You can leave your hat on: A one-minute guide to fine dining in Canberra
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We write about Canberra food a lot—but sometimes you’re looking to really level up your dining experience
When that’s the case, Canberra’s fine dining destinations are waiting. Here are some you may not have spoiled yourself at yet.
THE BOAT HOUSE
A waterfront location and killer views combine with cutting-edge cuisine from one of Canberra’s best chefs at this popular spot for special-occasion dining. The Boat House is the perfect pick for an intimate dinner or a long family lunch—an inventive menu washed down with a beautifully-curated wine list making it a memorable experience.
CHAIRMAN + YIP
A Canberra dining institution, Chairman & Yip has been plating up inventive modern Pan-Asian cuisine for more than 20 years. Nestled in Barton’s Hotel Realm precinct, the elegant interior boasts private dining rooms and a fully-enclosed balcony garden. Their Duck Pancakes are the stuff of legend.
chairmangroup.com.au/chairmanyip
CORELLA
Fine dining with a decidedly Australian bent—where else would you go for a starter of sourdough and butter mixed with a hint of Vegemite? Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. The native and bush flavours are incorporated right through to desserts and work beautifully in a small space (just 30 seats) with interiors which echo the bush palette. This place is a little gem. Impressive cocktail and wine list too.
LAMSHEDS
Tucked away at the Yarralumla shops, Lamsheds is an upmarket neighbourhood eatery where the food is adventurous and the service warm.
Share plates are the order of the day here—Mod-Oz in flavour—perfect for a meal with friends or family. A sizeable wine list carrying local and lesser-known international labels boasts some interesting by-the-glass options.
OTIS
Owned and operated by award-winning chef Damian Brabender, OTIS Dining Hall is an intriguing blend of nostalgia and modernity. Expect familiar dishes with a fresh twist—all locally sourced and seasonal. If you’re visiting during the winter months, their truffle menu is a must!
otisdininghall.com.au
PILOT
It’s been a meteoric rise for Pilot, the small suburban restaurant that opened in Ainslie in September 2019, just six months before the pandemic—and has weathered two lockdowns.
But an innovative and ever-changing menu that pushes the boundaries has cemented Pilot a loyal following.
RAKU
This sleek, modern Japanese bar and restaurant offers some of the most beautiful dishes across the city. Executive chef Hao is a master with the sushi blade—behind a long bar you can watch as he expertly crafts artful plates of sashimi, nigiri and maki rolls, whilst the robata grill produces meat, seafood and vegetables dish that burst with the flavours of the flames.
Feature image: Pilot Restaurant by Lean Timms
