The 20 best restaurants in Canberra

What is it? A modern mash-up of Japanese and Peruvian cuisines, served alongside a stellar list of sake and pisco. 

Why go? Let Inka be your introduction to Nikkei cuisine. A contemporary fusion of Japanese-Peruvian techniques and ingredients, you can travel across the world in one night with everything from crispy potato tapas and prawn tacos to kingfish ceviche and wagyu nigiri. Bring more friends so you can share more dishes, which are prepared in three separate areas: the ceviche bar, the kitchen and the robata grill. We won’t even get started on the drinks menu, which spans almost 30 pages of wines, whiskeys, pisco and sake from around the world.

What is it? One of Canberra's hottest hospitality venues by Chris Lucas, the hospitality mastermind behind Chin Chin and Kisumé.

Why go? Drawing inspiration from the charming trattorias dotting the European coast, this Mediterranean restaurant sets the stage for long, leisurely lunches that effortlessly roll into aperitivo sessions and beyond. Kick off your evening with a signature Sorrento Fizz at the long marble-topped bar, where you can take in the lively scene of the open kitchen. As food envy kicks in, feast on rosemary and sea salt focaccia, baked to perfection in a custom wood-fired oven from Naples, and complement it with a premium selection of Italian mozzarella and salumi. The pasta is made fresh daily and coated in slow-cooked beef ragu, lobster oil and chilli, and classic tomato sugo. Pair your pasta with showstopping meat and seafood mains, which are cooked over coals and designed for sharing. 

What is it? The cooler and colourful younger sibling of Canberra’s award-winning restaurant, Pilot.

Why go? Shimmy on down to Such and Such for a fun, fresh and flavoursome feast that you’ll be raving to friends about for the rest of the year. You could mistake the bright and bold dining room for an art gallery, where the walls pop with artworks, ceramics and sculptures by local artists. Each dish is a playful masterpiece too, with the super seasonal menu featuring contemporary takes on nostalgic snacks and share plates. Don’t take things too seriously and add on a glass (or three) of lo-fi, organic wines from both local makers and far away places.

What is it? A bite-sized Parisian-style restaurant focused on nose-to-tail cooking and natural wines.

Why go? This loosely French diner is easily one of the best places for small plates and good wine in Canberra. Onzieme revolves around a super seasonal menu written up on its grid window every day. Foraged ingredients and local produce are cooked over fire and coals, whether it be mutton skewers, sugar snap peas, kingfish head or duck. Dine in French style with a minimal intervention glass of wine, before backing it up with round two at their tiny underground bar, 11e Cave.

What is it? This is where you come for beautiful, restrained Japanese food with a focus on seafood. 

Why go? Named after a Japanese style of pottery, Raku blurs the lines between art and sustenance. The menu is extensive, showcasing seafood in all its rainbow glory. You can have it raw in the kingfish served with truffle yuzu, cold in a spanner crab sushi roll, or hot as king prawns doused in XO butter. Masters of the blades, the chefs expertly slice up fresh snapper, tuna belly and scallops into sashimi or nigiri; add crunch with popcorn shrimp on the tempura menu; and grill high-grade Wagyu on a robata charcoal grill. From the express lunch to the royal tasting degustation, Raku will leave you wishing you had the moolah to dine here daily.

What is it? A funky pan-Asian eatery, perfect for lazy lunching or a dashing date night.

Why go? Follow the big city lights to this hip and happening late-night eatery on Lonsdale Street. Play your cards right by starting with Lazy Su’s infamous wagyu cheesesteak spring roll. It wraps Japanese, American and Korean cuisines all into one crispy package and serves as a bite-sized taste of how the night will unfold. Opting for the set menu is your best bet, where you’ll sample all of Lazy Su’s greatest hits, including donburi nori tacos, spicy wontons and fluffy bao buns. Pump up the pan-Asian party with soju, local beers and a Japanese Spritz.

What is it? The place you want to be seen on a Saturday night in the Berra.

Why go? If anyone ever complains about Canberra’s nightlife, just nod quietly and then laugh all the way up the stairs to Bar Rochford. This is undoubtedly the best little wine bar in the ACT, and it’s hidden away in one of the capital’s oldest buildings. Once you’re up in the cosy confines of this first-floor bar you could be in Melbourne, Munich or Manhattan. Let their young gun team guide you on a vinous adventure that traverses the world, but if you don’t order food too, it’s a lost opportunity. The $90 set menu isn’t a cop-out; it’s more like a tour of their latest and greatest seasonal hits. Think smoked beef tongue with anchovy mayo; lamb ribs (or cauliflower for vegos) with Szechuan and lime caramel; and cheesecake mousse to send it off.

What is it? A stylish yet small neighbourhood diner serving up a stand-out seven-course degustation with wine pairings. 

Why go? Nostalgic flavours and playful desserts take flight at this small suburban restaurant in Ainslie. Pilot’s seven-course set menu is quintessentially Australian, and on any given day, you may be served IPA beer pretzels, Hawaiian pizza scrolls or brandy butterscotch Wagon Wheels. The experimental non-alcoholic drinks pairing is just as impressive as the boozed-up version, with a focus given to small, sustainable Aussie producers.

What is it? A swish new Tuscan-inspired steakhouse and grill by chef Matt Moran.

Why go? Steak is the star of the show at Compa. There are five different cuts available, from on-the-bone cuts to feed a party, like rib-eye and Bistecca Fiorentina, to smaller Angus scotch fillets or Wagyu rump caps. All steaks are served with rocket and lemon, and your choice of either red wine jus and peppercorns or rich anchovy butter and salsa verde. Order a side of crispy chat potatoes with fermented chilli aioli for the ultimate steak night. 

What is it? A luxurious Japanese fine diner in the heart of Canberra’s National Triangle.

Why go? Housed in the iconic Lobby building, Koto's recently launched Kento Bento features seven cubicles where you can savour the best locally sourced produce in peace and quiet. Chef Shinya Nakano, who until recently guarded two-hatted Kisumé in Melbourne, serves his fluorescent plates in the kaiseki discipline (a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner). Whether you’re guided through their tasting menus or grazing through a bouquet of self-selected platters, every bite ends with an appreciation for simple, fresh ingredients. If you’re a sucker for lunch dessert, order their lychee paburoba, featuring lychee and matcha meringue with kabosu (Japanese citrus) jelly.

What is it? A casual canteen-style spot by day and a sophisticated smoked meat sanctuary by night.

Why go? It’s all in the name at this meat-focused venue, the brainchild of co-owners Anthony Iannelli and Sungyeol Son (a Hartsyard alum). Their in-house smoker and custom rotisserie do the heavy lifting here, with whole chickens, chashu pork belly, lamb cutlets, beef brisket, and tomahawk steaks grilled over an open fire. If you’re swinging by for a mid-week lunch, head up to the ‘Terra Bench’ for a DIY ‘pick-your-protein-and-sides’ situation.

What is it? Tucked away amongst 800 truffle trees on a picturesque Pialligo estate, this charming farmhouse serves up rustic Australian share plates and top-notch wines. 

Why go? In summer, soak up the sunshine streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows while taking in views of the manicured gardens with a Spritz in hand. Come winter, cosy up by the two-sided fireplace and enjoy elevated comfort classics, including potato damper with macadamia dukkah; flaky potato and carrot galette; smoked lamb rump with burnt apple; and Anzac biscuit cheesecake for dessert.

What is it: A creative take on modern Australian cuisine with plenty of plant-based options, plus a takeaway wine shop.

Why go? Whether it’s day or night, this groovy all-day diner – named after the David Bowie song ‘Rebel Rebel’ – is buzzing with both corporate and cultured Canberrans. The dining room feels polished yet bare, with bold graphics and bright wall prints taking cue from the proto-punk early ’70s era when ‘Rebel Rebel’ was released. You could drop by for a light lunch of Sydney Rock oysters, grilled prawns and roasted cauliflower with tahini, or draw out your dinner date with fried quail, wagyu tongue, lamb tomahawk, and a burnt honey and citrus ice cream sanga to finish it off.

What is it? Operating for 29 years in Pearce, this family-run venue is an album of comforting and communal dishes from Fiji and India.

Why go? It’s not every day you stumble upon a restaurant that masters both Fijian and Indian cuisine. Coconut becomes the chorus of meals at Rama’s, with broken flakes of ling, cubes of lamb or beef, and jammy pumpkin stewed with astringent tomatoes, paprika and fresh coriander, to finally be softened with a coating of coconut milk. Though it is known for this region to have a milder palette, the fan-favourites still sing with peppery praise – try their radiant signature Fijian pork curry alongside an inseparable glass of mango lassi.

What is it? A swish lakeside restaurant inspired by the Italian coast run by a celebrated Canberra chef. 

Why go? Are we on the shores of Lake Como or Lake Burley Griffin? Carlo Tosolini’s expansive restaurant will transport you straight to the heart of Italy, with its comforting carbs and deli fridge, stocked to the brim with local and specially imported DOP cheeses and meats. Pair buffalo mozzarella and gnocco fritto with an Aperol Spritz on one of their outdoor tables and you could call it a splendid day, but you’ll want to order a dish from their woodfire oven. Butterflied king prawns in garlic and chilli oil, or one of their pizzas with a bubbly charred crust.

What is it? A fun and fast-paced pan-Asian diner with Australia’s largest sake list.

Why go? You’re meeting a pal, you want to eat, drink and get a bit merry to the familiar tune of ‘Ghetto Superstar’, and you don’t want to have to dress up. Akiba is definitely where you should head. Inside, it’s decked out a little like a cabin in the woods by way of a neon Tokyo karaoke bar. Pull up a stool to a high table and get snacking, though be mindful that serves aren’t small so you can fill up fast. Their dumpling game is on point – shoutout to the Peking duck parcels – and they don’t get lazy on the veggo front, grilling a whole half eggplant with sweet miso and then adding some snap, crackle and pop with pepitas, puffed rice and seaweed. Keep the good times rolling with fresh oysters and tartare from the raw bar, Japanese fried chicken, lemon tofu cheesecake and a sake flight.

What is it? A raw meets refined fine diner with playful takes on nostalgic desserts

Why go? This Braddon hotspot has worn a comfortable groove, and most importantly, dining here is fun. Watching all the action at the burners is part of the experience – it’s like being in the middle of a Chef’s Table episode, and this time you’ll be the one eating the habanero steak tartare with prawn crackers, or the soft, three-bite steamed buns filled with duck meat, hoisin sauce and quick pickles. The staff here have that knack for making you feel like their personal guest, and their enthusiasm for the local wines on the menu is contagious. However, you can also cash in all your adult life points for a frozen Margarita with caramel popcorn sundae or banoffee pie.

What is it? The place to go for good Italian in Canberra and to access an award-winning wine list.

Why go? Braddon might be where all the cool kids of food and drink are hanging out, but it’s also home to Italian and Sons, an Italian institution serving up the kind of contemporary yet classic Italian fare that we all crave when the mercury drops. It’s a warm, casual spot where you can just pop in for a plate of pasta and some wine – you don’t need an occasion to dine here, but it’s also very popular, so booking is a smart move. The game plan here is simple to follow: bread, antipasti, pasta, and mains, then dessert. Pastas are hand-rolled and adorned with seasonal sauces, focaccias are baked on wood and served with whipped ricotta, and the tiramisu – well, we don’t know the secret for that, but it’s bloody good.

What is it? Canberra’s hottest (and perhaps, smallest) pizza joint tucked away behind the Ainslie shops.

Why go? When the sun goes down and the oven heats up, Mama Dough is where you want to be. The cosy space sits only six people inside but does a roaring takeaway trade and serves their pizzas directly to diners at the local pub, Edgar’s Inn, just next door. Mama Dough gets its name from the ‘mama dough’ used to create their original pizza base, which gets fired up in an imported Forno Bravo pizza oven. Picking a favourite pizza here is like picking a favourite child, so we’ll have to settle on the prosciutto and roquette for carnivores, or the mushroom, caramelised onion and sticky balsamic version for herbivores.

What is it? Canberra’s comfort cravings served up from a converted old mechanic’s garage on Lonsdale Street.

Why go? These guys are the mechanics you see when you need to grease up your system with burgers, pizza and a milkshake. When you need a full service and oil change, that’s the time to go big with a burger featuring a beef patty, streaky bacon, egg, cheese, pineapple, lettuce, tomato, beetroot, onion, relish and special sauce. However, you can also bring it home with a fat slab of their Detroit pizzas with toppings like beef brisket, truffle mushroom, chilli prawns and Tandoori chicken. Get extra greasy with liquid cheese-topped fries, stringy mozzarella sticks and Greasy Monkey’s famous milkshakes.