An A – Z guide to cosy places to eat and drink for when Canberra gets seriously cold
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Does the thought of the Canberra cold make you want to eat (and drink) your feelings?
Layer up and snuggle up in one of these cosy places to eat and drink around town.
A Bite to Eat (Chifley)
This Chifley local is the perfect place to go if you’re craving a hearty meal to beat the cold. The only trick is scoring a seat inside—unless you’re okay with venturing into the courtyard and warming yourself up over chili scrambled eggs and coffee.
8 Chifley Pl, Chifley | abitetoeat.net.au
ARC (City)
Looking for a unique venue in the city that also offers some cosy food options? ARC has all this and more. Head in to enjoy hotcakes, porridge and a classic B&E roll along with Redbrick coffee.
Shop 1/1 Constitution Ave | arccoffee.place
Bootleg (City)
The moody interiors create a speakeasy feel with southern charm, tucked below in the bunker for a cosy night out. Homestyle eats like wings, fried chicken and burgers will warm you up from the inside out.
29 Garema Place, Canberra City | bootlegcanberra.com.au
Bar Beirut (City)
An intimate venue hidden near the city centre, Bar Beirut is a Middle Eastern-Mediterranean meze escape. And with share places with big, punchy flavours, you’ll be glad you braved the cold for a meal here. If you’re looking to add some excitement to your night book in for a Wednesday or Thursday night, when their resident belly dancers move to a delicious mix of oriental and Arabic beats.
Garema Place, Civic | barbeirut.com.au
Blackbird (City)
This dive-bar-inspired underground bar with a ’70s aesthetic and classic jazz and rock soundtrack, Blackbird will make all your mid-winter fantasies come true.
112 Alinga St, Canberra City | blackbirdbar.com.au
Bookplate (Parkes)
Name a better way to spend a cold day than curled up in a café with literary surroundings? With Wi-Fi, good food, great coffee, and accommodating staff, enjoy watching the world go by next to Bookplate’s stunning stained-glass windows.
National Library of Australia, 25 Parkes Pl W, Parkes | bookplate.com
Café Blanco (Kambah)
This venue might be small, but it packs a mighty punch. Serving Latin American inspired food in a cosy space that’s complete with warm white walls, natural timber, brown accents, and terrazzo tables, summer won’t feel so out of reach.
Shop 1/3 Carleton St, Kambah | @cafe___blanco
Corella (Braddon)
Corella offers a Mod Oz menu heavy on Native Australian ingredients, with a long list of yummy cocktails which (despite the chilly weather) will be perfect for a winter dinner.
14 Lonsdale Street, Braddon | corellabar.com.au
Deakin & Me (Deakin)
Offering the best comfort food (homemade donuts, pasta and braised tomato and chorizo baked eggs), Deakin and Me is the perfect pit-stop. Grab a table inside and breakfast, brunch or lunch—and maybe even a cheeky cocktail.
7 Geils Court, Deakin | @deakinandme
Fox and Bow (Red Hill)
With stunning views out across the leafy suburb, if you’re lucky enough to grab a seat inside at Fox and Box Red Hill, you’ll forget that outside the temperatures have plummeted. And with plenty of Spanish-inspired fare (and coffee) on the menu, you’ll quickly be warmed from the inside out.
Red Hill Shops, 191 La Perouse Street, Red Hill | foxandbow.com.au
Grazing (Gundaroo)
Okay, so it’s a little off the beaten track but once you get there, Grazing is well worth it. Request a seat in front of the fire to really stay snug and enjoy some of the region’s best cuisine.
Cork Street, Gundaroo | grazing.com.au
INKA (City)
This Peruvian/Japanese restaurant will not only be a beautiful escape from the wind and cold, but you’ll be able to grab a few snaps for the ‘gram.
148 Bunda Street, Canberra City | inka.com.au
Intra LNSD (Braddon)
Covering breakfast and lunch—as well as early afternoon wine—seven days a week, Intra LNSD features an expansive indoor space in a moody colour palette. And with European comfort food on the menu, you’ll feel like you’ve been immediately enveloped in warmth.
Lonsdale Street, Braddon | @intralnsd
Kynefin (Hall)
Take the drive out to the sleepy town of Hall and indulge in Kynefin’s crazy-popular picnic table menu option, which holds an array of delicious handmade bakery treats and mini drinks.
2-4 Victoria Street, Hall | kynefin.com
Le Bon Mélange (Belconnen)
Le Bon Mélange offers a menu full of French patisseries with a long list of yummy treats like donuts, almond croissants and lemon curd tarts that are suitable for the gluten-intolerant. It’s perfect for some sugary comfort on a cold day.
G09/48 Gungahlin Pl & Bruning St, Gungahlin | lebonmelange.com.au
Muse (Griffith)
For those who love cappuccinos and Charles Dickens, Muse combines food, wine and the magic of the written word, making it the perfect place to settle down for a day inside. Nestled between Kingston and Manuka the venue was built on the values of conversation, ideas and indulgence, both literary and epicurean.
Ground Floor, East Hotel 69 Canberra Ave, Griffith | musecanberra.com
Meat and Wine Co. (City)
The Meat & Wine Co. is an Afro-centric steakhouse with a decidedly glamorous edge. The intimate cosy atmosphere pairs beautifully with a good glass of wine and an exceptionally flavoured tender steak.
Constitution Place, Canberra City | themeatandwineco.com
Midnight Bar (City)
Freshly shucked oysters, polenta and parmesan fries, three-cheese baked rigatoni and pan-fried market fish with skinny chips, kewpie, lemon and capers. Meet the ultimate lunch time offering: Midday at Midnight. The perfect antidote to a rainy day, call dibs on a cosy booth—this dynamic menu of elevated, seasonally inspired bar food and buzzy beverage list isn’t your average lunch.
Ground Floor, Midnight Hotel, 1 Elouera Street, Braddon | midnightbar.com.au
Monster Bar and Kitchen (New Acton)
Leave your coat at the door; you won’t need it at this restaurant and bar, located in Ovolo Nishi in NewActon. With a fireplace and electric atmosphere, and an amazing plant-based menu it’s a must for a snug night out. Another bonus? You don’t even have to go outside if you’re heading to the movies after – Palace Electric Cinema is just a few steps away.
25 Edinburgh Ave, New Acton | hotel-hotel.com.au
Ostani (Barton)
Hotel Realm’s Ostani Bar is an enticing drinks destination all year round—but in the cooler months a seat near the spectacular open gas fireplace is the perfect position. A menu of elevated pub staples and a creative cocktail list completes the offering.
Hotel Realm, 18 National Circuit, Barton | ostani.com.au
Ondine (Deakin)
An unpretentious Euro-style brasserie dishing up real comfort food—think Gnocchi Parisienne, Beef Bourguignon with French Style Mash or Coq au Vin. The service is as warm as the space, making it a perfect cold-weather dining destination.
7 Duff Place, Deakin | ondine.com.au
Parlour (New Acton)
Classical décor, private curtained spaces and cosy chairs surrounding a fireplace—Parlour has it all. Add in a menu that’s both perfect for a lunch-time siesta or evening aperitivo and you’ll never want to leave.
16 Kendall Lane, New Acton | parlour.net.au
Pulp BookCafé (Nicholls)
A roaring fireplace, a cup of coffee, and a good book: Pulp BookCafé is a novel way to spend a day. With eclectic and cosy interiors that include a wall of bookcases, a large leather couch (perfect for curling up), their menu is the perfect complement to your newest novel.
6/18 O’Hanlon Pl, Nicholls | pulpbookcafe.com.au
Rama’s Fiji Indian Restaurant (Pearce)
With a vast menu of Indian-Fijian influenced dishes, Rama’s is the place to go for when you need some serious comfort food. Potato and egg curry anyone?
Pearce Shopping Centre, Cnr Macfarland and, Hodgson Cres, Pearce | ramas.com.au
Space Kitchen (Woden)
Nothing says ‘cosy’ like cake and coffee. Book into Space Kitchen and treat yourself to a lazy, sweet treat…we recommend their hot chocolates.
12 Furzer Street, Phillip | space-kitchen.com.au
Sunday In Canberra (Gungahlin)
With a relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff, the vibe of this café is easy like a Sunday morning (sorry). Bringing you ultimate comfort dishes—including ramen on Friday and Saturday nights—you’ll never want to leave.
54 Ernest Cavanagh St, Gungahlin | sundayincanberra.com.au
Teddy Pickers (Campbell)
While the exposed concrete and high ceilings might make you think of the Canberra chill, this café is surprisingly cosy—especially if you sit near a window to soak up the sun on a clear day. And with creative café fare (that ranges from eggs benedict with glazed Christmas ham, poached eggs and hollandaise to a roast pumpkin and feta salad) it’s worth a visit.
53/65 Constitution Ave, Campbell | teddypickers.com.au
The Alby (Woden)
A nice balance of being somewhere you can relax and feel comfortable without having to lift a finger or clean up, The Alby is the perfect place to catch up with your friends or the whole family.
Add in a games basement and you’ll soon forget about wet weather as you compete for the highest score. Think of it as your home away from home, albeit with much better food, drinks, entertainment and staff to look after you.
Ground Floor, Albemarle Building, 45 Furzer Street Phillip | thealby.com.au
The Inn (Ainslie)
This suburban treasure is the fancy cousin of popular Edgar’s Inn, with an industrial-themed space and fine-dining menu options. It also offers up an ideal vantage point to gaze over Mount Ainslie and the surrounding heritage rooftops.
Level 1, 1 Edgar Street, Ainslie Shops | edgarsinn.com.au
Tilley’s Devine Café Gallery (Lyneham)
This old jazz café is the perfect combination of nostalgia and atmosphere. With no wi-fi available, it’s a great opportunity to go old school, tuck yourself into a booth, enjoy a coffee and a book (or a chat with friends).
Brigalow St &, Wattle St, Lyneham | tilleys.com.au
Two Blind Mice (Curtin)
At Two Blind Mice, the atmosphere to be as relaxed and welcoming as the food is serious. And while you might think this venue is designed for the summer, with a menu full of comfort food you’d be sorely mistaken.
6/44 Curtin Place, Curtin | twoblindmicecurtin.com.au
Two Before Ten (Aranda and Greenway)
Using fresh produce and supporting local growers, each Two Before Ten café is a bustling community hub.
We recommend heading to Aranda to sip your coffee while overlooking the Urban Farm (perfect for a rainy day), or book into Greenway you can nibble away on walnut, raisin and fig toast near the lake.
68 Bandjalong Cres, Aranda and Cynthea Teague Cres, Greenway | twobeforeten.com.au
Verity Lane Market (City)
The industrial interior and curated range of pop-up restaurants and bars such as Lim Peh Wan Tan Mee and Pizza (and Pasta) Artigiana will warm your belly on those cold Canberra days! Explore the rest of the precinct and discover Dear Prudence and Brew Nation—also excellent autumn picks.
Sydney Building, 50 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra City | veritylanemarket.com.au
Volstead Repeal (Braddon)
Once you find it, this hidden cocktail bar reveals a warm and intimate venue in the centre of Canberra’s nightlife district. With walls lined with whisky bottles and deep green leather chesterfields (beckoning for you to partake of a drink while soaking up the jazz and candlelight) you wont regret leaving the house.
7/32 Mort Street Braddon | volstead.com.au
Walter Café (Parkes)
Overlooking Lake Burley Griffin, at Walter Café you get the best of Canberra’s scenic ambiance without giving up any warmth. Serving a selection of modern Australian cuisine inspired by flavours from around the world, book in for a moreish brunch or lunch that’s best enjoyed with a glass of wine in hand.
Barrine Dr, Parkes | waltercafe.com.au
Feature image: INKA. Supplied.
