10 places to eat (and drink) al fresco in Canberra | HerCanberra

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10 places to eat (and drink) al fresco in Canberra

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With plenty of sunshine and warm summer days, many of us are seeking the best places to soak up the sun while consuming the perfect meal.

Lucky for you, Canberra has no shortage of cafés and restaurants boasting the perfect place to dine al fresco.

Fancy enjoying a meal next to Lake Burley Griffin with a refreshing breeze rippling through your hair? We’ve got the place. How about sampling mouth-watering cakes and all things sweet while surrounded by Roman pillars and lush greenery? Canberra has that too. And that’s just the beginning.

Read on for 10 places to eat (and drink) al fresco in Canberra.

Cartel Taqueria (Belconnen)

 

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Recently opened in the ACT after its huge success in Queanbeyan, Cartel Taqueria in Belconnen has not skipped out on the al fresco pleasures found at its NSW partner.

Located on the foreshore of Lake Ginninderra, if you’re feeling al-frisky head along to enjoy their signature Mexican cuisine under the summer sun!

5/114 Emu Bank, Belconnen | carteltacos.au

Rodney’s Garden Café (Pialligo)

With a quaint breakfast and lunch menu, and an array of mouth-watering scones, cakes, and all-things sweet to choose from, Rodney’s Garden Café is great for a deliciously peaceful outing.

The relaxing ambiance at Rodney’s Garden Café is also a major result of their antiquity-inspired al fresco setting. With its old-fashioned pond, Roman pillars, and lush greenery it’s hard to imagine you’re still in Canberra. As both a family-friendly and family-owned business, this café guarantees an amiable experience for people of all ages.

24a Beltana Road, Pialligo | kitchengardenrodneys.com.au

Pollen Café (Australian Botanic Gardens)

 

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Surrounded by gorgeous greenery, chirping birds, blossoming flowers and the warm, buttery sun, in spring and summer this is the ideal café to satisfy your al fresco cravings.

Soak up the peaceful environment as you enjoy a meal from their all-day breakfast and lunch menu. To complete your al fresco experience, friendly water dragons are likely to make an appearance, to remind you where you’re enjoying a meal.

Clunies Ross Street, Australian Botanic Gardens | pollencafe.com.au

Walter Café (Parkes)

 

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Imagine starting your day with a scrumptious breakfast as you lounge next to the iconic Lake Burley Griffin or enjoying a long leisurely lunch on the balcony while enjoying a refreshing breeze from across the lake.

The menu boasts a multitude of contemporary Australian cuisine inspired by flavours from across the globe, with meals to compliment every mood –  whether it’s a bright morning, a rejuvenating lunch, or a laidback afternoon tea.

Barrine Drive, Parkes | waltercafe.com.au

Maple + Cove (Barton)

 

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Situated in leafy Barton, a meal here is sure to leave you feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. This café is surrounded by the Realm Precinct Park, with ample area for those wanting to sit and warm up in dappled sunlight while enjoying premium handmade and nutritious food.

Maple + Cove believes nature provides seasonal food to nourish our body naturally, resulting in wholesome meals cooked on the premises daily, using fresh, local, seasonal, and wholefood ingredients!

7 Burbury Close, Barton | mapleandclove.com.au

Yaki Boi (Braddon)

 

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Not many restaurants in Canberra can say they have an al fresco rooftop area but Yaki Boi certainly can. With their backdrop view of the trees and grass floor, it’s easy to imagine you’re surrounded by nature, despite its location in the city. Plus, with a rooftop perspective you know a stunning sunset while you nibble on dinner is promised.

And let’s not forget the food. Yaki Boi’s unique al fresco area is enhanced by its avant-garde menu which includes Japanese dishes, classic Aussie food, and a creative mix between the two, like their udon noodle carbonara!

72/30 Lonsdale Street, Braddon | yakiboi.com.au/braddon

Verity Lane Market (City)

Unlike your usual restaurant, Verity Lane Market plays host to a diversity of food vendors who serve up a mixture of tasty cuisines, including Korean Indonesian, Italian, Vietnamese, South American, and authentic Japanese. So, there’s really no way to go wrong with this place!

Although called a ‘food hall’ Verity Lane Markets certainly doesn’t have the boring, plastic-chair design associated with food halls. With a rustic layout comprised of moody lighting and a smoky wood vibe, their al fresco space offers the perfect blend of stepping back in time with a modern twist.

50 Northbourne Avenue, City  |  veritylanemarket.com.au 

Café Cultura (City)

 

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Looking for a place in the city to take the weight off your feet and enjoy a delicious meal? Look no further than Café Cultura in Petrie Plaza! The menu is full of well-priced hearty Mediterranean food that’s perfect for sharing, along with a range of Anglofied burgers, fish and chips, and traditional big breakfasts.

Relax under the shade of the Canberra Centre’s big trees and watch the world go past while you sip on a Turkish coffee or tea.

87/105 Petrie Plaza, Canberra Centre | @cafeculturacanberra

Carlotta (City)

 

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Does anyone fancy a meal in a vibrant environment that makes you feel like you’re dining in a delightful trattoria or taverna somewhere along the European coastline? Carlotta has you sorted. Relax in their comfy chairs in their outdoor section, surrounded by a green colour palette assisted by the bushes and shrubbery around you.

Their menu encourages shared feasting across an ever-evolving selection of antipasti, handmade pasta, and meat and seafood cooked over coals, with a custom-made wood oven from Naples taking pride of place in the kitchen.

20 Scotts Crossing, Canberra Centre | carlotta.com.au

Akiba (City)

 

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Enjoy a meal inspired by the informal and exciting atmosphere of great food halls and dining rooms throughout the East-Asia region. Like Verity Lane, this is not your standard food hall. The restaurant is vibrant, and buzzing and offers customers the choice of sitting inside or outside to enjoy these warm summer days and nights.

The food showcases the many styles of Asian barbecue, raw bar, and modern-day Dim Sum, and demonstrates a wide array of fresh flavours, with meals cooked over live fuel of wood and charcoal!

40 Bunda Street, Canberra Centre | akiba.com.au

Feature image via Facebook.

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