Rachel’s guidebook
Sightseeing
Museo Nacional de Australia
Lawson CrescentNational Gallery of Australia
Parkes Place EastGalería Nacional de Retratos
King Edward TerraceAustralian War Memorial
Treloar Crescent (top of Anzac Parade)Mount Ainslie Lookout
20 Mount Ainslie Dr
Gallery of small things
27 Wade St
Canberra Theatre Centre
London CircuitCanberra Theatre Centre
London CircuitFood scene
Located right next to the Downer playing fields, Gang Gang is the perfect place to share a morning brew with your pooch (I’m looking at you puppuccinos). The menu is hard to resist—think brioche French toast with caramelised apples, butterscotch sauce and cream, seasonal salads and hearty burgers. Delish! Oh, and this humble café transforms into a live music bar at night—it’s the perfect little local that gives a platform to our local artists. What more could you want?
6 personas locales recomiendan
Gang Gang Cafe and bar
2 Frencham PlLocated right next to the Downer playing fields, Gang Gang is the perfect place to share a morning brew with your pooch (I’m looking at you puppuccinos). The menu is hard to resist—think brioche French toast with caramelised apples, butterscotch sauce and cream, seasonal salads and hearty burgers. Delish! Oh, and this humble café transforms into a live music bar at night—it’s the perfect little local that gives a platform to our local artists. What more could you want?
The Knox Made in Watson
13 Watson PlIt’s edgy, sophisticated and it’s hipster central. Highroad’s high-end aesthetic is a modern escape in the heart of Canberra’s Chinatown. With locally-sourced ingredients and a menu infused with innovation, Highroad isn’t one you leave in a hurry.
10 personas locales recomiendan
Highroad
1 Woolley StIt’s edgy, sophisticated and it’s hipster central. Highroad’s high-end aesthetic is a modern escape in the heart of Canberra’s Chinatown. With locally-sourced ingredients and a menu infused with innovation, Highroad isn’t one you leave in a hurry.
For almost 35 years, generations of Canberrans have been retreating into the womb-like comfort of Tilley’s.
Dark wood and glossy maroon paint turns this rather cavernous space—it used to be the place to go for live music before it turned its focus to café operations—into something warm and intimate. Behind a long bar, a bustling all-female staff wear crisp white shirts and ties as they juggle orders ranging from quick coffees to gourmet food for long wine and jazz-soaked dinners.
The female staff is a link to the establishment’s ground-breaking history as Canberra’s first women’s space when it opened its large brass-handled doors in 1984. Men were originally allowed entry only when they were accompanied by a female companion—leading to all sorts of opprobrium. Having felt she made her point, trailblazing owner Paulie Higgisson loosened the policy and welcomed all respectful patrons to her establishment.
Tilley’s has subsequently established itself as part of the fabric of the city. Always open, always bustling, accepting of students through to pensioners— some of whom have standing table reservations every Saturday night when the stage lights up for live jazz—Tilley’s is a calming place for a long chat and a wind-down. It presents consistently good food on the fancier side of gastro-pub fare, in portions that are always value for money. There’s a specials board every day where seasonal dishes feature and a good selection of local beers and wines.
There is, honestly, nothing quite like it.
39 personas locales recomiendan
Tilley's Devine Cafe Gallery
Wattle StreetFor almost 35 years, generations of Canberrans have been retreating into the womb-like comfort of Tilley’s.
Dark wood and glossy maroon paint turns this rather cavernous space—it used to be the place to go for live music before it turned its focus to café operations—into something warm and intimate. Behind a long bar, a bustling all-female staff wear crisp white shirts and ties as they juggle orders ranging from quick coffees to gourmet food for long wine and jazz-soaked dinners.
The female staff is a link to the establishment’s ground-breaking history as Canberra’s first women’s space when it opened its large brass-handled doors in 1984. Men were originally allowed entry only when they were accompanied by a female companion—leading to all sorts of opprobrium. Having felt she made her point, trailblazing owner Paulie Higgisson loosened the policy and welcomed all respectful patrons to her establishment.
Tilley’s has subsequently established itself as part of the fabric of the city. Always open, always bustling, accepting of students through to pensioners— some of whom have standing table reservations every Saturday night when the stage lights up for live jazz—Tilley’s is a calming place for a long chat and a wind-down. It presents consistently good food on the fancier side of gastro-pub fare, in portions that are always value for money. There’s a specials board every day where seasonal dishes feature and a good selection of local beers and wines.
There is, honestly, nothing quite like it.
My Rainbow Dreams in Dickson is a vegetarian café that could convince even the most committed carnivore to try its luscious salad wraps (rainbow being the word given that they cram vegetables of every colour in them) or a rotating menu of rich curries and stews (which you can grab boxed for taking away). Don’t forget the healthful sweet treats and baked goods on the counter. It’s no wonder it’s an always-busy place in the heart of the Dickson shopping centre.
6 personas locales recomiendan
My Rainbow-Dreams
25 Dickson PlMy Rainbow Dreams in Dickson is a vegetarian café that could convince even the most committed carnivore to try its luscious salad wraps (rainbow being the word given that they cram vegetables of every colour in them) or a rotating menu of rich curries and stews (which you can grab boxed for taking away). Don’t forget the healthful sweet treats and baked goods on the counter. It’s no wonder it’s an always-busy place in the heart of the Dickson shopping centre.
Noodle lovers rejoice! This little gem has it all (and at a reasonable price, might we add). The menu is bursting with flavours and surprising combinations—and you’ll have to believe us when we say you’ll be hard-pressed to make quick decisions. The vegetable crispy noodles is a personal favourite, while their laksa is what the crowds come for. You won’t find finer in Malaysia (trust us, we actually checked).
27 personas locales recomiendan
Dickson Asian Noodle House
29 Woolley StNoodle lovers rejoice! This little gem has it all (and at a reasonable price, might we add). The menu is bursting with flavours and surprising combinations—and you’ll have to believe us when we say you’ll be hard-pressed to make quick decisions. The vegetable crispy noodles is a personal favourite, while their laksa is what the crowds come for. You won’t find finer in Malaysia (trust us, we actually checked).
A huge menu, fast service and the freshest ingredients, makes Pho Phu Quoc Vietnamese Restaurant a winner in our circles for decades. It is a testament to the simplicity of a dish that you can order it hundreds of times and never get sick of it, and in Pho Phu Quoc’s case, the fresh rice paper rolls, pepper fish, and salt and pepper squid all stand the test of time. Make sure to order a mango shake to wash it all down. You’re honestly spoilt for options.
11 personas locales recomiendan
Pho Phu Quoc Vietnamese Restaurant
5 Badham StA huge menu, fast service and the freshest ingredients, makes Pho Phu Quoc Vietnamese Restaurant a winner in our circles for decades. It is a testament to the simplicity of a dish that you can order it hundreds of times and never get sick of it, and in Pho Phu Quoc’s case, the fresh rice paper rolls, pepper fish, and salt and pepper squid all stand the test of time. Make sure to order a mango shake to wash it all down. You’re honestly spoilt for options.
With quality coffee and local art on offer, Folks Galley is a refreshing change of pace. Their small but mighty menu is filled with fresh, hard-to-resist flavours, but the best part is with every bite you can also feast your eyes on art from throughout the region. There are simply too many little gems that live within this big one.
Folks Gallery
6 Cape StreetWith quality coffee and local art on offer, Folks Galley is a refreshing change of pace. Their small but mighty menu is filled with fresh, hard-to-resist flavours, but the best part is with every bite you can also feast your eyes on art from throughout the region. There are simply too many little gems that live within this big one.
Moo & Chick has all the warmth and bonhomie of a little suburban meeting place. At the hands of their Classic French-trained head chef, you will experience fresh, high-quality ingredients and uncompromised details. From an abundance of avocado sliced artfully over toast and ‘made twice per day’ hollandaise sauce, this delightful café will quickly become your latest obsession.
Moo & Chick
28 Challis StreetMoo & Chick has all the warmth and bonhomie of a little suburban meeting place. At the hands of their Classic French-trained head chef, you will experience fresh, high-quality ingredients and uncompromised details. From an abundance of avocado sliced artfully over toast and ‘made twice per day’ hollandaise sauce, this delightful café will quickly become your latest obsession.
Nestled in the heart of the Dickson dining precinct, The Canberra Wine House is a love note to all things local. Subtle, intricate and naturally alluring, this hidden gem is where life slows down, allowing you to pause momentarily and soak up all the delicious details.
7 personas locales recomiendan
The Canberra Wine House
2 Badham StNestled in the heart of the Dickson dining precinct, The Canberra Wine House is a love note to all things local. Subtle, intricate and naturally alluring, this hidden gem is where life slows down, allowing you to pause momentarily and soak up all the delicious details.
The talented team at Two Sisters bring to life the delicious cuisines of Laos and Thailand with a menu that pays homage to authentic flavours (and is imbued with fresh ingredients). Sit back and enjoy the tastes of this generational exchange. Yum duck anyone?
Two Sisters Lao Thai Cuisine
38 Badham StreetThe talented team at Two Sisters bring to life the delicious cuisines of Laos and Thailand with a menu that pays homage to authentic flavours (and is imbued with fresh ingredients). Sit back and enjoy the tastes of this generational exchange. Yum duck anyone?
Established back in 2001 to become a “local” for the People’s Republic of Ainslie, Edgar’s now pulls loyal crowds from right across the city—particularly when a big game of footy hits its large screens.
Owner Frank Condi has helped spawn a raft of pubs and clubs around Canberra—Public and Academy among them—but he reckons Edgar’s has that right mix of community and connection.
Some may call it something of a distraction—particularly when they are dispatched to grab bread and milk from the Ainslie IGA only to walk past a table of mates enjoying a chilled glass of something-or-other. It would be churlish not to pull up a stool and check in to see that everyone is OK, wouldn’t it?
With a capacity of 100 outdoors, and a more intimate inside space of 75 within a mainly wood- themed interior, Edgar’s buzzes on the weekend with brunch- goers, and late-afternoon drinkers soaking up the ambience of the live musicians who play there.
With a view of Mount Ainslie, and pizza flowing freely from the next- door pizza oven at Mama Dough, it’s hard to resist some nights.
Food is simple and hearty, and the beer selection is broad. Coffees are queue-worthy of a weekday morning and there’s no judgement if you linger for hours over one drink. It’s a corner where the pace slows down a little.
Frank loves that it’s a meeting place where often the temptation to order dinner rather than cook at home overcomes people as they walk past. So a spontaneous meal—such as a burger, or slow-cooked lamb and couscous— it is. It’s likely to be speckled with lots of conversations and your neighbours sitting nearby. Ainslie has never had it better.
27 personas locales recomiendan
Edgar's Inn
1 Edgar StEstablished back in 2001 to become a “local” for the People’s Republic of Ainslie, Edgar’s now pulls loyal crowds from right across the city—particularly when a big game of footy hits its large screens.
Owner Frank Condi has helped spawn a raft of pubs and clubs around Canberra—Public and Academy among them—but he reckons Edgar’s has that right mix of community and connection.
Some may call it something of a distraction—particularly when they are dispatched to grab bread and milk from the Ainslie IGA only to walk past a table of mates enjoying a chilled glass of something-or-other. It would be churlish not to pull up a stool and check in to see that everyone is OK, wouldn’t it?
With a capacity of 100 outdoors, and a more intimate inside space of 75 within a mainly wood- themed interior, Edgar’s buzzes on the weekend with brunch- goers, and late-afternoon drinkers soaking up the ambience of the live musicians who play there.
With a view of Mount Ainslie, and pizza flowing freely from the next- door pizza oven at Mama Dough, it’s hard to resist some nights.
Food is simple and hearty, and the beer selection is broad. Coffees are queue-worthy of a weekday morning and there’s no judgement if you linger for hours over one drink. It’s a corner where the pace slows down a little.
Frank loves that it’s a meeting place where often the temptation to order dinner rather than cook at home overcomes people as they walk past. So a spontaneous meal—such as a burger, or slow-cooked lamb and couscous— it is. It’s likely to be speckled with lots of conversations and your neighbours sitting nearby. Ainslie has never had it better.