Alby and friends bringing good times to Woden.

Posted on 24 September, 2021

Here’s some hot news for a quiet lockdown period! Woden’s public service strip is set for an injection of cool, with the impending arrival of The Alby.

There’s a new arrival on Canberra’s food scene who goes by the name Alby.

Just wait until November and The Alby is likely to be the centre of attention for a city fresh out of lockdown.

Alby will also be bringing a few friends to the neighbourhood—Braddon’s famed eightysix is basing its southside restaurant there, although it’s a little while off yet (yes, we are as excited as you—and yes, of course, we will bring you more news on this when it gets closer to opening).

And then there is Bloom Coffee which is also setting up a happy little spot for all things caffeine using Market Lane Coffee from Melbourne.

The Alby commands prime position on an already busy pedestrian thoroughfare between several government department HQs and Westfield Woden, and will become a hub for all things, food, drink, fun and games with a casual, local vibe.

The Alby’s ground floor bar

It’s a gastropub with more—activating 1,000sqm of space over two floors of DOMA Group’s Alexander and Albemarle (or A&A) Buildings, off Furzer Street.

It will comprise dining areas, multiple bars, a Chef’s table for private dining, and a beer garden. A downstairs games basement will feature Australia’s first Duckpin Bowling (yes, we’re about to explain), pinball, pool tables and more.

The Alby’s basement bar

You may be relieved to know that Duckpin Bowling doesn’t actually involve ducks. Nor does it require bowling shoes (phew). Instead, it is a 10-pin game popular throughout Canada and the United States which uses smaller-sized balls without finger holes and is best enjoyed with a drink in hand.

For the city’s committed pinball players or those new to the game, The Alby will have five new machines, including the just released Guns N’ Roses machine in a limited-edition format.

Patrons can relax over friendly competition at one of the pool tables, while staying abreast of the latest sports action on any one of the three 85-inch High Definition TVs.

But if you’re just out for a meal, The Alby provides a range of menus from breakfast, all-day dining, takeaway, functions, set lunch/dinners for groups and cocktail parties.

Photo credit: Ashley St George

The Alby’s kitchen will have something for everyone—from elegant grazing boards to salmon crudo and fritto calamari for starters, to a range of burgers and parmigianas, a butcher’s block selection of premium meat cuts, and a wide range of substantial salads and pizzas (cooked in the feature pizza oven) for mains. The breakfast menu is huge and runs the gamut of acai bowls to breakfast burgers.

Photo credit: Ashley St George

If you’re downstairs, you may favour the snacks menu which has a definite Mexican bent—featuring tacos, nachos, and empanadas, among other things.

Meanwhile, as is the way with DOMA developments, the space has been developed with a keen eye for detail, and the guiding talents of Capezio Copeland.

There’s a concrete mezzanine and columns that have been retained from the buildings’ previous incarnation as a towering office block, with an eye to the environmental benefits of repurposing some of the existing structure. The ground floor has a sculptural feature ceiling that connects to a fireplace providing interest in the room and separating bar and dining spaces.

A 10-metre long brass bar with a solid timber top provides a focal point to meet after work and in the warmer months a large beer garden is defined by a Corten Steel open mesh structure that connects through to the pub interior.

Meanwhile, the basement has a more casual feel—the ceiling left raw and exposed, softened by large felt acoustic lights and warmed by the extensive use of timber. With the existing fire stair of the building has been retained, DOMA have commissioned Melbourne artist Elise Lampe to create a mural down the staircase.

The Alby’s opening hours will be Tuesday to Sunday 7.30am to late, with an official launch date in November. We will keep you posted when Alby officially arrives in town.