Bunda Street is an understated hub of cocktails, dining and even dancing. It runs through the old and the new parts of the Civic Centre, from the green and peaceful Glebe Park to the very busy Northbourne Avenue.

Dating all the way back to the 1960s Gus’ Café has lived on Bunda Street, providing coffee into the evening on the edge of Garema Place with a European style and a unique feel. Perhaps it’s because of their inventive coffees, such as the Peanut Butter Mocha – a wonderful mix between coffee, chocolate and actual peanut butter. As Canberra’s first late night and open-air café, Gus’ has an old world charm, which inspired the new generation of cafés and boldly works among them.

Just across the road, Tongue & Groove trades in cocktails and food. Established in the last couple of years, Tongue & Groove makes a metamorphosis from day to night, acting like a restaurant for the lighter hours and a dance venue for the darker ones. DJs appear, lights lower from the industrial beams, fancy drinks are provided and the dancing begins. Tongue & Groove serves delicious food between Bunda and Genge Street everyday and adds to the vibrant nightlife for after dinner.

On this side of Bunda Street, one of the newer restaurants in the Civic Centre is Jamie’s Italian. Its wonderfully rustic décor provides the ambience to enjoy the delicious and innovative food served. Jamie’s Italian puts an experimental spin on old classics, and spices up the look and taste of pizza and pasta – enticing food-lovers from around Canberra.

For a different taste there is Sammy’s Kitchen for Chinese and Malaysian cuisine. At Number 9 Bunda Street, Sammy’s is a favourite of many Canberrans and offers a range of traditional dishes Food is served considerably quickly for those on their lunch break, and for those with a taste for something different, the blackboard menu is constantly changing. There is a reason why Canberrans keep coming back to Sammy’s: the consistently excellent food.

Up the other end of Bunda Street, Monkey Bar has a small and intriguing entrance to its premises. Non-descript on the outside (and absolutely bouncing on the inside) Monkey Bar is the place for salsa dancing.

Writhing with Latin beats, quick dance moves and interesting cocktails, this is a place devoted to the art of dance. The floor is filled with first timers and old hands, all levels dancing together and embracing salsa.

These are some of the eclectic places on a street that mixes the old and new, dancing and dinner and multicultural venues. Bunda Street is a pulsing vein of Canberra life, filled with energy and surprises around each twisting corner. Keep an eye out in the coming months as our favourite city strip gets and overhaul. For more details, see the ACT Government website by clicking here.