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Go-to Dining Spots: The Best Restaurants in Canberra
From casual to luxe, these are the best restaurants in Canberra for a delicious dining experience.
Canberra’s best restaurants now span open-flame steakhouses, hibachi fine dining and laneway wine bars, think 7 Cutz Steakhouse in the CBD for budget-friendly grilled cuts, Azuma Den in Griffith for Japanese-Korean hibachi, and VICE on Odgers Lane for reverse-seared wagyu. It’s fair to say the ever-evolving Canberra is becoming a dining destination in its own right, and we’re mighty proud. There’s Italian, Japanese, Mexican, and every cuisine in between, from fine dining joints to casual haunts and pasta bars to tasting menu extravaganzas, it’s all right here.
Struggling to pick? Not to worry, use this edit as a guide, and you can’t go wrong. Read on for the best restaurants in Canberra.
In This Guide:
- Best Restaurants in Canberra for Fine Dining and Special Occasions
- Best Japanese Restaurants in Canberra
- Best Steak and Grill Restaurants in Canberra
- Best Italian Restaurants in Canberra
- Best Casual and Neighbourhood Restaurants in Canberra
- Frequently Asked Questions about Canberra’s Best Restaurants
Best Restaurants in Canberra for Fine Dining and Special Occasions
VICE
In a narrow laneway off Canberra’s city core, VICE waits behind discreet signage and a velvet curtain on Odgers Lane. Inside, low light washes over inky-blue walls, aged timber and leather chairs made for slow evenings. Oversized portraits of worldly “nuns” set a playful, provocative tone, hinting at the indulgence ahead. Focaccia lands at the table beside a quail-tallow candle, its slow melt releasing a rich, savoury drizzle over each torn piece. Even the cheeseburger — dry-aged beef layered with Egmont cheese — oozes that same sense of craft. The ritual centres on a reverse-seared, on-the-bone rib-eye — wagyu or dry-aged — approved at the table before it meets the fire. Lavish sides and a whiskey-spritzed vanilla flan complete Canberra’s most seductive new restaurant.
Suburb: Canberra
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Best For: Date night, special occasion, cocktail lovers
Lunetta, Red Hill
Lunetta has quickly become Canberra’s talk-of-the-town, (and for good reason). Located atop the iconic Red Hill Lookout, the restaurant blends refined Italian fare with fire-driven cooking and panoramic city views.
Its restoration has won design accolades, and its seasonal menu, which features locally sourced produce and wood-fired techniques, showcases both elegance and authenticity. Lunetta’s debut was crowned Best New Restaurant in The Sitchu Awards 2025 which is a definitive nod to its ambition, quality, and the experience it delivers.
Suburb: Red Hill
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Italian
Best For: Special occasion, date night, outdoor dining, group dining
Pilot.
Pilot. is hidden away in the Ainslie shops, but behind its mysterious facade lies a beautiful dining space filled with dark wood, warm lighting and rich velvet. The whole dining experience is rather exciting from start to finish. While you do know you’re in for a seven-course degustation, you don’t know what kind of food you’ll be enjoying until you arrive on the night.
Suburb: Ainslie
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Australian
Best For: Date night, special occasion
The Inn (Image Credit: Megann Evans)
The Inn
The Inn has an intimate feel in a space that is sophisticated yet unpretentious with a wood-lined bar, raw concrete walls, brass embellishments and luxe finishings. Perfect for a dinner date or a group celebration, this Ainslie favourite offers both a la carte and a set menu with snacks, starters and mains that champion local produce.
Suburb: Ainslie
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Date night, special occasion, group dining
Need To Know: Both a la carte and set menu options are available.
Corella
Right across the road from their sister, Assembly, Corella offers fine dining, elegance and blow-your-mind cocktails. The décor is chic and inviting, with soft pastel greens and a pop of blush. Inside seating is intimate, with only 30 seats. Warmer weather promises meals and drinks shared outside as you watch the world go by.
Suburb: Braddon
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Date night, special occasion, cocktail lovers, outdoor dining
Need To Know: Only 30 indoor seats — bookings recommended.
Best Japanese Restaurants in Canberra
Azuma Den
Azuma Den rewrites the rulebook on hotel dining. Hidden inside East Hotel, it feels less like a hotel restaurant and more like a polished, fire-lit sanctuary where Japanese finesse meets Korean depth. The hibachi takes centre stage, sending out plates that balance smoke, acidity and precision — flamed scallops, charcoal-kissed meats, clever plant-led sides. The room glows, the service is excellent, and the whole experience lands at a calibre that rivals Canberra’s destination restaurants rather than its lobby ones.
Suburb: Griffith
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Japanese
Best For: Date night, special occasion, group dining
Raku
If you love Japanese food, you will love Raku. End of story. One of the best Japanese restaurants in town, you best order the tasting menu if you can’t decide what to eat. (Quietly, their Nasu Dengaku is sublime.) The atmosphere is also quite romantic, making it perfect for a couple’s outing.
Suburb: Civic
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Japanese
Best For: Date night, special occasion
Need To Know: Tasting menu recommended if you can’t decide what to order.
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Best Steak and Grill Restaurants in Canberra
7 Cutz Steakhouse
After building devoted regulars in Wollongong and Newcastle, husband-and-wife team Savi Dutta and Sneha Dev have opened their third and biggest 7 Cutz inside Canberra Centre… and it might just be their most ambitious one yet. Savi’s seven-step signature method (cut selection, seasoning, temperature, grill marking, flipping, resting, finishing) is the backbone of everything here, with every steak and rib cooked over open flame for maximum flavour. The South African-inspiration runs through the menu too, with peri peri king prawns, chimichurri and a whopping 1.3kg tomahawk, (which is very much built for the table rather than a solo mission). But the biggest surprise of all? Steaks start from just $36 which means it doesn’t have to be a once-a-year situation, and honestly, that’s music to our ears.
Suburb: Canberra
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Best For: Group dining, special occasion, budget-friendly, weekend plans
Need To Know: The 1.3kg tomahawk is designed for sharing, not a solo serve.
Southbound Clubhouse & Grill, Greenway
Not just a club restaurant, Southbound Clubhouse & Grill is a three-part dining destination bringing together family favourites, a coal-fired grill, and a café in one expansive space. The family restaurant “Henry’s” offers elevated comfort food and a kid-friendly menu, while the Parrilla Grill impresses with smoky-seared meats cooked over coals. Add in the café with house-made cakes and breakfasts, plus big screens for viewing the game, and you’ve got a stylish, all-ages hub that’s unafraid to do a little bit of everything.
Suburb: Greenway
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Families, group dining, weekend plans
Best Italian Restaurants in Canberra
Andre’s Osteria, Weston
The warm and welcoming spirit of the Mediterranean has landed in Weston Creek with Andre’s Osteria; the dream restaurant of young local restaurateur Andre Wilks. Designed in olive-green tones with wood accents, it’s a neighbourhood dining room and wine bar that feels personal yet polished. The menu is focused, with handmade pasta (like mafaldine with lamb ragu), seasonal produce and serves a very heartfelt dessert in Andre’s mum’s chocolate mousse. It’s no surprise Andre’s Osteria was the runner-up for Best New Restaurant in The Sitchu Awards 2025 — it’s that good.
Suburb: Weston
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Italian
Best For: Date night, locals, group dining
Bar Lola, Verity Lane / Civic
Bar Lola brings La Dolce Vita to Verity Lane with retro elegance, candlelight energy and a timeless Italian menu. The vibe is inspired by 1950s/60s Italian glamour (hello, Gina Lollobrigida), and the food delivers on that promise: freshly made pasta, seasonal antipasti, and a curated aperitivo list that leans into spritzes and classic cocktails. It’s the perfect spot for an intimate dinner, a post-theatre feed, or a long Italian lunch.
Suburb: Civic
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Italian
Best For: Date night, wine lovers, cocktail lovers, long lunch
Best Casual and Neighbourhood Restaurants in Canberra
Clover Dining, Civic
Clover Dining is where Japanese and Italian cuisine meet in a surprisingly harmonious fusion. Located on London Circuit, this restaurant leans into “wafu Italian” (delicate Japanese flavour, comforting Italian texture) all through a menu that feels fresh, creative and deeply considered. Think delicate seafood, umami-rich sauces, and shared dishes designed for conversation. The interiors are relaxed yet refined, making Clover the kind of place you’ll return to for both casual dinners and special nights out.
Suburb: Civic
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Asian fusion
Best For: Date night, special occasion, group dining
Minima
This cosy, moody restaurant and wine bar showcases share plates that celebrate third-culture cuisine — blending the heritage of brothers Mork and Ben with the culture they grew up in. Expect bold, vibrant dishes inspired by the Chinese diaspora and Southeast Asian flavours.
Suburb: Yarralumla
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Asian fusion
Best For: Wine lovers, group dining, locals
Wilma
Wilma is a progressive Asian barbecue restaurant, that uses rich Australian ingredients to create a crowd-pleasing menu. Think prawn and chicken larb, sticky eggplant, truffle and egg fried rice, and Balmain bug with egg noodles, chilli and coriander. Of course, the big winner here is their barbecue; they’ve got everything from char sui pork to hot smoked black bean and chilli beef short rib.
Suburb: Canberra
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Asian fusion
Best For: Group dining, locals, weekend plans
Such and Such
From the team behind award-winning Canberra hotspot, Pilot, comes Such and Such, your friendly neighbourhood watering hole in the heart of the nation’s capital. An all-day restaurant with a focus on wine and chilled vibes. Drop in for a snack and a glass of vino or a laid-back lunch or dinner.
Suburb: Canberra
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Wine bar
Best For: Long lunch, wine lovers, locals, quick bite
Need To Know: Open all day for a quick glass of wine or a full meal.
Rebel Rebel
Rebel Rebel is loved by working locals for in-between meetings/ casual catchups. Their food is unique but still works perfectly when you want something quick. Ie. fancy a beef tartare for lunch? Or maybe you want to start your day with their cacao pops? If you can grab yourself a seat, it’s worth the wait.
Suburb: Canberra
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Business lunch, quick bite, locals
Frequently Asked Questions about Canberra’s Best Restaurants
Canberra’s standout special-occasion restaurants include VICE on Odgers Lane, known for its reverse-seared wagyu and dry-aged rib-eye service, and Lunetta in Red Hill, which pairs fire-driven Italian cooking with panoramic views from the Red Hill Lookout. Both offer the kind of considered, elevated experience suited to marking a milestone. Corella in Braddon is another strong option, with an intimate 30-seat dining room and a cocktail list built for celebration.
Azuma Den at East Hotel in Griffith brings hibachi-style Japanese cooking with Korean influences, while Raku in Civic is a long-running favourite for tasting menus and standout dishes like its nasu dengaku. Both suit diners after precision and quiet romance over volume, and are worth booking ahead for.
7 Cutz Steakhouse in the CBD stands out for value, with steaks starting from $36 despite its ambitious, flame-grilled menu. For a casual bite between meetings, Rebel Rebel offers quick, distinctive dishes without the wait time of a full sit-down restaurant.
Southbound Clubhouse & Grill in Greenway is built for groups, combining a family restaurant, a coal-fired grill and a café with big screens in one space. 7 Cutz Steakhouse also suits larger tables, particularly around its 1.3kg tomahawk, which is designed to be shared rather than eaten solo.
Lunetta in Red Hill and Andre’s Osteria in Weston were the winner and runner-up for Best New Restaurant at the Sitchu Awards 2025. Lunetta pairs Italian cooking with wood-fired technique and city views, while Andre’s Osteria offers a warmer, neighbourhood take on Mediterranean food with handmade pasta and a personal touch from owner Andre Wilks.
Eaten your way through the best of Canberra’s restaurants and food scene and ready for a little more? Check out our family-friendly guide to Canberra, or if you fancy a drink, take a look through our edit of the best bars in Canberra.
