Discover The Sitchu Awards 2025 Winners – Australian Capital Territory

The 2025 Sitchu Awards winners are in: Bar Rochford took Best Date Night Spot, Under claimed Best Bakery and Good Neighbour won Best Coffee Spot, to name a few. After thousands of nominations and votes from readers across the Australian Capital Territory, these are the ACT venues, neighbourhoods and local businesses that readers voted as the very best of 2025.

Best Date Night Spot in Canberra 2025

The restaurants, rooftop hideaways, or bars that set the stage for unforgettable evenings.

Winner: Bar Rochford

Bar Rochford has a way of making any evening feel like an occasion. Perched above London Circuit, the wine bar pours some of the best local and Australian drops alongside bottles from France, Italy and New Zealand, all soundtracked by vinyl and low lighting that does everyone a favour. Settle into a booth, order something interesting off the list, and let the night take care of itself.

Canberra City

Runner up: Raku

Raku is the kind of Japanese restaurant that earns genuine loyalty. The tasting menu is the move if you’re undecided, but the Nasu Dengaku has a quiet cult following for good reason. The room is intimate without feeling precious, making it a solidly reliable romantic spot in the city.

Civic

Best Deli or Sandwich Spot in Canberra 2025

Where the sandwiches are stacked high, the flavours bold, and tomorrow’s cravings are guaranteed.

Winner: Sandoochie

The name tells you everything you need to know. Tucked into No Name Lane, Sandoochie runs an ever-rotating menu of sandwiches that keeps regulars genuinely guessing. The space is tiny, the line moves, and it’s worth every minute of the wait.

Canberra City

Runner up: Melted Toasted Sandwich Emporium

While the menu here tends to rotate, it always anchors around a properly golden, cheese-pull toastie. You can expect classic combos to sit alongside more complex builds involving pesto, feta, avocado and beef mince. It’s comfort food taken seriously.

Fyshwick

Best Bakery in Canberra 2025

Those irresistible loaves, pastries, or cakes you’ll happily queue for.

Winner: Under

Under Bakery has earned cult status in Canberra, and one bite of the cardamom buns explains why. The long-ferment sourdough is just as good, made with Rutherglen flour, Pepe Saya butter and Little Big Dairy milk, which is the kind of ingredient list that makes the difference obvious. Pair it with a batch-brew coffee and you’ve got the ultimate weekend plans.

Mawson

Runner up: Three Mills Bakery

Three Mills has been part of the Canberra fabric long enough to qualify as an institution, and the quality hasn’t slipped since the early days. Fresh breads, sweet pastries, tarts, savoury pies and sausage rolls make up a range that’s hard to fault, and the fact that several items are available frozen and ready to bake at home, means you can enjoy it anytime.

Locations across Canberra 

Best Neighbourhood Bar in Canberra 2025

A glass of local vino, a crafted cocktail, or the easy hum of your favourite haunt.

Winner: Edgar’s

Edgar’s Inn in Ainslie nails the neighbourhood bar brief. With its dark wood, warm room and a crowd that actually knows each other, it works equally well for an after-work drink, Friday night pizza or a long weekend brunch. In winter, the outdoor terrace closes in entirely, which only makes it cosier.

Ainslie

Runner up: Bar Rochford

Bar Rochford earns its second mention in these awards for good reason. The wine list spans local drops through to European bottles worth seeking out, the vinyl sets a relaxed tone, and the booths were made for the breezy kind of evenings we often dream of.

Canberra City

Best Region For a Weekend Escape from Canberra 2025

A close-to-home getaway with standout eats, scenic allure, and undeniable local character.

Winner: South Coast NSW – Shoalhaven

The Shoalhaven sits about two and a half hours from Canberra and feels like a completely different world. The drive itself is worth it, winding through the eucalyptus wilderness and sandstone cliffs of Morton National Park before the coast opens up around you. From there, it’s over a hundred beaches, Jervis Bay’s famously clear water, whale migrations in season, and a food scene that has grown well beyond its coastal-town roots. Berry has boutique dining and good shopping; Mollymook has hatted restaurants and Kangaroo Valley offers lush mountain scenery if you’d rather not be on the sand.

Runner up: South Coast NSW – Eurobodalla Shire

Eurobodalla is the fastest route to the ocean from Canberra; two hours over the Clyde Mountain and you’re in Batemans Bay, with 110 kilometres of coastline stretching south from there. The shire does quiet remarkably well: over 80 beaches, vast national parks, kangaroos on walking trails, and fresh oysters in Narooma if you time it right. Historic villages like Mogo and Central Tilba add good browsing and strong coffee to the mix, and the mild winters mean it holds up as a year-round escape rather than just a summer one.

Best New Restaurant Opening in Canberra 2025

The newcomer already winning hearts and setting the bar high.

Winner: Lunetta

Lunetta took one of Canberra’s most iconic vantage points and built something genuinely worthy of it. Sitting atop Red Hill Lookout, the restaurant pairs panoramic city views with refined Italian cooking driven by fire and seasonal produce sourced locally. The restoration has already picked up design recognition, and the wood-fired techniques give the menu a grounded, elemental quality that contrasts nicely with the setting above the city.

Red Hill

Runner up: Andre’s Osteria

Andre’s Osteria feels genuinely personal, which is increasingly hard to find. The Weston Creek dining room is warm without being fussy, all olive green tones and wood accents. The handmade mafaldine with lamb ragu is a highlight, and the menu finishes with Andre’s mum’s chocolate mousse which is a thoughtful, personal detail that says a lot about the place.

Weston

Best Coffee Spot in Canberra 2025

From perfectly pulled espresso shots to artisan brews, the cafés that get it right every single time.

Winner: Good Neighbour

Good Neighbour has built a loyal Kingston following on the strength of its drinks menu, anchored by a dedicated matcha bar and delicious coffee that has become one of the more talked-about offerings in the city. It’s a buzzy, light-filled space with the kind of relaxed pace that’s perfect for a weekend pit-stop.

Kingston

Runner up: Recess Coffee

Recess roasts its own beans, which tells you where their priorities are. The Griffith café pairs that serious coffee approach with a relaxed room; vinyl spinning, pancakes on the menu for anyone arriving hungry and plenty of good vibes.

Griffith 

Best Small Local Business – Lifestyle, Beauty, Fashion, Wellness

Lifestyle, Beauty, Fashion, Wellness — the boutique and independent spots that bring personality, purpose and real community presence.

Winner: POP Canberra

POP Canberra stocks products from over 250 local artists, makers and creators; artisan food, spirits, homewares, jewellery, prints and some genuinely good Canberra-specific souvenirs that you’d actually want to own. Every purchase goes directly back to an independent maker, which is a rare thing to be able to say.

Braddon

Runner up: Gracias Flower Studio

Gracias has carved out a strong reputation for floral work that looks nothing like a standard arrangement. The studio is known for organic, garden-style designs, bespoke wedding and event work that have won it a loyal following. The community workshops, including regular Flowers and Vino sessions, have built something beyond a retail offering, and the curated local add-ons (regional wines, teas, specialty candles) make the gifting experience genuinely worth seeking out.

Fyshwick

Best Foodie Suburb in Canberra 2025

The neighbourhoods that pack a serious punch, serving up big flavours from hidden cafés to local culinary gems.

Winner: Braddon

Braddon is the suburb that put Canberra’s food scene on the map, and Lonsdale Street remains the heartbeat of it. Specialty coffee shops sit alongside hatted restaurants, craft cocktail bars, and weekend brunch spots that draw queues from across the city. Lonsdale Street Roasters helped establish the area’s coffee credentials early, and the dining has kept pace, with modern Australian, Southeast Asian, American-style burgers, inventive small bars, all within a few walkable blocks.

Runner up: Kingston

Kingston does something the other suburbs don’t: it gives you two completely different eating experiences within the same postcode. The Foreshore is lively and waterside, with spots like Molto Italian and Brodburger drawing the lunch crowd. A short walk inland, the heritage-listed Kingston Shops have a quieter, more village-like feel with Silo Bakery for pastries and Otis Dining Hall. It’s one of the more complete eating neighbourhoods in the country.

What Are the Sitchu Awards?

The inaugural Sitchu Awards set out to celebrate the places that shape the way we live, dine and play across the Australian Capital Territory, from the bakery that starts your morning just right to the neighbourhood bar that feels like a living room.

Here’s how it worked: nominations opened to Sitchu readers across ACT, giving the community the chance to put forward the spots that truly matter to them. Sitchu’s editors then curated five finalists across each of the nine categories. Voting then re-opened, with thousands of reader votes determining the winners. The results are entirely reader-driven; no editorial panel, no paid placements.

FAQs About the Sitchu Awards ACT 2025

Who won the Sitchu Awards ACT 2025?

The nine category winners for the ACT in 2025 were: Bar Rochford (Best Date Night Spot), Sandoochie (Best Deli or Sandwich Spot), Under (Best Bakery), Good Neighbour (Best Coffee Spot), Edgar’s (Best Neighbourhood Bar), Shoalhaven (Best Region for a Weekend Escape), Lunetta (Best New Restaurant Opening), POP Canberra (Best Small Local Business), and Braddon (Best Foodie Suburb). Winners were determined entirely by reader vote, with thousands of nominations and votes cast by the Sitchu community across the ACT after editors curated a shortlist of five finalists per category.

Where is the best weekend getaway from Canberra?

The Shoalhaven was voted the best region for a weekend escape from Canberra by Sitchu readers in 2025. Located approximately two and a half hours from the capital, it is recognised for its stretch of beaches, the clear waters of Jervis Bay, a strong food and wine scene anchored by hatted restaurants like Bangalay Dining, and enough variety across towns like Berry, Mollymook and Kangaroo Valley to suit different kinds of weekends. Eurobodalla Shire was named runner-up, noted for its proximity to Canberra, unspoilt coastline, and the heritage villages of Mogo and Central Tilba.

What is the best foodie suburb in Canberra?

Braddon was voted the best foodie suburb in Canberra by Sitchu readers in 2025, recognised for the concentration of specialty coffee, hatted dining, craft bars and casual eats packed into Lonsdale Street and its surrounds. It covers significant ground across cuisines and price points, and its industrial character gives it a texture that feels distinct from the rest of the city. Kingston was named runner-up, noted for its dual identity as both a lively waterfront dining precinct and a quieter heritage village with strong restaurant credentials.

What is the best bakery in Canberra?

Under Bakery in Mawson was voted the best bakery in Canberra by Sitchu readers in 2025. The cult favourite is known for its cardamom buns and long-ferment sourdough, made with single-origin ingredients including Pepe Saya butter and Rutherglen flour, and is currently expanding into a purpose-built space at Dairy Road four times the size of the original. Three Mills Bakery was named runner-up, recognised for its long-standing presence across Canberra and a broad range of breads, pastries and savoury bakes.

What is the best new restaurant in Canberra in 2025?

Lunetta took out Best New Restaurant Opening in Canberra for 2025. Positioned atop the iconic Red Hill Lookout, the restaurant pairs panoramic city views with refined Italian cooking driven by fire and locally sourced seasonal produce. The restoration of the site has already received design recognition, and the wood-fired menu has quickly made it one of the more ambitious openings the capital has seen in recent years. Bookings are recommended.

What is the best date night restaurant or bar in Canberra?

Bar Rochford in Canberra City was voted the best date night spot in the ACT by Sitchu readers in 2025. The wine bar sits above London Circuit and pours a considered selection of local and Australian drops alongside bottles from France, Italy, and New Zealand, in a low-lit room designed for exactly this kind of evening. Raku in Civic was named runner-up, recognised for its intimate dining room and a tasting menu that suits couples who want to hand the decision-making over for the night. Bookings are recommended at both venues, particularly on weekends.

How were the Sitchu Awards 2025 winners chosen?

The Sitchu Awards 2025 were entirely reader-driven. Sitchu’s community was first invited to nominate their favourite venues and businesses across nine categories. After nominations closed, Sitchu’s editors curated five finalists per category. Voting then re-opened, with thousands of reader votes from across New South Wales determining the final winners. There was no editorial panel involved in the outcome and no paid placements — every winner reflects what NSW locals genuinely love.