Canberra

10 Yards

formerly Bolt Bar

A stylish, dimly lit neighbourhood wine bar operating out of the architectural, mid-century Aranda shopping block. The establishment places an intense focus on strict regional sustainability, drawing ingredients directly from its own surrounding multi-tiered urban farm courtyard, beehives, and fruit orchards. It is highly celebrated for its curated list of boutique Canberra-district wines, local independent craft taps, and seasonal share-style grazing plates.

Tue–Thu 4–9PM, Fri–Sun 2–9PM (closed Mon)·Small plates $14–24, local wines from $11

1882 Hall

Email via online contact form. With a name commemorating the year the township was established, the largest restaurant in Hall serves some of the best Canberran food, beer, and wine. Mains include posh fish and chips, duck confit, and pumpkin gnocchi. They also do a creative woodfired pizza menu for eat-in or takeaway – potato and rosemary or garlic prawns, anyone?

Wed 5:30–10PM, Thu Fri; Sat Sun·Mains $30-40, pizza $23-25. Set menu (F Sa) 2 courses $55, 3 courses $65

1980 Chinese Restaurant

Spicy Ginger Café

A Sichuan restaurant best known for its cuimin lamb and chilli chicken. There's a good range of seafood too, and their quality often matches some of Canberra's high-end Asian restaurants in Dickson but for a reasonable price.

Tue–Sun, 5:30–9:30PM (closed Mondays)

ACT Memorial

Australian Capital Territory Memorial

A war memorial erected in August 2006 to honour those from the Australian Capital Territory who served in all wars.

ANCA Gallery

Australian National Capital Artists Gallery

This gallery's several exhibitions feature the work of local Canberran artists. Contrary to what most art galleries do, there is no emphasis on quality though in practice, what you see here is just as good as any other art gallery.

Wed–Sun noon–5PM (closed Mon Tue)

ANU School of Art & Design Gallery

Exhibits a variety of post-grad artworks, in particular contemporary art.

Tue–Fri·Free

Aboriginal Dreamings Gallery

An art centre exhibiting exclusively the finest of all Indigenous Australian art. Since its establishment in 1989, this art gallery has only showcased ethically sourced art – so not Indigenous art that was created by non-Indigenous people marketed as "Indigenous" (which is a common scam in Australia).

Sat Sun, Mon–Fri by appointment only

Ainslie Football & Social Club

This expansive community and sporting club has been a landmark of the inner north since 1927. Highly popular with local families and sporting fans, it features a massive main lounge, a busy sports bar with giant television screens, and a relaxed, spacious outdoor courtyard. The main bar pours very affordable draft beers and local wines, while the on-site "Limestone" restaurant serves up a great range of club favorites, wood-fired pizzas, and gourmet schnitzels.

Sun–Wed 10AM–midnight, Thu–Sat 10AM–2AM

Akiba

A modern Asian BBQ store with some great flavours and cocktails, particularly specialising in Japanese cuisine and barbecue. Do be aware the portions are very large – don't go ordering too much.

Mon–Wed 5–11PM; Thu–Sun 11:30AM–midnight

Arirang

Arirang Restaurant

Has great Korean flavours – Korean stews, soups, pancakes, chicken and BBQ. You guessed it, a classic Australian-Korean restaurant. However, the wait times have been said to be exceptionally long, so take that into consideration.

Thu–Mon 11:30AM–3PM, 5–10PM (closed Tue)

Artworld ADG

An Aboriginal art gallery that is sister to the Aboriginal Dreamings Gallery in Nicholls. It's a smaller version of the art gallery in Nicholls, but there are still plenty of Aboriginal artworks and artifacts on display. However, do note this place is not wheelchair accessible.

Fri

Asia Bookroom

A world-renowned, highly specialized independent bookstore. It deals extensively in new, second-hand, out-of-print, and ancient rare books and academic texts covering the entire Asian continent. The staff are exceptionally knowledgeable research experts.

Tue–Fri 10AM–5:30PM, Sat 10AM–5PM (closed Sun Mon)

Asian Noodle House

Some lower-range Asian noodles. Known for its laksa. However, it doesn't have a great reputation and there have been several reports of overcooked meals, but if you're on a budget, it's one of your few options available.

Daily,

Assembly

Located on the buzzing Lonsdale Street strip in Braddon, this massive and highly popular venue functions as a bustling neighbourhood hotspot from early morning until late at night. Boasting a beautiful, tree-shaded beer garden that is exceptionally popular for weekend drinks, the bar features a great list of local wines, seasonal cocktails, and craft beers. Serving a double duty as a popular breakfast cafe in the morning, the kitchen transitions into serving elevated pub classics, gourmet burgers, and sharing plates by lunch and dinner.

Mon–Thu 7AM–11PM, Fri 7AM–2AM, Sat Sun 7:30AM–2AM

Au Lac Dickson Vegan Cuisine

A mid-range vegan restaurant, and a rare sight in Canberra with delicious soy-based versions of everything. If you're not used to eating vegan cuisine but want to try, this place is a great place to start. Though this restaurant is in Canberra's de facto Chinatown, it's actually a Vietnamese restaurant, but there's plenty of other Southeast Asian dishes.

Aubergine Restaurant

Sister to Courgette Restaurant, the food is very good, but beware the cancellations policy when changing a booking - you could be charged for the meals your party did not eat. And as the name of the restaurant suggests, the restaurant specialises in eggplant based meals.

Wed–Sat 6–10PM

Australian Defence Force Academy

ADFA

While the grounds of ADFA are open to the public they are of little interest to travellers. There's an excellent collection of books on military history in the ADFA library, and the library also sometimes has small exhibitions of historic items on its upper level. If you happen to be around in the area on the last Saturday in August, the Academy's open day is worth checking out – it boasts interesting displays of current military hardware, including armoured vehicles and helicopters, and displays of military marching and infantry tactics by the cadets.

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

AIATSIS

A government institute where you can learn more about the culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. There's a strong emphasis on the Stolen Generation (a time where European settlers displaced Indigenous children from their families) along with National Sorry Day, but they only make up a part of the institute's 1 million items dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

Mon–Fri

Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Guided Tours

Guided public tours depart daily at 10AM, 11:30AM, 1PM, and 2:30PM. A 90-minute tour of Australia's premier elite athlete training precinct, led by competitive domestic athletes. The experience grants access to high-performance gymnastics halls, indoor athletic tracks, and testing labs. Every ticket includes admission to Sportex, an interactive sports exhibit featuring virtual reality simulators and memorabilia collections.

Adults $21.50, children $14

Australian Institute of Sport (Precinct & Visitor Centre)

AIS

The sprawling elite sports training campus where many of Australia’s Olympic and national champions are forged. Visitors can explore the public areas of the leafy precinct, browse the official AIS Shop, and grab a bite at the onsite cafe. The complex features 'Sportex', one of the country's leading interactive sports exhibits packed with elite athletic memorabilia and virtual simulators.

Visitor Centre & Sportex: Mon–Fri 8AM–5PM, Sat Sun 9:30AM–4PM·Precinct entry free; Sportex & guided tours: adults $21.50, children $14

Australian National Botanic Gardens

Located at the base of Black Mountain in Acton, the ANBG has the largest collection of Australian native flora in the country. It also has some interesting water dragons that live in the water features around the gardens. A delightful place for a picnic, try to grab some food from the city centre first to take with you for lunch. If you are there during summer, call and ask about the jazz evenings. These are held on the weekend and many families attend with evening picnic and champagne in tow, to chill out to the sounds of jazz in the balmy evening temperatures.

Daily·Free entry, parking $1.40/hr or $7 all day

Australian National Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre

The starting base of the park where many of the garden's trails branch out in all directions. Staff are known to be friendly, and the visitor centre also includes a bookshop selling botanical books.

Australian War Memorial

AWM

Not just a memorial, this is one of Australia's premier museums, covering Australian military history from the Federation to the present day and including fascinating exhibits of equipment, memorabilia, and battle dioramas. You could easily spend a full day here (it has a cafe, or bring a picnic lunch if the weather is nice and sit on the lawns at the front). Anzac Parade, leading up to the War Memorial has several memorials to different wars and those involved in wars. Free entry, allow 4–7 hours. The AWM opens its large storage warehouse in the industrial suburb of Mitchell to the public once every few years (usually in September or October), and this is a must-see event for people interested in military history. A Last Post Ceremony paying tribute to one of the soldiers on the Roll of Honour is held at 4:45PM every day, just before the memorial closes to the public for the day. Attendance at the ceremony is free but must be booked in advance due to the limited number of spaces. Every first and third Wednesday of the month from February to November, Australia's Federation Guard mounts a catafalque party at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier and performs a precision military drill as the catafalque party is dismounted as part of the Last Post Ceremony. The AWM is mid-way through a major expansion, and many of its galleries are closed.

Daily: museum 10AM-5PM, shop 10AM-4:30PM, café 9AM-4PM·Free

Axxe

Axxe - Urban Axe Throwing

It's a rather niche thing that you probably wouldn't usually think of doing daily, learn to throw steel axes onto wooden targets. Over 18s only, and bookings highly recommended.

Badger & Co

Located in the Kambri precinct on Joplin Lane, this massive, high-energy tavern is the official social anchor of the university campus. Boasting a massive footprint with multiple spacious indoor lounges and a vibrant outdoor deck, it features all-day free pool tables and a great casual atmosphere. The bar pours an extensive range of local craft beers and ciders on tap, while the kitchen serves up highly satisfying pub favorites like chicken parmigianas, loaded chipotle bowls, and hand-stretched pizzas at student-friendly prices.

Mon–Wed 8AM–11PM, Thu–Fri 8AM–midnight, Sat 11:30AM–midnight·beer from $8

Baker's Cut

Focusing entirely on the enduring appeal of a classic Australian sandwich, this fast-casual outlet leans into simple, transparent ingredients and fresh regional produce. They assemble a premium range of classic deli combinations utilizing artisanal breads, accompanied by gourmet yogurt cups, mixed fruit salads, seasonal frappes, and fresh cold-pressed juices. They are also highly favored by families for their unique, premium hot chocolate menu lines.

Mon-Fri & Sun 5AM-7:30PM, Sat 5AM-3PM·Sandwiches from $12

Bamiyan

A restaurant specialising in modern-Afghani cuisine, a cuisine that few have tried which is a mix of South Asian cuisine and Middle Eastern cuisine. Bookings aren't required, but are strongly recommended by either filling out a form on their website or by giving them a ring.

Sun–Thu noon–3PM, 5–9:30PM; Fri Sat noon–3PM, 5–10PM

Banksia Garden and Centre

Reflects the flora more seen in the coastal parts of mid-Western Australia, part of the Outback, and most of what is seen here requires quite a long drive from Perth. For the most part however, what you see here is much more colourful than the flora seen in the Red Centre garden. The nearby Banksia Centre is occasionally open, but not all the time.

Bar Beirut

This energetic venue in the heart of Garema Place is a love letter to the vibrant nightlife of Lebanon. Steered by charismatic owner Soumi, who cut his teeth in the underground club scene of Beirut, it serves up exceptional Middle Eastern mezze alongside some of the capital's most creative cocktails—including their signature cucumber and vanilla-infused Wasabi Martini. The vibe is highly social and feels like a sophisticated house party, topped off with live belly dancers and burlesque performers on Saturday evenings.

Tue–Sat 5PM–2AM·Cocktails from $20

Bar Rochford

Hidden upstairs on the first floor of the iconic 1920s heritage Melbourne Building, this acclaimed venue is a former winner of Gourmet Traveller’s Bar of the Year. Seamlessly blending industrial-chic concrete beams with stately green leather booths, the bar operates with a cool, unpretentious confidence. The exceptionally dynamic wine list focuses heavily on clean lo-fi, organic, and biodynamic producers from around the globe. The open kitchen serves up premium, Euro-leaning bistro dishes, while the bar staff spin vintage vinyl records late into the night.

Tue Wed 5–11PM, Thu 5PM–midnight, Fri Sat 5PM–1AM·Cocktails from $22