22 Canberra bars worthy of a tipple or two

Want to know where to find the best Canberra bars? The nation’s capital has a plethora of places that make for a sophisticated night out.

The best Canberra bars demonstrate the fact the nation’s capital is undergoing somewhat of a renaissance when it comes to its drinking scene. In addition to celebrating its three distinct wine regions, Canberra bars now showcase drinks produced by local distilleries, breweries and even a cider house.

In fact, we’re calling it. Canberra bars are some of Australia’s best. There’s no better place to satisfy your quench for a tipple or two. Explore the city’s museums, galleries, gardens and parliamentary attractions, then pull up a seat at one of these top bars.

1. Bar Rochford

Canberrans live rich lives. They are surrounded by nature and culture under big, vast skies in a city ranked as one of the best in the world for liveability. And life has got even better thanks to creatives such as Nick Smith, owner of Bar Rochford, which Good Food Guide described as ‘the best bar in Australia’.

Everything from the funky artwork to the elegant arched windows, turntables and bottle-green booths is on point. But as well as being a great boozer, Bar Rochford is to be commended for its food after being awarded one hat in the 2023 Good Food Guide.

Bar Rochford is tucked away in the iconic Melbourne Building in the heart of Canberra. And it’s full of hip young Canberrans who have been around the world and back again to sling spirits and vinyl in the city they grew up in.

Address: 65 London Circuit, Canberra ACT

2. Monster Kitchen & Bar

Monster Kitchen & Bar is a beast. It’s a behemoth of a place that is like a shrine to maximalism, with every little detail adding layers of colour and depth. It’s paradise for the bourgeoise, with oddly shaped fixtures and finishes that are an antidote to all the stuffy hotel lobbies in the land.

Ensconced in Ovolo Nishi, Monster Kitchen & Bar is much more nuanced than just Instagrammable clickbait. It’s kitsch. It’s kaleidoscopic. It has everything from pops of Barbiecore pink to the studied elegance of Mid-Century furniture.

It’s easy to digress when trying to digest this place. It’s a sugar rush of joy shot through a shotgun of cray-cray. The cocktails are a major part of this fun Canberra bar, but there’s also an extensive wine list showcasing both local and international tipples. Granted, the menu is plant-based, but you don’t have to keep coming back for more.

Address: 25 Edinburgh Avenue, Canberra ACT

3. Wakefield’s Bar & Wine

Ainslie locals have been heavily invested in Edgar’s Inn for decades. This Canberra bar is an institution. One of those buzzy little venues that you see dotted around Canberra’s satellite suburbs making everyone’s lives better. Wakefield’s Bar & Wine is a fairly recent and very welcome add-on to Edgar’s and The Inn and it’s all kinds of wonderful.

The warmly lit space has a list of more than 100 Australian wines and is a charming spot to stop in for considered bar bites in the leafy neighbourhood of Ainslie. Have a blustery walk around Lake Burley Griffin before heading into this wonderful venue with a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Besides being a real beauty, with bookcases and burnished bench tops arranged around an array of neat nooks, the food prepared by chef Steve Jacomos (ex-Saint Crispin) is bang on.

Address: 1 Edgar Street, Ainslie ACT

4. Capital Brewing Co.

Capital Brewing Co. is one of the largest independent craft breweries in Australia, and that’s just one of the reasons it’s on our radar. The brewpub was the first brewery in Australia to achieve B-Corp certification in August 2022 for its entire organisation, as well as its beers. That’s a good shout right there.

The brewery was opened by a bunch of active types who like to capitalise on the capital’s proximity to the mountains. That dedication to enjoying the backcountry was what inspired the team to pursue its eco credentials, certified by the Federal Government Climate Active accreditation. We’ll drink to that over a Coast Ale or two.

Address: 1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick ACT

5. Such and Such

It seems only fitting that a striking artwork by Scott Chaseling greets diners to Such and Such in Canberra. The art of bar-hopping has a lot to do with the ambience and Lacuna Trippy sets the tone: that fun is one of the fundamentals. Of course, the fact you can also eat really well here feels positively indulgent.

Such and Such is located in the cultural precinct near Canberra Theatre in Constitution Place. The bar and eatery is a lesson in colour; the many striking artworks on show pair seamlessly with a calming muted colour palette.

Designed by Mark Brook of mymymy interiors, the space is divided into a bar, main dining room and private space defined by dramatic green velvet drapery. The bar and restaurant are designed to be the kind of place where you can drop in for a bevvy and bite or sit down to a low-key dinner.

The focus of the wine list is on interesting Aussie and international wines: trust the waiters when they steer you into unknown territory. Clever cooking. Great cocktails. Fun staff. There’s much to love.

Address: 220 London Circuit, Canberra ACT

6. The Pearl

Getting around to all of Canberra’s sites of national importance is thirsty work. We recommend heading to The Pearl, a magical spot for a few cocktails in the heart of Canberra’s CBD.

The Pearl occupies the ground floor of a two-storey space that is also home to red-hot restaurant Wilma upstairs. Fitted out with woven rattan pendants and a rooftop sprouting with greenery, this really is a gorgeous place for a pint or two.

You will find scores of locals here milling about for after-work drinks. And students who come here to kick on during happy hour. The Asian-inspired cocktail bar is as playful as the restaurant upstairs and a great place to perch before or after dinner. We’re hot for anywhere that has hair-of-the-dog cocktails and snag sangas to boot. Do your Civic duty. Go get it.

Address: 1 Genge Street, Canberra ACT

7. Inari

This inspired restaurant and bar is part of Canberra’s cool Tiger Lane precinct, one of the hottest places to wine and dine in the city. The restaurant is a flashback to 1960s Japanese retro-futurism and, as well as creating cult dishes like popcorn shrimp and miso eggplant, has killer cocktails to match.

Shaun Presland has named the restaurant after the Japanese god of rice, Inari, so expect some incredible sake and cocktails in this fun and lively venue, which has added a splash of neon-bright colour to Canberra. Presland is also about provenance, and part of that #supportlocal plan is to source rice grown in the nearby Murrumbidgee and Murray valleys of NSW.

Address: 148 Bunda Street, Canberra ACT

8. Public Bar

Public is a modern pub located in the happening precinct of Manuka. In addition to the Public Dining Room, one of the most family-friendly restaurants in Canberra, there’s a sprawling pub and modern beer garden overlooking the suburb’s streetscape.

Public has an extensive selection of spirits and liqueurs, tasty cocktails and an unrivalled wine list. Pop into the chic bar upstairs to enjoy a drink with a view. Or join the lovely locals downstairs, who take advantage of the happy hour specials from Monday to Thursday – 3 pm to 5 pm, don’t miss it!

Address: 1-33 Flinders Way, Griffith ACT

9. Dear Prudence

Dear Prudence, won’t you come out to play? The lyrics to the Beatles’ song Dear Prudence are what inspired the name of this bar, which is located in an elegant corner of Verity Lane Market under the arched curves of the iconic Sydney Building. We will definitely come out to play for Dear Prudence, where staff are quick to help you choose from an extensive range of aperitifs, cocktails, wines and more.

The dimly lit bar off a reimagined laneway is the kind of cosy space you’d find in the back streets of Barcelona. It’s all exposed brickwork and original wooden rafters, whispering stories about the building and its past. Choose from a concise menu of Spanish-style small plates designed to share, then linger longer for some of the best cocktails you’ll ever have.

Address: 100 Alinga Street, Canberra ACT

10. Leyla Rooftop Bar

Designed by award-winning Sydney firm Luchetti Krelle, Leyla is the rooftop bar in Canberra we didn’t know we needed. By day, Leyla operates as a sunlit cafe and lounge for guests of the Burbury Hotel. But come nightfall, she puts feathers in her hair and becomes a showgirl, transforming into a sophisticated cocktail bar.

From the dramatic entranceway to the light-filled interiors, the designers have gone to town with the highly sculptural space, which is defined by beautiful curves, statement skylights and a retro-futuristic bar. Leyla was nominated for the 2022 Eat Drink Design Awards and we think the greenery in the ceiling and the back-lit onyx behind the bar helped give it some gold stars.

The bartenders here will take great care of you, stirring and shaking your drinks to perfection. Whether you opt for one of the divine signature cocktails, a lovely glass or vino or one of the many martini options, you’re sure to order round two at Leyla’s.

Address: 18 National Circuit, Barton ACT

11. High Jinks

Want to get up to some mischief in the nation’s capital? Head to the bar named after a term that translates to ‘boisterous or rambunctious carryings-on’. Despite being hidden down at basement level in the heart of the city, word is well and truly out about High Jinks, which won ACT Cocktail Bar of the Year in 2021 and 2022.

Wander through the garden opposite the Ovolo Nishi and head for the elevator to find this dinky bar, located in the buzzy cultural precinct of New Acton. The wine list is limited to Canberra district wines only, and the concise menu of cocktails uses everything from soda water to shrubs to enhance the drinking experience. Bar bites are also done right: pass the chicken wings and a slice of pizza, please.

Address: 15 Edinburgh Avenue, Canberra ACT

12. Capitol Bar & Grill

The new glamorous side of downtown Canberra is evident in this dark and moody bar, located at the swanky QT Canberra. Capitol Bar & Grill shows off the city’s suave side, with everyone from students to Canberra’s A-list making a beeline here to talk about internationally important goings-on.

The central bar is open on all sides and there are beautiful banquettes, bar stools and outdoor seating to choose from. The food has an American accent, with a focus on wood-fired theatrics and mouth-watering prime steak cuts.

Think classic cocktails and cool music at this atmospheric bar. There’s a positively swirling wine list curated by Sommelier Ashleigh Smith, as well as signature cocktails, spirits, tap beer and ‘drinkable desserts’.

Address: 1 London Circuit, Canberra ACT

13. Loquita

Did someone say mezcal? Well, shang those smoky, strong aromas up your nostrils. Loquita is low-key lovely. Mezcaleros have been brandishing bottles of this potent spirit since distillation began in the late 16th century.

Drinking mezcal is an experience. Embrace the complexity of this lesser-known liquid in between nibbles of tried and tested tacos, which are also infused with tradition. Feel the pull of Mexico in this pretty pink, pared-down setting which is all mod Mexican minimalist chic: think polished concrete floors, clusters of cacti, alcoves and arches. The sister bar to Wilma and Pearl is a must-visit.

Address: 17 Garema Place, Canberra ACT

14. Bacaro

Find the dinky lane off Lonsdale Street marked with a red neon light and you’ll literally stumble into Bacaro. This tucked-away small bar attached like a sidecar to Italian & Sons is full of stalwart supporters. Some are waiting for a table at the restaurant, others are just here for the banging cocktails.

Once you’re inside, sidle up to the marble-topped bar and order an amaro and a selection from the enviable list of antipasti. Bacaro also has a massive wine selection with its own range of reds and whites, which you’d be silly not to try. The speakeasy is modelled on an Italian-style bar and is moody and elegant in an understated way, with a wood-fired oven at its heart adding to the atmosphere.

Address: 7 Lonsdale Street, Braddon ACT

15. Molly Bar

Molly Bar is a chic, well-designed throwback to the Prohibition era and a dark, discreet place to go when you’re in party mode. It’s all rhythm and booze when you stop for a tipple at the swinging jazz club that hosts local musos each week.

The theme is strictly 1920s, so this is certainly the place for you if you like to stick to the classics when it comes to cocktails. Devotees of dive bars will enjoy the speakeasy vibe at the bar, which is tucked secretively behind a doorway in Odgers Lane. The backlit bar is like a private parlour and the laid-back ambience encourages you to linger.

Address: Odgers Lane, Canberra ACT

16. Highball Express

If you can’t get to Cuba this year, head to Canberra’s Highball Express instead. There’s nothing clandestine about ordering cocktails muddled up from the countless varieties of rum on offer. The colourful bar speaks to Canberra’s remarkable renaissance as a destination for drinking and dining.

Known for its cocktails, punches and exotic rums, Highball Express pays homage to a time when thirsty Americans made their way to Cuba and landed in paradise. Shake it up with a cocktail class, or opt in for Golden Hour from 5 pm to 6 pm, which offers one for one daiquiris. With its pops of watermelon pink and mint green, this buzzing bar is perfect for a night out in pretend Havana.

Address: 75 London Circuit, Canberra ACT

17. The Old Canberra Inn

You no longer have to tether your horse to the posts at the front of The Old Canberra Inn. These days, there’s a car park out the back of the coach house, which was built in 1857. This atmospheric, low-ceilinged pub in Lyneham is now a fun, family-friendly flophouse with a leafy beer garden and a more sophisticated take on pub food.

It may be old, but the pub has a list of new craft beers from independent, Australian breweries on heavy rotation. There’s also a well curated wine and spirits list, as well as food the whole family can enjoy. It’s the perfect Sunday out.

Address: 195 Mouat Street, Lyneham ACT

18. Joe’s Bar

Joe’s Bar gives a wry wink to Canberra’s Brutalist architecture with its custom concrete curtain a stunning centre piece. The dramatic curtain, conceptualised by Kelly Ross of Kelly Ross Design, contributes to the bar’s theatrical and quirky vibe and is perfect for the brand that bills itself as ‘the small bar celebrating big things’.

Located on the ground floor of the East Hotel, the colourful, quirky lobby bar is mobbed by locals and guests who want to muse about art, society and politics. Linger over some classic cocktails and Italian fare with fellow nocturnal types. The bar is a little bit extra, with vivid velvet furnishings, a marble bar and striking light fixtures. You’ll fit right in.

Address: 69 Canberra Avenue, Griffith ACT

19. Bar Beirut

Bar Beirut is a love letter to Lebanon. Established by owner and bartender Soumi Tannous, who learned his craft in the underground nightclub scene of war-torn Beirut, the bar is, says Soumi, like the country’s buzzing capital: welcoming and cosmopolitan.

Soumi says people who like to party describe Beirut as the ‘Paris of the Middle East’. And his aim is to bring people together with music and dance and rebrand his beloved home as a sophisticated and vibrant place to be. The lighting is enticing, the bar a dazzle of pink-painted walls. Enjoy big, punchy flavours that marry the Middle East with the Mediterranean and sip on a drink of your choice to match.

Address: 25 Garema Place, Canberra ACT

20. Hippo Co.

The best Canberra bars of today look a lot different to some of the capital’s hot spots from the 90s, when grunge was having its heyday. Hippo Co. transports hipsters and lovers of jazz and whisky to the Prohibition era in the American midwest.

A couple of decades on, you can still don a flanno and feel right at home in this Canberra bar, which has been going strong since the noughties. The dimly lit space has a hunting lodge vibe with warm timbers, well-loved leather sofas, Art Deco fittings and taxidermic creatures.

Although the bar had a revamp about a decade ago, the focus on whiskies remains. Like many of Canberra’s bars, there’s also live music, with a tight menu of whisky-forward drinks and inventive cocktails.

Address: 1/17 Garema Place, Canberra ACT

21. Bentspoke Brewing Co.

Everyone loves a brewery. And Bentspoke Brewing Co is one of Canberra’s most celebrated. The charming industrial-style beer hall has been welcoming thirsty patrons since 2014 and is a stalwart of the Australian beer scene.

Owner Richard Watkins has twice been crowned Australian Champion Brewer, and together with partner Tracy Margrain has opened a production-scale brewery in Canberra. And while this means you can get BentSpoke bevvies outside the nation’s capital, it’s worth paying them a visit.

Want a big full-flavoured brew to enjoy at one of the best drinking dens in Canberra? We rank the Crankshaft. And so do those beer geeks who voted it No. 1 in GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers Poll in 2020 and 2021. Once your glass is empty, there’s plenty more to choose from.

Address: 38 Mort Street, Braddon ACT

22. Paranormal Wines

Paranormal Wines looks pretty stock-standard from the outside. But, using the powers of telekinesis, a Canberran clairvoyant told us there’s paranormal powers at play here that go beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding.

A quick browse of the Paranormal Wines website and you’ll see a predilection for pink things writ large. This space is not for mere mortals. Rather, it’s for those who also like pink things, fizzy things, orange things and bright things.

Don’t wait for the planets to align. Add this to your itinerary of Canberra bars to sample interesting drops and start your journey toward becoming a bona fide oenophile. Sit, sip and enjoy cheese, charcuterie and premium tinned fish to accompany your organic wine.

Address: G27/6 Provan Street, Campbell ACT

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