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.
Mínima – Yarralumla
Brother duo of former Thai restaurant Morks have begun their next chapter with the opening of their new restaurant Mínima. Departing from their Thai roots, the restaurant will explore the concept of ‘Third Culture Cuisine’, a combination of first culture cuisine – the culture you were born into, and second culture – the culture you arrived into. On the dinner menu, expect a la carte dining and a generous $75pp tasting menu, featuring share-style dishes such as duck mince roti, potato dumplings with mushroom, and Murry cod with sambal. For lunch, snatch up takeaway boxes inspired by childhood street food favourites.
Good Neighbour – Kingston
Dirty eggs, strawberry matcha and New York-style chunky cookies, Kingston has a new café from the owner of local institution, Gus’ Place. Good Neighbour features a mix of staples and more elevated dishes such as chilli crab folded eggs and crispy fish tacos. While, if you’re on the run, choose from rotating sandwiches and baked goods made in-house including a Reuben Toastie and burnt Basque cheesecake.
The Peacemaker Saloon – Braddon
Buckle up and discover the spirit of the Wild West at The Peacemaker Saloon. Locked, loaded, and ready to go, think live music (plenty of Jonny Cash tunes), whisky, beers, and hearty American pub-style meals. On the ‘grub’ menu dive into the Sloppy Joe, Frontier Chilli or High Noon Nachos.
Recess Coffee – Griffith
A flavour-forward reimagination of all-day breakfast dining with vinyl records spinning throughout the day, Recess Coffee is the latest venture from the team behind hatted restaurant Terra. Simple and moreish, expect old-school classics like eggs Benedict with saffron hollandaise, fluffy pancake stacks topped with butter and maple syrup, and everyone’s favourite hangover cure, a brekky muffin layered with folded egg and a choice of beef sausage or bacon.
Ballyhoo – Parkes
The final venue to open as part of The Lawns of the Lobby dining precinct, Ballyhoo is led by beloved Canberra chef and former owner of Temporada, Dave Young. The menu showcases high-quality produce through a vibrant combination of Mediterranean and South American influence, including dishes like wood grilled spatchcock with kale, garlic and anchovy sauce, and wood grilled wagyu flank with chimi churri and miso.
Azima – City
Loosely translating to ‘an invitation to feast’, Azima offers a traditional Lebanese dining experience. With generous banquet menus at an affordable price point, the menu features meat-based dishes such as shish tawook (marinated chicken breast skewers with chilli bread and garlic) and kibbeh (fried burghul wheat balls filled with mince and onion). It also celebrates the vegetarian and vegan dishes that are essential to Middle Eastern cuisine, such as hommos, fattoush, falafel and tabouli.
Kushi’s – Belconnen
One of the latest vendors to join Capital Food Markets, Kushi’s is Canberra’s first authentic Izakaya-style restaurant. Bringing a staple of Japanese culture to Canberra, Izakayas are the cornerstone of Japanese dining, and Kushi’s showcases the casual dining experience through a fusion of flavours designed for sharing. Including sushi, yakitori, teppanyaki and sashimi.
Café Sosta – Acton
Located in Canberra’s new state-of-the-art rowing facility on Black Mountain Peninsula, Café Sosta is the newest venture from the Agostinis team. Boasting gorgeous views of Lake Burley Griffin, the all-day café will offer their signature Italian flair, with dishes such as Montasio cheese Frico with eggs, potato and tomato, and spaghetti pomodoro with burrata.
Pialligo Estate – Pialligo
Operating under new ownership, Pialligo Estate has reopened. With hatted chef Stefano Mondonico taking the reins as executive chef, the new menu is inspired by the country-estate atmosphere, featuring fresh Australian produce. Think dishes such as creamy mushrooms with truffle, wood-fired rainbow trout with tomatoes and root vegetables, duck breast with cavolo nero and anchovies, and burnt orange semifreddo with blood orange sorbet and dark chocolate.
Romanée Wine Bar – Braddon
Romanée Wine Bar wants to expand your love of wine. With a sommelier-selected drinks menu accompanied by a seasonal and sustainability-focused menu, wind down over the perfect wine and charcuterie board or dishes such as tempura prawns with sweet chilli mayo, slow-cooked wagyu, and duck in blood orange jus.
Taco Boi – Braddon
There’s a new boy in town and he’s serving up tacos, burgers and wings. Taco Boi has everything from Korean fried chicken wings, pork belly tacos, jalapeno poppers, and a signature cheeseburger.
COMING SOON
Carlotta – City
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.
Lunetta – Red Hill
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.
Ottoman Cuisine – Barton
Announcing a comeback earlier in the year, Canberra’s iconic Turkish fine-dining restaurant Ottoman Cuisine is making a comeback. Renovating and returning to Barton, the restaurant is expected to be open by Spring 2024.
Check out our dining page for all the latest food news in Canberra.
