Whether it’s the smashed avo, locally-roasted coffee, an ever-changing menu or simply your local, these venues have firmly positioned themselves as some of Canberra’s best cafes. Whether you’re a tourist in the capital or a local who wants to try a new hotspot, here are nine to try.
Cafe Gather
An award-winning local cafe, Gather promises food that is locally sourced where possible, sustainable and healthy. Driven by seasonal produce, try their latest and greatest creations from a seasonal granola or bircher, smashed avo, brekky quesadilla and crab scramble.
Urban Pantry
Urban Pantry is a fabulous spot for your morning coffee, brekky or light lunch. Located in Manuka Lawns, the menu is fresh, local and seasonal, and promises a delicious array of menu items, plus irresistible sweets at the counter. Think favourites such as hotcakes, avo on toast, eggs bene and an open omelette.
Arc
If it’s not the Redbrick Coffee, it’s the refined classic brekky menu that keeps locals coming back to Arc. Focusing on local produce, their menu follows from porridge to granola, avo on toast to fritters, and salmon rillettes to nourish bowls.
Teddy Pickers
Always reliable and served just the way you like it, Teddy Pickers in Campbell is an undeniable cafe favourite. On their all-day menu, expect dishes like a brekky roll with slow-cooked beef brisket, a mexi bowl, and smoked salmon on toast feature throughout.
Double Shot
Brunch it up at Double Shot in Deakin. Whether it’s simply a slice of banana bread or cold juice you’re after, or a brekky burrito, shakshouka or acai bowl, they’ve got your morning cravings sorted.
Intra
If you’re not heading in purely for the coffee, breakfast or lunch at Intra is pretty unbeatable. Taking a conscious approach to seasonality, the team focuses on preserving, fermenting and using lesser-known cuts of meat. If it’s your first time dining with Intra, the chashu bacon and egg roll and kimchi jaffle have found a permanent place on the menu as crowd-favourites.
Margot
Situated along the bridge-to-bridge walk, stop by Margot on your morning walk and pick up a morning coffee and pastry or end your arvo with a curated cheese board and wine. Grilling some of the tastiest gourmet toasties, try the classic French croque monsieur or pesto and feta.
Good Neighbour
Dirty eggs, strawberry matcha and New York-style chunky cookies, Good Neighbour in Kingston has a small and refined breakfast and lunch menu with rotating specials. Focusing on consistency, expect that warm-fuzzy feeling you get from a really good brekky with dishes like shakshouka, chilli crab folded eggs and crispy fish tacos.
Two Before Ten
Sustainability is key to how Two Before Ten runs their day-to-day. Utilising fruits and vegetables from their Urban Farm in Aranda, locals can eat a delicious breakfast or lunch knowing majority of the produce is grown in-house or locally. Signatures from the menu include the creamy mushrooms, Twobie Bowl and steak sandwich.
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