Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in 7

"This modern-hawker style venue encapsulates some the best Asian-fusion dining available in the Canberra region. Home to many tasty morsels, extensive sake list, and a raw bar this venue has character in spades. Akiba describes itself as “pan-Asian,” fusing the cuisines of the East Asia region to create an incredible and diverse menu, showcasing the many styles of Asian barbecue, modern-day Dim Sum, raw food, and so much more."

"As soon as you arrive, you’re absorbed into the fun and exotic feel. The food is a mix of Asian barbecue, raw bar and modern day Dim Sum, with fresh flavours using local produce. You’ll also find an impressive cocktail and drinks list to match the taste sensations."

"Raku has become a favourite on the Canberra fine dining scene. Their philosophy is to combine the precision and artfulness of Japanese culinary traditions with the vibrant energy of modern Australian dining to create unique and exciting dishes. With a selection of set menus as well as delicious items such as the melt-in-your-mouth unagi foie gras nigiri and their wide selection of maki rolls, Raku is here to provide you with not just a meal, but an experience."

"Get yourself a tasting menu if you can’t decide what to eat and share some of their most popular dishes. (Quietly, their Nasu Dengaku is sublime.) The atmosphere is also quite romantic, making it perfect for a couples outing. 148 Bunda Street, Civic, Canberra"

"Last but certainly not least, Marble & Grain’s casual vibe, sophisticated food, comforting yet contemporary interiors  and top drops continuously draw in the afterwork crowd. Located on the ground floor of theAvenue Hotel, this European steakhouse inspired Gastro pub offers daily happy hours from 4pm to 6pm and a true paddock-to-plate menu. Pop past at lunch and grab a bite to eat from the $15 lunch specials menu, which is on offer everyday between 12pm and 2pm."

"Marble & Grain, Ground Floor Avenue Hotel, Northbourne Avenue, Braddon. Located on the ground floor of the Avenue Hotel, Marble & Grain is a European steakhouse inspired restaurant with a true paddock to plate mentality. With shared options such as the slow cooked 1.2kg locally sourced lamb shoulder, the Marble & Grain ‘butchers board’ with venison sausages, lamb ribs, steak, bone marrow, onion rings and more, you can’t go wrong."

"Vegetarians will understand the disappointment when dining out and having limited options to choose from. However, Monster Kitchen and Bar is entirely vegetarian – and extremely delicious at that. In fact, we promise you’ll impress your meat eating friends here with a whole head cauliflower – that actually hits the spot."

"Wandering through the ground floor of Ovolo Nishi on Edinburgh Avenue in Canberra, Monster Kitchen & Bar is preoccupied with serving local and seasonal produce prepared for sharing. Spread across four..."

"Many think a speakeasy should be underground, but the emphasis is on ‘hidden’ – in this case, Lucky’s is at street level, but you do have to find it via a secret entrance at the back of the hotel’s Barber Shop or a discreetly lit entrance from outside. Those readers of a certain ‘vintage’ may remember the space as its previous incarnation as‘Bobby McGee’s’ but let me tell you, there’s no ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ being played here – it’s all class with a curated DJ set adding atmosphere. It’s sizeable, the space feels sophisticated and intimate, with booths providing privacy."

"The Soi Noodle Bar serves up a generous range of dishes for families to enjoy. This includes mini dishes such as soup, gyoza, spring rolls, crab buns, tempura, and more, as well as main dishes, noodles, salad, ramen, curry, and so much more. Head over to the Soi Noodle Bar website for a full menu list and prices."

"At the base of the Canberra Centre you’ll find a fusion of Asian flavours with a strong slant towards Thai and Japanese tastes. Soi Noodle Bar is built on the premise of street food, with the meals packed with zest and the service fast. Enjoy some people-watching from the open window in summer."

"Shorty’s is an amazing pub where one can enjoy the best cocktails, delicious burgers and incredible milkshakes. Shorty’s is a fun place to be at, that is beautifully decorated with various bright lights. It does not operate on Sundays."

"Built in 1988, Australia's national parliament building is a graceful and deeply symbolic piece of architecture. Sitting atop Capital Hill, the building is crossed by two axis, north–south and east–west, representing the historical progression and legislative progression of Australian democracy. There's plenty to see inside, whether the politicians are haranguing each other in the chambers or not."

"Coffee Lab is a beloved place for coffee in Canberra, thanks to its expert brews and super friendly baristas. As for where the ‘lab’ part comes into play?. Grab a quick brew to go or sit down and ask one of their staff about what experiments are happening at the moment."

"They have been creating the most exquisite of cakes since 2013. Their elegant cakes are readily available every day. You may even order from their online store."

"I liked the generous portion of buttermilk pancakes with seasonal fruits, lemon yoghurt sauce, house made honeycomb and vanilla ice cream. I loved the lemon infused yoghurt that thickly coated the pancakes providing tartness to the otherwise sweet dish. The vanilla ice cream, also a generous serve (about 2 scoops!) was served in a small bowl on the side."

"You’re also assured of excellent customer service from their staff. Dobinsons opened its kitchen in 1994. They have been continuously providing quality cakes for Canberrans ever since."

"They ensure that all their baked goods are a delight to bake and enjoy. Additionally, they promise even more delightful customer service. Moreover, it is considered as Australia’s most successful bakery franchise."

"Once you’ve made your way past the instagrammers and bloggers crowding A.Baker, you’re in a unique venue that deserves praise for its ambitions. Head downstairs for the ‘speakeasy’ bar – a dim and striking escape from the activity above ground, the feature piece a row of amazing old marine lights, found in Jodhpur. It’s place to relax after work, or to wait for your table with some olives and nuts…but with a voyeuristic one-way glass window into the commercial bakery, it’s a fun way to pass the time."