Manuka has a new Instagrammable café in an unexpected location

Posted on 21 October, 2025

Cloud matcha lattes, New York-style chunky cookies and café classics with a twist – this is just a taste of the menu at Brew & Crust. And it sounds delicious.

Recently opening in the space where Trecento used to pump out Italian-style woodfired pizzas to hungry locals, the new all-day dining venue is bringing something fresh to the area (and we’re not just talking about their Matcha Coconut Frappe).

Brought to you by the team behind Manuka Steakhouse – which has been serving premium Angus beef since 2016 – Brew & Crust offers a young, vibrant take on Manuka’s iconic, if slightly monotonous, café scene.

And while it might sound starkly different to Manuka Steakhouse, the opening of Brew & Crust was a natural next step for the owners. Something of a quiet achiever, Manuka Steakhouse is a Canberra institution. Known for their quality food and locally focused wine list, it’s gained a reputation as one of the best steakhouses in the city – a fact reinforced thanks to its recent win in the Awards for Excellence 2025 steak restaurant category.

With previous experience owning and running cafes (including Frank & Beanz at Majura Park), Brew & Crust not only scratched the owners’ itch to dive back into the brunch scene but also expands their offerings at Manuka Steakhouse. And while Manuka doesn’t lack for cafes, Brew & Crust manager Retmi Ardilla says that the team wanted to add something different to the local scene.

Enter: brunch options like Surf & Turf Baked Eggs served with scallops and crispy prosciutto, Pistachio Buttermilk Pancakes and a drinks menu that will have matcha maniacs lining up around the block.

It helps that Brew & Crust is also an Instagrammer’s dream. With warm, cosy interiors, green natural marble tables supplied by one of Melbourne’s luxury marble galleries, plenty of natural light and food that’s almost too pretty to eat, it’s just a bonus that everything tastes as good as it looks.

“The menu staples may feel familiar, but we bring something a little bit different, offering a twist on favourites,” explains Retmi. “We mostly source our produce from Fyshwick or the Harris Farm Market because it’s so fresh…we also source our sweet treats from locals like Bite & Savor and Gills Patisserie.”

Focusing on fresh, flavoursome food, the menu is also ideal for summer dining as the weather gets warmer. Along with the acai bowls and honey spiced granola, the poke bowl with grilled salmon cubes, the zucchini and corn fritters stack, and chilli crab folded eggs are clear highlights.

The drink offerings include ‘clean’ frappes with no added sugar (hello Erewhon smoothie dupe), freshly squeezed juices and tea from Adore Tea, as well as coffee for those looking for their next caffeine hit. If that’s not enough to entice you, there are also plenty of gluten-free and vegetarian options available, making it the perfect meeting place.

Not only is Brew & Crust open seven days from 7 am with an all-day brunch menu, but it’s also open during the evening, serving fresh, handmade woodfired pizzas (and making good use of the Trecento pizza oven) and pasta from 5 pm.

As for dessert? Along with Nutella pizza topped with your choice of strawberries and banana, all the cake and pastry options will also be available, promising a delicious night out.

Also offering a second indoor space that’s encased in glass and overlooks the streets of Manuka, Brew & Crust not only has a menu that spans day to night but also offers private dining – perfect for a pizza and pasta party or upcoming Christmas gatherings. The ideal spot for a lingering dinner or a casual (but cute) night out with friends, it’s everything you could want when party planning.

Hoping to attract students in the area who are looking for a beautiful study spot, friends looking for an aesthetic brunch location, and foodies who are just keen to try something new, one thing is for sure: when it comes to Instagrammable cafes in Canberra, Brew & Crust is on the list.

And if you see us during the workday sipping on a Honey Sea Salt Cloud Matcha…no you didn’t.