10 Canberra restaurants vegetarians need to cross off their bucket list
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Forget what you think you know about vegetarian dining options in Canberra – you won’t find a garden salad on this list.
Gone are the days when restaurants would offer one (maybe two) plant-based meals. Now, you’ll find entire menus designed around the humble vegetable. And they’re all absolutely delicious.
From meat-free mezze to fine dining, here are 10 restaurants vegetarians need to cross off their bucket list.
Bar Beirut (City)
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Vegetarian diners won’t find a lettuce leaf in sight at Bar Beirut. Honouring the flavours and ingredients of Lebanon, owner Soumi Tannous has put a lot of love into his veggie dishes and it’s obvious from the first bite.
Packed with bold, punchy flavours, from honey-grilled haloumi to spiced cauliflower with sumac crème and bhar aswad, there are plenty of options to tickle the tastebuds of any plant-based foodie. Pro tip? Order the vegetarian shared set menu so you don’t have to choose.
25 Garema Place, City | barbeirut.com.au
Monster Kitchen and Bar (City)
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As Canberra’s only refined vegetarian dining experience, if you haven’t been to Monster Kitchen and Bar, now’s the time.
Using locally sourced and seasonal ingredients, the whole menu at this restaurant is plant-based – from the starts to the small plates, the large plates, sides and even the desserts. Think Oyster Mushroom Skewers, Crispy Tofu with chilli jam, and Chraime Eggplant. Hungry yet?
Ground/25 Edinburgh Avenue, City | monsterkitchen.com.au
Raku (City)
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Awarded two Chefs Hats for 2023 from the Australian Good Food Guide, you already know that Raku is going to be good – but with lots of veggie options on the menu, plant-based foodies don’t have to miss out on some of the best Japanese in Canberra.
From sushi maki rolls packed with capsicum, zucchini, eggplant, asparagus, avocado, chives and dengaku mayonnaise to miso-marinated Kent pumpkin, you’ll want to book into this restaurant ASAP.
Shop DG36C/148 Bunda Street, City | rakudining.com.au
Such and Such (City)
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Named the New Restaurant of The Year in the 2023 Good Food Awards, Such and Such was born from the talented team behind Pilot, so it’s no surprise that they do some amazing vegetarian dishes.
Choose from one of their fixed-price menus or go al a carte – either way, with options like spanakopita lasagne with pine nuts and feta and potato stuffed pierogi with buttermilk and chives, you won’t be disappointed.
220 London Circuit, City | andsuchandsuch.com
Med (Barton)
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Headed by two-hatted DOMA culinary director Ben Willis this immersive, relaxed dining experience is steeped in Mediterranean charm – and has a vegetarian menu to match.
Want some examples? Dig into freshly baked pide bread with traditional dips, falafel, cheese and spinach borek, cauliflower with preserved lemon and yoghurt, mujadara-lentil and rice salad and a drool-worthy baklava sundae.
1 Burbury Close, Barton | medbarton.com.au
Rebel Rebel (New Acton)
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With innovative dishes and a cool vibe, this hatted restaurant is a must-try for any vegetarian living in or visiting Canberra.
All designed to be shared, simply tell the staff that you’re vegetarian and sit back as they bring you dishes like sugarloaf cabbage with tahini and harissa oil, and a delicious cauliflower and comté croquette (just to name a few).
23 Marcus Clarke Street, Acton | rebelrebeldining.com.au
Au Lac (Dickson and Woden)
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Open in both two locations in Canberra, Au Lac is proof that vegetarian and vegan food doesn’t have to be boring.
Serving some of the finest Vietnamese in town, you won’t find any dairy or meat in any of their meals – only fresh, flavoursome, and inventive plant-based dishes.
4/35-39 Woolley Street, Dickson and Westfield Woden, Shop G90A, Corinna Street, Phillip | aulac-restaurant.com.au
Eightysix (Braddon and Woden)
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At eightysix north and eightysix south you’ll find two distinctly different vegetarian menus. And yes, both are worth trying.
In Braddon, charred corn with togarashi cream, and pumpkin and mascarpone tortellini with sage butter and hazelnuts graces the menu, while in Phillip you can find broccolini and Tuscan kale with hazelnuts, lemon and garlic and marinated heirloom tomatoes topped with basil and stracciatella. The only question is, where will you start?
Corner of Eloura & Mode3, Lonsdale Street Braddon and 45 Furzer Street, Phillip | eightysix.com.au
OTIS Dining Hall (Kingston)
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For vegetarians looking for an award-winning fine dining destination, OTIS Dining Hall is hard to ignore. Because, while he might be known for his pepper steak, Chef Damian Brabender has a talent for packing his deft flavour combinations into plant-based meals.
As an OTIS classic, you can’t go past the Raviolo: butternut pumpkin, pecorino, and burnt sage cream. But don’t take our word for it, try it for yourself.
29 Jardine Street, Kingston | otisdininghall.com.au
Beltana Farm (Pialligo)
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Located in the picturesque Pialligo, Beltana Farm is all about farm-to-table dining – so they know how to do plant-based dishes well.
With seasonal dishes that celebrate the best of regional produce and suppliers, the share-style menu plays with mouth-watering combinations like whipped brie, burnt onion and baby cucumber, Pialligo Jerusalem artichoke with walnut, endive and burnt butter and a favourite of the HerCanberra team: a potato and carrot galette with buttermilk and sage
14 Beltana Road, Pialligo | beltanafarm.au
Feature image: Med. Credit: Pew Pew Studio.
