If you haven’t played host to overseas visitors lately, you might not have thought to visit Old Parliament House for a coffee and a bite to eat. But nestled within our former home of Federal Parliament, the newly refurbished Terrace Café has hit the ‘sweet spot’ with its simple approach and beautiful design.
Walking into the café, you’ll notice that the fit-out retains many of the original elements of the heritage-listed building, with the addition of a few modern touches and plenty of natural light providing a clean, elegant atmosphere. The high ceilings and art deco cornices are reminiscent of the 1920s, while the large black and white prints on the walls showcase the architecture and historic features of the building. Don’t forget to peer out the antique window on the new mezzanine level – it’s got one of Canberra’s best views.
For a light meal or some afternoon tea, the Terrace Café has a creative, dynamic menu that focuses on handmade, artisan products. Along with their range of freshly made pastries, which include enticing options like an elderflower cupcake and blueberry and chocolate ganache ‘duffin’ (think donut x muffin), the café also offers a seasonal salad, soup and slow-cooked sandwich for lunch each day.
The Greek yoghurt with berry and rhubarb compote is a light, refreshing breakfast that will help keep you energised throughout the day. The alternating layers of purple and white from the fruit and yoghurt are visually appealing, and the sweetness of the compote works well against the slight acidity of the yoghurt.
The salad of the day, conveniently served in a jar, is a wholesome mix of quinoa, rocket, roast vegetables and parmesan. It’s a simple, healthy option that will certainly help you justify having a bit of dessert after lunch!
Speaking of dessert, today’s specials are the peach and coconut cupcakes and chocolate truffles. The cupcakes stand tall with liberal amounts of vibrant peach frosting, providing the perfect frosting-to-cupcake ratio for each indulgent mouthful; while the rich, buttery truffles will satisfy the most ardent chocoholic, and are sure to leave a smile on your face for the rest of the day.
Even if you don’t have a sweet tooth, the Terrace Café is a terrific spot to catch up with friends for a coffee (or a matcha latte, if you’re feeling hip) from their award-winning barista. Their wine list also features local wines from Clonakilla and Eden Road – handy for those days when it’s too cold to go back outside or there’s just too many chores to do back at home…
Enjoy high tea on the weekends with three tiers of handmade sweets accompanied by Darjeeling tea, sparking wine or sparkling water at $49 per guest. Bookings are essential.
The Terrace Café is open 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Sunday.
