Dinners with a Difference comes to Canberra for good food and even better conversations

Posted on 12 August, 2026

After four years of sold-out dinners in Wollongong, Dinners with a Difference is coming to Canberra, holding its first event on Thursday 20 August at Bar Beirut.

In a world where people are both more connected and more divided than ever, a new event series focused on good food and even better conversation is bringing people together.

Created by communications specialist Gretel Van-Lane, Dinners with a Difference was first launched in Wollongong to gather people together for a meal where conversations go deeper than small talk.

Gretel says she first used the format at her own birthday party to help bring together a diverse group of friends, and the evening was so successful that many of her guests asked her to do it again.

Opening her doors to anyone who wanted to attend, over the last four years Gretel has hosted 29 dinners that have seen almost 1,000 people gather to share a meal.

“What I love about these dinners is that they attract people who are genuinely keen for good conversation. Most come solo, and some bring a friend or partner. It’s a lovely way to meet new people, reflect on life, and enjoy a delicious meal,” she explains.

The way the event works is simple. Held monthly, each dinner focuses on a new topic to discuss.

People are seated together in groups, and each table is given a set of five questions to discuss over the first course. Everyone then comes together to share what they discussed. Gretel says that there’s no right way to answer, and no one is put on the spot. Then everyone gets up and shuffles to a new table, with a fresh set of questions and another course.

“I think people are craving spaces outside of home and work to connect. So much of modern life happens on screens or in transactional settings, and there aren’t many places left where you can sit across from someone new and have an honest conversation about something that actually matters,” she says.

“They want to be asked a real question and have the space to answer it properly, without small talk or an agenda. Dinners with a Difference gives people permission to slow down, be curious, and be a bit more open than they might be in everyday life. And there’s something about doing it over a shared meal that makes it feel natural rather than forced.”

Gretel says that her Canberra friends were hungry for her to bring Dinners with a Difference to the capital, and she wants the series to be a place for Canberrans to slow down together, exhale, and reflect on what’s important.

“They say there’s a loneliness epidemic causing grief throughout our communities. I think in times like these, it takes a little courage to turn away from our phones and ask a new question of a stranger, then actually have the time to listen. We’re all in this together, and I believe what we have in common is stronger than what sets us apart,” says Gretel.

“I think the idea of deep diving on important topics will really resonate with a city full of people who are curious about the world and our place in it.”

Exploring what it means to live a good life, the Canberra event will see people discuss questions like, “What does it mean to live with authenticity and meaning?” and “How do our core values show up in the roles we assume and the decisions we make every day?”.

And for those wondering how to even begin answering the question of what it means to live a good life, Gretel’s thoughts are this: it’s something that constantly evolves.

“Every chapter looks different, and in this chapter, a good life looks like meaningful work, time in nature, time with people I love, and learning new things that spark something in me. Oh, and dancing. There’s nothing better than throwing my body around on a dance floor.”

Bar Beirut has been booked out exclusively for the gathering. Tickets are priced at $109 per person and include a selection of entrées and mains (with dietary needs catered for). Drinks will be available for purchase throughout the night.

Images supplied.