Nine Canberra restaurants where it feels like you’ve left the city
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Craving an escape? What if I told you that you could go to Italy, Thailand, Greece, Ethiopia and more without ever leaving Canberra?
You might not be able to teleport to Europe or book a last-minute flight to Asia, but you can book a table somewhere that makes you feel like you’ve left the city. From seaside trattorias overlooking Lake Burley Griffin to Shanghai-inspired interiors, Filipino comfort food and Mediterranean feasts, these Canberra restaurants are serving up a little taste of somewhere else. So, grab your imaginary passport and let’s eat our way around the world!
Ping Ping Thai Food (Kambah)
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Sawadee kha! Ever wanted to experience karaoke on Thailand’s streets? Well, consider this your sign to book a table at Ping Ping Thai Food, because apparently, your next overseas holiday is only a short drive to Kambah away. Ping Ping Thai Food brings a little slice of Thailand to south Canberra, with Thai street food, drinks, fairy-lit garden vibes and, most importantly, free karaoke. Tuck into Thai favourites packed with spicy, sour, sweet and savoury flavours, grab a drink and settle in.
Inside, you’ll find a cosy atmosphere, but step outside, and you’ll discover a beautiful garden complete with a pond, lush greenery and colourful fairy lights that make the perfect backdrop for a long dinner with friends.
But now it’s time to grab the mic. Whether you’re a pop-star-level performer or someone who thinks confidence counts more than hitting the right notes, the mic is yours. It’s everything you need in one place! Thai food, drinks, karaoke and fairy lights? Suddenly, Canberra is looking suspiciously like Bangkok.
6 Kett Street, Kambah | pingping.com.au
Molto Italian (Kingston)
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Ciao! Welcome to the Italian coast.Well, almost. Molto Italian brings a little slice of Italy to the shores of Lake Burley Griffin. Inspired by owner Carlo Tosolini’s Italian heritage and the idea of La Famiglia, the 130-seat restaurant pairs traditional Italian food with the feel of a modern seaside trattoria. Think sleek interiors, high ceilings, an open kitchen, a bar and a feature wood-fired pizza oven – basically, everything you need for your next Italian holiday, minus the plane ticket.
And if you’re after dinner and a little entertainment, their Cacio e Pepe parmesan-wheel spaghetti is prepared right in front of you, making for the kind of tableside moment that deserves a spot on your camera roll. Add cosy vibes, plenty of pasta and lots of gluten-free options, and suddenly Canberra is feeling a lot more like the Italian coast.
Element Building Unit, Unit 155/43 Eastlake Parade, Kingston | moltoitalian.com
Lolo and Lola (Watson)
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Kumusta! If you’re looking for a taste of the Philippines without booking a flight, Lolo and Lola have you covered. The Canberra Filipino eatery is all about celebrating food, traditions and memories passed down by Filipino lolos and lolas, which translates to grandfathers and grandmothers.
The menu is packed with comforting Filipino favourites, from crispy bagnet and rich kare-kare to seriously good fried chicken adobo. Their food is all about bringing the flavour of the Philippines to Canberra while creating that familiar taste of home for Filipino Australians. It’s the kind of place where dinner feels less like going out and more like being invited by someone’s family kitchen.
3 Watson Place, Watson | loloandlola.com.au
Lilong by Taste of Shanghai (City)
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Ni Hao! Step inside Lilong by Taste of Shanghai and you could almost forget you’re in Canberra. Part of the family-owned Taste of Shanghai Group, Lilong draws on traditional Shanghai cuisine and the rich culinary history of China. The group’s food philosophy is about more than what’s on the plate, bringing together flavours, aromas, sights, sounds and traditions to create the feeling of sitting down to a regional Chinese dining experience. But it’s not just the food doing the heavy lifting.
The beautiful interior gives the restaurant a distinctly Shanghai-inspired feel, making the whole experience feel like you’ve travelled much further than Northbourne Avenue. Come for the food, stay for the atmosphere, and prepare for someone at the table to inevitably say, “Wait, are we still in Canberra?”
Unit 190/264 City Walk, City | lilongcbr.com.au
Hecho en México (City and Kingston)
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Hola! Another Canberra favourite for when you’re craving a Mexican escape, Hecho en México brings vibrant Mexican food and a lively atmosphere to the capital. The menu is made for sharing, so gather your friends, order a few things for the table and settle in for a night that feels a world away from your usual Tuesday dinner. It’s colourful, casual and full of the bold flavours you want when you’re craving Mexican food, no passport required!
Shop FG10/148 Bunda Street, City and 27 Eastlake Parade, Kingston | hechoenmexico.com.au
Kinn Thai (City and Woden)
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Sawadee kha! When the craving for Thai food hits, you don’t need to fly to Bangkok. Kinn Thai brings the familiar sweet, salty, sour and spicy flavours of Thailand to Canberra, with a menu that makes it very easy to convince yourself you’ve escaped for the evening. Whether you’re after noodles, curries, stir-fries, or something to share with the table, it’s the kind of dinner that transports you through flavour alone. Because a bowl of noodles can be a holiday too, right?
SHOP B09/10/148 Bunda Street, City and Westfield Woden, Shop 83B/2 Keltie Street | kinncanberra.com.au
Ethiopian on Northbourne (City)
Credit: Ben Calvert.
Selam! For something a little different, head to Ethiopian on Northbourne for a taste of Ethiopia. Ethiopian dining is about much more than simply ordering a dish for yourself. It’s a social experience built around sharing food, bold spices and eating together, making it the perfect choice when you want dinner to feel like an occasion. Expect fragrant dishes, rich flavours and injera, the traditional Ethiopian flatbread used to scoop up all those delicious sauces and sides. It’s colourful, communal and completely different from your usual Canberra dinner.
65 Northbourne Avenue, City| ethiopianonnorthbourne.com
Med (Barton)
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Yia sou AND Merhaba! We’re ending it off with a triple threat! Can’t decide between Greece, Turkey or Lebanon? Why pick one! Med brings the flavours of the Mediterranean to Barton, drawing inspiration from Greek, Turkish and Lebanese cuisine.
Think fresh flavours, generous plates and dishes made for sharing around the table. It’s the kind of restaurant where you can sit down for dinner and suddenly find yourself lingering for hours, which is exactly the energy we want from a Mediterranean holiday. So, if your idea of escaping involves good food, a long dinner and pretending you’re somewhere along the Mediterranean coast, add Med to your itinerary.
1/1 Burbury Close, Barton | domarb.com.au
Cartel Taqueria (Belconnen and Queanbeyan)
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Hola! This is a Mexican taqueria for when what you really need is a one-way ticket to Mexico – preferably with tacos involved. Cartel Tacos brings Mexican flavours and plenty of personality to Canberra, making it an easy pick when you want dinner to feel a little less like dinner and a little more like a holiday.
Think tacos, bold flavours, colourful plates and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to stay for just one more drink, or round of chips. Because sometimes the closest thing to a trip to Mexico is a table covered in tacos.
5/114 Emu Bank, Belconnen and Ray Morton Park, 6 Trinculo Place, Queanbeyan East | carteltacos.au
Who says you need to leave Canberra to feel like you’ve been somewhere? Whether you’re craving Italian pasta by the lake, Filipino comfort food, Shanghai-style dining, Mexican tacos, Thai street food and karaoke, Ethiopian flavours or a Mediterranean feast, there’s a whole world of food waiting to be explored right here in the capital. All you need is an appetite (and maybe a camera roll with enough storage).
Feature image: Ethiopian on Northbourne. Credit: Ben Calvert.
