While Canberra’s CBD is bustling with eateries and new ventures boasting plenty of multicultural fare, Southside is just as bustling in certain neighbourhoods. Worth travelling for or choosing over a long Uber to the city, these are the top Southside eats!
Eightysix South
Bringing the Eightysix flare to Woden, Eightysix South showcases a more classic Italian menu than its big brother. Promising no-fuss, good-hearted Italian cooking south of the lake, expect plenty of delicious pasta dishes and traditional share-style plates.
Onzieme
Celebrating small plates and cheerful wines, join Onzieme in Kingston if you’re keen to experience seasonal foods and flavours, with no two visits ever the same. Keeping it fresh, for wines the team are all about minimal intervention ‘natural wines’, that are hand-picked with native yeast fermentation, that too will see an ever-changing menu.
Recess Coffee
A flavour-forward re-imagination 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.
Good Neighbour
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.
Mínima
Brother duo of former Thai restaurant Morks have begun their next chapter Mínima Southside in Yarralumla. Departing from their Thai roots, the restaurant explores 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.
OhNo!
Presenting a modern take on Pan-Asian cuisine, OHNO! In Manuka is your fun, loud and ever-so-tasty dinner for two, gals night out and family dinner location. Messing with the classics in the best way, you’ll want to order a bunch of dishes to share to truly experience the menu. And trust us when we say, accidentally over ordering is a real possibility.
Leyla Bar
Perched on the rooftop of the Burbury Hotel in Barton sits Leyla Bar. Bringing an exclusive club lounge experience with an outdoor oasis feel, sip on cocktails all night while overlooking the city and sharing delectable snacks such as snapper ceviche, pulled pork empanadas, and beef tartare.
Louis
Classic European bistro, Louis welcomes you to experience an effortlessly sophisticated style of dining in its Southside location in Barton. Elevated yet embracing, ambitious yet approachable, Louis promises a unique dining experience with well-executed classic dishes and a sophisticated cocktail menu.
Ballyhoo
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.
Kita
Canberra’s only café that operates by night, Kita does Indo-fusion from 6pm until the early hours of the morning. While you can get comfort food like nasi goreng and laksa on your way home from a night out, Uni students pulling an all-nighter or other night owls can enjoy the perfect coffee or other caffeinated drink to keep you going in the perfect relaxed setting.
Agostinis
Family-owned restaurant Agostinis has a passion for unpretentious Italian cooking. The friendly atmosphere speaks to the tradition of a big family get-together and has an authentic seasonal menu full of wonderful dishes that the family themselves cook at home.
Med
An immersive, relaxed dining experience steeped in Mediterranean charm, Med in Barton is all about full-flavoured and fresh ingredients. A fusion of Greek, Lebanese and Turkish cuisine, expect plates of bread, dips and light entrees, followed by mains like grilled lamb cutlets with fresh salads, vegetables and rice. Not only taking you to Europe through taste, the restaurant’s ambience also evokes a paired-back, relaxed atmosphere.
The Chairman & Yip
An iconic Canberra restaurant, The Chairman & Yip is adored by locals for its modern Pan-Asian cuisine. Served in an elegant restaurant in Barton with private dining rooms and a balcony garden, it’s certainly a Southside neighbourhood gem. Whether it’s the famous duck pancakes, steamed whole fish or wagyu beef hot pot, you’re in good hands.
KOTO
KOTO’s all-encompassing Japanese dining experience showcases a menu that combines Japanese art with fresh Australian ingredients. Located in the revitalised Lobby Building, with a killer sushi bar, moody interiors and dishes that all strive to achieve harmony, it is the perfect venue for a special occasion.
Doubleshot
Brunch it up at Doubleshot 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.
Wonderburger
Bringing back retro diners with burgers, dogs, shakes and soft serves, Wonderburger is making family mealtimes greater. A menu where everything on the menu is wonderful, from the signature Wonder beef burger, Wonderbird, Wondersmash and Wonderdog, finish it off with crinkle-cut chips and your favourite soft-serve, and you’ll be golden!
Kingston Hotel
Known as ‘the Kingo’ by regulars, Kingston Hotel is one of Canberra’s original watering holes and has stood the test of time. Offering a more traditional English-styled pub than many in the capital, the hotel and pub is known for its old-school charm. Inside find carpeted flooring, dark wood furniture, low light lamps and pool tables, while outside enjoy the secluded beer garden for those hot summer days. On tap, find Australian classics such as Melbourne Bitter and Carlton Draught plus craft and international beers, and for food get the classics done exceptionally well.
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.
Grease Monkey Woden
Nailing the art of the perfect burger so well that they have time to experiment with different flavour combinations, Grease Monkey‘s Southside location gets our need for a good burger. Starting with their signature beef burger, it only goes up from there, giving you the full-service (literally, they even have a burger called Full-Service) where things get dirtier and greaser as the menu goes on (in the best way, of course).
Two Blind Mice
Curtin’s local pub is far from ordinary. Two Blind Mice offers casual dining with not-so-casual food, from those loved pub classics like woodfired pizza and burgers, to more upbeat European-influenced dishes such as their homemade pasta and lamb shoulder.
The Alby
Woden’s popular watering hole, The Alby is fully decked out. Utilising close to 1,000 square metres, its spaces include a chef’s table for private dining, a beer garden, a games basement, duckpin bowling, pinballs, pool tables and more! For food, enjoy a pub-style menu with all your favourites including pizza, burgers and steaks.
For more outside Canberra’s CBD, check out these top notch restaurants that aren’t in the city.
