From bottomless margs to all-you-can-eat steak: Canberra’s freshest new tastes and foodie events
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May is shaping up to be one of the tastiest months Canberra has seen in a while.
From bottomless steaks and tequila carts to Korean collabs, cellar door pop-ups and a month-long margarita fiesta, there’s a lot to eat and drink your way through – and we’ve rounded up the best of it.
AK’s x Sal’s Pastificio Pasta Night
Canberra’s pop-up collab season is back, and first cab off the rank is a good one. AK’s is teaming up with Sal Costanza of Sal’s Pastificio – widely regarded as one of Canberra’s best handmade pasta makers – for a one-night-only Pasta Night on Friday 16 May from 5 pm.
Expect a tight menu of handmade pastas with Asian-inspired twists, deep-fried ravioli, something fresh on the side and a dolce to finish. With just 32 seats (plus a few milk crates), it’s first in, best sat – and the vibe is 90s hip-hop, soul food and zero fuss. This is the first in a three-month lineup of local collabs, so keep your eyes peeled for what’s next.
Bottomless margaritas in May? Say no more
Leyla Bar is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a month-long fiesta and who can resist free-flowing margs from a Teremana pop-up bar?
Every Saturday, you can book yourself into their Bottomless offering (two hours of free-flowing margaritas, palomas, sparking and rosé), and sit back and enjoy their Late Night Fiesta, complete with DJs, drink special and nachos.
Looking for something you can do during the week? Head along for Sunset Hour. Taking place Tuesdays to Fridays from 4.30 pm until 6.30 pm, you can indulge in mini margs and palomas. Cheers to that!
Your chance to try Omakase at KOTO
Sushi lovers, this is something special. Popular Japanese restaurant KOTO is now serving up Sushi Omakase – a 14-course experience crafted by their hatted Executive Chef and Sushi Master, Mr. Shinya Nakano.
Available Sundays to Thursdays at their open sushi counter, you’ll be guided through a seasonal journey as each course comes to life in front of you. Optional wine or sake pairings will also be available. With only six seats available, book your spot now.
APS Wednesdays at Highball
Public servants, your lanyard is about to become your favourite accessory. Highball is running APS Wednesdays – flash your lanyard from 5 pm, and you’ll score $15 margaritas and $10 beer and wine. No need to go home and change, just head straight from the office. Wednesday really is the new Friday.
All-you-can-eat steak is back at Hopscotch
You’ll want to be hungry for this one. From Friday 8 May, Hopscotch is serving up bottomless steaks, cooked to order. Available every Friday for both lunch and dinner, the 90-minute session is priced at $59 per person and includes fries and sauce alongside with your steak.
The only terms and conditions? Each plate must be fully finished before ordering the next and there are no takeaways. Add Surf & Turf for an additional $15 per person and book your seat here.
Palomas now has a tequila cart
We’ll raise a glass to that. Palomas on Lonsdale Street now has their very own tequila cart, where they’ll wheel it around to pour tequila shots directly to your table. Happening every Friday and Saturday night, it sounds like a very dangerous new addition…
The Inn brings back Vegan Night
Plant based dining has never sounded so delicious. The Inn in Ainslie is bringing back their vegan night on Wednesday 6 May to showcase the power of a plant cooked well.
Taking inspiration from Mediterranean shared plates, for $89 per person the menu includes options like eggplant m’tabbal, lemon pepper fried cauliflower and harissa spiced turnip skewers served with garlic yoghurt and lime.
Book your seat here!
Lerida is on the (Dairy) road
Pop this month-long pop-up into your diary. Lerida Estate is bringing its cellar door experience to Dairy Road this May, offering a rare opportunity to experience Lerida’s cool-climate wines without leaving the city.
Operating as a hybrid cellar door, wine bar, and bottle shop, Spitfire Big Slice Pizza will also be running alongside the pop-up so you can enjoy delicious New York style pizza with a glass of wine. Running Thursday to Sunday from May 7 to May 31, bookings are essential!
The collab you didn’t know you needed: Rizla and Zero Complex
Block out Friday 15 May, because Zero Complex is bringing their unique Korean cuisine Rizla for a one-off collaboration of great food and fine wine.
Treating foodies to classic Korean flavours and dishes (including kimchi dumplings, and Korean braised short rib) as well as new takes (like bulgogi sliders and a decadent chocolate sesame dessert), for $130 per person you’ll also get to sip on local and off-dry German Rieslings.
Emiko Davies and Barbara Sweeney come to Canberra
Are you a cookbook collector? You’ll want to know about this. Food writers Emiko Davies and Barbara Sweeney are making their way to Verity Lane Market on Saturday 16 May for Cookbook Love – a conversation about (you guessed it) cookbooks.
Bringing together their observations of books, reading and cooking (and attempting to address the thorny question of how many cookbooks is too many), this is an event that cookbook collectors can’t miss.
Book your ticket here.
G&T Week is a thing, and Canberra is in on the celebrations
This nationwide initiative is celebrating the classic G&T across bars, restaurants and cellar doors, and what’s not to love? Running from Monday 18 until Sunday 24 May, Fever-Tree G&T WEEK will be pouring curated premium gin and tonics alongside dedicated menus. There will also be special pairings and a mix of in-venue activations designed to spotlight the best of local gin.
With more venues to be announced, Canberra’s own White Rabbit Cocktail Room will be in on the celebrations along with The Canberra Distillery. Keep an eye out to see what other venues join in on the fun!
Ardbeg Day at Volstead
Whisky fans, this one’s for you. Volstead is hosting Ardbeg Day on Thursday 28 May with a guided tasting of new and past Ardbeg whiskies, including a sneak peek at their newest release, Dolce. Your ticket includes the tasting and pizza – because nothing pairs with peaty Scotch quite like a slice. Details here.
Parlour of Dreams launches its new cocktail menu
Parlour of Dreams is throwing open its doors for a one-night-only first look at their brand new cocktail menu, and it sounds like a good time. On Saturday 23 May, bartender Liam will guide you through the new pours across an intimate evening of drinks, music and canapés by Corella.
Your ticket gets you a cocktail from the new menu on arrival, curated bites throughout the night, vinyl DJs setting the mood, and a complimentary Botanist glass to take home. Grab your tickets here.
Brodburger is turning 17 (and throwing a week-long party)
Canberra’s beloved Brodburger is celebrating 17 years with a full week of birthday festivities.
Running from Sunday 3 May to Saturday 9 May, expect seven days of surprises including giveaways, free burgers, trivia and secret code words. Keep an eye on their socials so you don’t miss out on any of the fun.
Italian aperitivo at DeVINO
If you’ve ever wanted to do after-work drinks the Italian way, DeVINO Wine & Salumi in Phillip is hosting an Italian Aperitivo evening on Thursday 28 May. For $49.99, you’ll get a drink on arrival and an hour of unlimited cicchetti and canapés – standing, mingling and grazing the way it’s done in Italy.
With just 30 spots available and a lucky door prize thrown in for good measure, it’s worth booking sooner rather than later.
Shoalhaven street food party, anyone?
Consider this your sign to start planning a trip to Shoalhaven. On Saturday 30 May, GWYLO in Mollymook is transforming into a roaming, night market-style dining experience inspired by Asian street food culture.
Running from 5.30 pm until 10 pm, expect hibachi grilling outdoors, multiple roaming food stations, and a shared menu designed for standing, grazing and movement throughout the space. Add in live music and a well-stocked bar and you’re in for a good time!
Book your ticket here.
