Looking for a new local? If you love trying new places to eat around the capital, make this your ultimate hit list! Plus keep your eyes out for news of the opening of our ‘coming soon’ venues.
Compa
Restaurateur Matt Moran’s first Canberra restaurant, Compa is an Italian steakhouse with the simple ethos: good food and good company. Heroing prime beef cuts, the menu showcases some of Australia’s best producers including Moran’s own Family Farm and produce local to the ACT. Amongst a dark and moody restaurant, enjoy a hearty steak and an Italian drop with deliciously complex sides including cacio e pepe mac n cheese and stone roast portobello mushrooms with taleggio and thyme.
Rosa’s
An all-day garden bar and kiosk, Rosa’s is the second venue to open as part of The Lobby precinct following KOTO. With sunny deck seating during the day before transforming into a vibrant bar with lawn seating at night, the National Rose Garden will act as its playground. In the mornings, stop by for a coffee, pastry and brekky roll, a fresh sandwich at lunch, and wood-fired pizzas and drinks at night.
&Sando
Next door to Compa sits Matt Moran’s other Canberra venue, &Sando. Taking form as the casual, fast-paced venue, the little deli-style sandwich shop features a small yet wholesome menu of delicious sandwiches and rolling specials. Accompanied with bread from local bakery UNDER, highlights include the Spicy Deli with mortadella, spicy sopressa, tomato, pickled carrot and provolone, and the made-to-order Steak Sanga with lettuce, tomato, caramelised onion, beetroot and cheese.
Karl Bar
A new micro bar at Constitution Place centering its entire menu on one cocktail, Karl Bar is reimagining the classic but very versatile margarita. Inspired by the iconic designer Karl Lagerfeld, the bar’s mood is dark, elegant and understated. Featuring just a handful of cocktails, expect Japanese-inspired flavours that are expertly crafted and well-balanced.
Contentious Character on Dairy Road
Saying farewell to their countryside location in Wamboin and moving a little closer to home, Contentious Character has opened on Dairy Road. Open from 7am-6:30pm every day, there is much more to explore than just wine, with a brekky, a la carte and tapas menu. For those who have come for wine, sit back at the 7-metre tasting bar in the restaurant and try one of three tasting experiences with an optional paired food element.
Wonderburger
The latest destination to satisfy your cravings, feel a sense of nostalgia through the charming fit-out and lip-smacking burgers of Wonderburger. Located in Green Square Kingston, everything on the menu is quite literally wonderful – with the signature ‘Wonder’ classic beef burger, highly-classified Wonder Sauce and loaded Wonderdog.
Jarochos
Starting as a humble food truck that you’d see at Canberra’s best events and locations, Jarochos has brought its famous tacos to a permanent location in Braddon. A family-run business with a passion for authentic Mexican food, they combine family recipes with local ingredients to present tacos like marinated pork with pineapple, grilled Mexican cactus with capsicum, and slow-cooked pulled beef with white onion.
Moo Moo Frozen Yogurt
Your new post-dinner sweet, Moo Moo Frozen Yogurt is the perfect late-night treat. Offering premium frozen yogurt flavours with a variety of toppings, customise a bowl with all your favourite ingredients.
Alia
Contemporary dining meets Greek taverna, Alia uses all the freshness, simplicity and authenticity of Mediterranean cooking. With a menu that would make Yaya proud, indulge in all the classics including saganaki baked cheese, chicken souvlaki, lamb gyros and spanakopita. While for cocktails, expect Greek-inspired flavours that are citrus-forward. A nuanced experience that evolves from day to night, perch yourself at the marble bar for an ouzotini cocktail and freshly shucked oysters, enjoy long lunches around the expansive circular tables, late-night drinks on the bubble lounge, or celebrate milestones at the long dining tables.
Tumut River Brewing Co.
Opening a second location in Canberra, get Tumut River Brewing Co. on tap in Kingston. Known for their small batch craft beer, they have bought their entire beer menu plus delicious wood-fired pizzas to the capital.
Florence Gelato
Launching in Belconnen’s new Capital Food Market with a Canberra-inspired flavour, Florence Gelato is your newest destination to get a deliciously creamy scoop. Focusing on the classics with a modern twist that combines quality Australian ingredients with Italian flavours, choose from a decadent array of gelati.
Early Edition
Where vintage charm meets modern flavour, meet Early Edition. A new café in Kingston Foreshore, get delicious and wholesome brekky and lunch with coffee from Axis Roasters.
Yakitori 38
Where the rustic and cosy atmosphere of Osaka’s nightlife comes to life, Yakitori 38 is here for your group catch-ups and late-night dinners. Specialising in the Japanese restaurant-style izakaya, order rounds of yakitori and cocktails for the table.
COMING SOON
Carlotta
Chris Lucas, responsible for some of Melbourne and Sydney’s most innovative and loved dining institutions (Chin Chin, Grill Americano), has announced plans to open his first restaurant in Canberra. A Mediterranean concept, Carlotta will open in Canberra Centre’s Scotts Crossing precinct in Spring.
Ballyhoo
Ballyhoo will be pushing the boundaries with its unconventional menu as the last of the three hospitality venues to open in The Lawns precinct. Fuelled by fermentation and fire, it is set to make plenty of noise in Canberra’s dining scene, with its ‘fun dining’ rather than fine dining approach.
Recess Coffee
What happens when Terra and Barrio collab on a café? Well, we’re not sure yet but are super eager to find out. Recess Coffee is expected to open in Griffith in the coming months.
Azima
Following Brunello’s closure announcement, a new Lebanese restaurant headed by the owner of Inka and Koto is expected to take its place in the City Walk space. With preparations already underway, Azima will be at the helm of world-renowned Arabic chef Ala Bin Ali.
Lunetta
Red Hill’s iconic restaurant location is being revitalised, announcing that a new modern dining concept will open at the end of the year. Perched atop the beautiful suburb, Lunetta has caught local’s attention with its energetic and playful socials, with word that the menu will be Italian-inspired.
Check out our dining page for all the latest food news in Canberra.
