From Gryphons to Barker Street Social – Griffith’s beloved local gets a glow up

Posted on 17 September, 2026

For almost two years, the evolution of Gryphons at the Griffith shops has been happening in plain sight – chair by chair, table by table, menu by menu.

Now, with fresh furniture, a remodelled bar frontage, new seating and an outdoor area made for long lunches and knock-off drinks, owner Spiro Tsiros is ready for the final piece of the transformation – a new name.

Say hello to Barker Street Social – a brighter, more polished version of the neighbourhood venue locals have known for years, sitting in the heart of Griffith’s leafy shopping precinct at 16 Barker Street.

For Spiro, who bought the business in April 2024 after running the popular Lighthouse Pub in Belconnen, the appeal was always in its suburban heartbeat.

“I wanted something more local, more personal,” he says. “Somewhere you really get to know people.”

But he also knew Gryphons came with history – and with regulars who had been meeting there for years. So rather than sweep in with a dramatic overnight rebrand, Spiro took his time.

“It’s an older demographic and we didn’t want to change it too much too quickly,” he says. “We wanted to ease them in. The name was always going to be the last thing – I didn’t want to upset the apple cart.”

That slow-burn approach has shaped every part of the makeover. The pub favourites are still there, but the menu has been gently elevated, bringing a more upmarket feel while keeping the easy, familiar spirit that made Gryphons a local staple.

For example, while there is a wide range of pizza, burger and pub faves on the menu (steak and schnitties, we are looking at you), you can also enjoy a Baked Brie marinated with thyme and olive oil and served with chilli jam and baguette crackers. There are Asian Prawn Tacos, Duck Pancakes, Roast Pumpkin Salad, New Zealand scallops with garlic butter, cream and shallots, a charcuterie board, and a separate kids menu (priced at $15).

Pub food but make it elevated

Think the comfort of a neighbourhood local, nudged into something a little more polished: generous plates, better finishes, a considered wine list, some playful cocktails and a venue that can carry you from coffee to dinner without feeling like it has lost its relaxed edge.

There has also been significant investment in the venue itself, part of what Spiro sees as a broader lift for the Griffith shops. Once one of Canberra’s classic suburban shopping strips, the precinct is having a noticeable moment – and Barker Street Social is designed to become one of its drawcards.

Spiro serving friends in the private wine cellar downstairs

One of the biggest surprises is tucked downstairs – a private wine room and dining room that feels like a hidden little reward for those who know where to find it. The stairs may still hint at the building’s old bones (they are the final, final item on the refresh list), but the room itself has been transformed, with wine barrels, warm wood finishes, a substantial collection and space for private dinners, celebrations and long-table gatherings.

With around 1000 bottles and 45 varieties, it gives the venue a more grown-up edge – somewhere for birthdays, work lunches, intimate dinners or simply a very good excuse to settle in with friends.

For longtime Gryphons loyalists, the old name may stick for a while. Spiro knows that – and in fact, a couple of old-timers reckon they will keep using the old name. But Spiro doesn’t mind. As long as they keep coming for their hot flat whites of a morning and their cold ales of an afternoon and plenty of tasty food in between. After all, the new Barker Street Social has been built carefully around what was already loved, and the new name won’t displace any of that.

Photos by One-X.