Subscribe
Subscribe
Canberra’s 2025 Restaurant Debuts That Are Already Unmissable
2025 has been a banner year for dining in the capital. From cozy trattorias to sleek Italian cocktail bars, Canberra’s restaurant scene is brimming with new spots worth exploring, with each proving that the city’s culinary ambitions are only getting bigger.
From Sitchu’s Best New Restaurant Lunetta to buzzy openings like Andre’s Osteria and Bar Lola, these spots are already city favourites. Here are the ones you’ll want to book ASAP.
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.
East Hotel, 69 Canberra Avenue, Griffith
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.
Melbourne Building, Odgers Ln, Canberra
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.
60 Red Hill Dr, Red Hill ACT 2603
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.
35 Brierly St, Weston ACT 2611
Loving This Edit Of Canberra Food? Why Not Check Out These
Bite Into the Best Croissants in Canberra
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.
98 Alinga St, Canberra ACT 2601
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.
Cnr Pitman &, Holwell St, Greenway ACT 2900
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.
197 London Cct, Canberra ACT 2601
Loving this edit of Canberran bests? Why not check out the capital’s best fine dining spots or the best spots to eat on iconic Lonsdale Street.
