Cosy Canberra cafés for crisp mornings
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There’s nothing like spending a crisp morning in a cosy café.
The hot coffee, the buzzy atmosphere and the smell of something delicious coming from the kitchen…it’s an experience that almost makes the weather worthwhile.
Luckily, there are plenty of cosy cafes in Canberra where you can hunker down when the morning temperature drops. Here are some of our faves.
Café June (Braddon)
A warm and intimate sanctuary located in the heart of the city, Café June has large windows for soaking up the winter sun.
Known for its specialty coffee, fresh pastries, and seasonal brunch dishes, it has that ‘warm and cosy’ feeling you need on a cold day.
54/30 Lonsdale Street, Braddon | @cafe_june_cbr
Barrio (Braddon)
A coffee bar and roaster located in Braddon, this tiny café seats only 15 people, making it the true definition of ‘cosy’. Known for serving mouthwatering, cheesy toasties (perfect for a cold morning), you’ll have to be quick to pull up a seat.
59/30 Lonsdale Street, Braddon | barriocollective.com
Močan & Green Grout (City)
An ethical and eco-friendly café located in the arts and cultural hub of Canberra’s NewActon precinct, Močan & Green Grout’s cosy fit-out makes it the perfect place to linger over a fair-trade coffee.
1/19 Marcus Clarke Street, City | mocanandgreengrout.com
The Cupping Room (City)
With walls decorated with local art, and large tables designed for hosting groups, the community-first approach at The Cupping Room makes it feel like one of the cosiest cafes in Canberra.
Serving ONA coffee and serving a seasonal all-day brunch, the interiors might feel bright and airy, but it’s the welcoming atmosphere that makes it worth curling up in.
1/1-13 University Avenue, City | thecuppingroom.com.au
B-Side (Braddon)
A daytime eatery, café, and wine bar, B-Side is all about good food and coffee, serving beans roasted by Intra Specialty Coffee. Accepting walk-ins only, the moody interiors make it the ideal mix of cool yet cosy.
G01/35 Lonsdale Street, Braddon | b-side.com.au
Café Blanco (Kambah)
This venue is 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, you’ll quickly forget the chill in the air as you’re transported to the Caribbean.
Shop 1/3 Carleton Street, Kambah | @cafe___blanco
A Bite to Eat (Chifley)
This Chifley local is the perfect place to go if you’re craving a hearty meal. With cosy leather booths lining the walls, the only trick is scoring a seat inside – unless you’re okay with venturing into the courtyard and warming yourself up over baked shakshuka and coffee.
8 Chifley Place, Chifley | abitetoeat.net.au
Eddie’s Organics (Pearce)
With eclectic, colourful and vintage interiors, this café is a gorgeous place to spend a few hours. Serving organic breakfast and lunch options, you can also browse the attached grocer for fresh local produce.
Quickly becoming known as one of the most whimsical cafes in Canberra, it’s cosy, and comfortable.
Shop 1a/70 Hodgson Crescent, Pearce | @eddiesorganics
Maple and Clove (Barton)
This sleek café is synonymous with wholefoods – and what else could you be craving on a cold morning? Cooking wholesome meals daily, the space at Maple and Clove is intimate and moody, with views of leafy Barton just outside the windows.
7 Burbury Close, Barton | mapleandclove.com.au
Bookplate (Parkes)
Nestled amidst stunning Leonard French stained-glass windows, this café is in the National Library, making it a serene escape.
Overlooking Lake Burley Griffin and the Patrick White Lawns, Bookplate serves brunch and lunch classics, sandwiches, house-made sausage rolls, pies, and an array of sweet treats alongside expertly crafted barista coffee.
National Library of Australia, 25 Parkes Place West, Parkes | library.gov.au
Recess Coffee (Griffith)
With a relaxed retro feel, the interiors at Recess are welcoming and cosy, with tunes courtesy of a vinyl record player that spins throughout the day. Ideal if you’re seeking something that feels like a quintessential classic café, the food menu is simple and moreish, and the coffee is always good.
6B Barker Street, Griffith | @recesscoffeegoodtimes
Penny University (Kingston)
Homey and warm, Kingston’s Penny University is a space that’s all about coffee, conversation, and community.
Located in the Old Kingston Shops, the interiors are an eclectic mix of industrial and vintage, while the menu offers homestyle food inspired by different cultures.
15 Kennedy Street, Kingston | pennyscbr.com.au
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.
With a cosy ambience and 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
Deakin & Me (Deakin)
This café is contemporary and stylish as well as inviting – featuring the building’s original 1980s terracotta tiles mixed with industrial elements like exposed high ceilings and beams, sage green panelled walls, hanging greenery and an abundance of natural light.
Serving an all-day menu featuring a selection of breakfast and lunch classics, it’s a great place to grab yourself a spot in the sun.
7 Geils Court, Deakin | deakinandme.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 Street &, Wattle Street, Lyneham | tilleys.com.au
Gang Gang Café and Bar (Downer)
A cafe, bar and a live music venue all wrapped up in one, Gang Gang is an almost Melbourne-esque café that locals love. A little bit eclectic and with more of a grungy feel, you can curl up in a corner and watch the world go by.
Shop4/2 Frencham Place, Downer | ganggangcafe.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). Serving you comforting brunch dishes, you’ll never want to leave.
54 Ernest Cavanagh Street, Gungahlin | sundayincanberra.com.au
Pulp BookCafé (Nicholls)
A roaring fireplace, a cup of coffee, and a good book: Pulp BookCafé is a novel way to spend a chilly morning.
With eclectic and cosy interiors that include a wall of bookcases, a large leather couch (ideal for curling up), their menu is the perfect complement to your newest novel.
6/18 O’Hanlon Place, Nicholls | pulpbookcafe.com.au
Café Stepping Stone (Straithnairn)
Relax in the gardens of the 1920s Homestead and enjoy uninterrupted views of the Brindabella Ranges for a cosy countryside escape.
A work integration social enterprise café that employs and trains migrant and refugee women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, this café focuses on serving fresh dishes influenced by Asian, Middle Eastern and South American heritage and travels. Make sure to take the time to view the monthly art exhibitions and soak in the atmosphere.
90 Stockdill Drive, Gullifer Street, Strathnairn | cafesteppingstone.com
Feature image: Recess Coffee. Credit: Pew Pew Studio.
