Reimagined, classic, spicy, smoky, fizzy and out of the ordinary, if you love to drink something fun when you dine out, these restaurants and bars in Canberra are doing cocktails best. Need a recommendation? Each venue has put forward a cocktail they say is a must-try. Get sippin Canberra.
Bar Beirut
Named Canberra’s Best Lounge, Small and Cocktail Bar in 2022 and 23 (AHA Tourism and Hospitality Awards), Bar Beirut emanates the buzzing nightlife of Beirut. The mood here is joy, the playlist is global, and the cocktails slung are the kinds of concoctions you won’t find anywhere else in Canberra. We recommend trying the Wasabi Martini which is a mix of house-infused wasabi vodka, muddled Lebanese cucumber and vanilla gomme. Best described as refreshing with a bite, it gets a thumbs up from us.
Midnight Bar
The ideal spot for a laid-back tipple, Midnight Bar is inspired by liquid. Curating a menu that flows with the seasons, expect flavours that are well-balanced and primed to elevate your arvo and late-night drinks. Often experimenting with the elaborate, the ‘Smoke Show’ is part cocktail, part performance. Made with jalapeño infused Reposado, whiskey, grapefruit juice, lime juice and ginger syrup, it is presented under a smoke cloche before the glass is lifted and the complex cocktail is revealed.
Ohno!
Messing with the classics in the best way, OhNo! presents a modern take on Pan-Asian cuisine. Featuring subtle elements of Asian flavours through their seasonal cocktail menu, each has been created to perfectly pair with the flavours of the food. A cocktail on the menu since day one and worth a try next time you dine is the Lychee & Cardamom, made with Grey Goose vodka, vanilla, pineapple, curaçao and lime.
Akiba
While Akiba’s East-Asian share plates are making the rounds, so too are the cocktails, being ordered in groups and consistently throughout the night. Made to pair with spice, citrus and umami, the cocktails are vibrant and refreshing to cut through and elevate those flavours. Can’t decide which cocktail to order first? The Lychee Rose Martini with Grainshaker Vodka, lychee, pop rocks and rose is always a winner.
White Rabbit Cocktail Room
A quirky bar for when you want a creative tipple, White Rabbit Cocktail Room makes tea time tipsy. On the weekend, high tea is making the rounds, and for White Rabbit, the cocktails are the star of the show. Marrying tea and cocktails, the ‘Tea Party’ comprises Woodford Reserve bourbon, peach liqueur and spiced vanilla syrup topped with French Earl Grey tea.
For more, check out Canberra’s best wine bars.
