., Braddon, Canberra ACT 2612 | $$$
15. Loquita
Vibrant and vivacious Loquita is the perfect choice of Canberra restaurants for a Friday fiesta meet-up with amigos or a special date night.
The Vibe
If the weather’s good, sit on the colourful, fairy light-lit terrace. For a party atmosphere, head inside, where lively music and staff in Hawaiian shirts set the mood.
What to Order
One of the most popular Mexican-themed Canberra restaurants, Loquita is the place for tacos — from vegan-friendly fried cauliflower to sumac and lime chicken.
Loquita | 17 Garema Place, Canberra ACT 2601 | $$-$$
Learn to Cook Canberra Foods
Canberra is a fantastic foodie destination to explore, whatever your culinary style. It's also a great base from which to discover more about the producers, ingredients and dishes that make the ACT region famous.
If you’re feeling inspired to try your hand at emulating some of the dishes from the top Canberra restaurants then cooking classes in Canberra are the perfect solution. From Italian banquets to Asian favourites, these expert-led cooking classes are a fun way to develop your skills, pick up top tips and try something different.
The choice of Canberra restaurants has never been better. Experienced chefs and cooks seeking new inspiration are flocking to the city to add their own stamp to a region that’s bursting with culinary zeal.
So, whether you’re searching for the perfect setting for your next special occasion or you’re looking for fresh flavours to invigorate your palate, why wait? There’s never been a better time for foodies to visit Australia’s capital and try a few of the finest restaurants Canberra has to offer.
For even more ways to explore Canberra and beyond, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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