Pialligo Estate’s return, hot brunch spots, and 20+ new openings – the foodie news you need today
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Consider this your bite-sized update to all the hot openings, sad closures, and exciting announcements in Canberra’s food scene.
Here’s the foodie news you need – dig in.
Howdy! The Peacemaker Saloon brings back the Wild West
Those looking for a new watering hole will be excited to hear the news that a new saloon from the team who brought you the award-winning speakeasy Volstead Repeal has opened on Mort Street.
Serving up American Southwestern food, beer, and margaritas, along with some old-fashioned Southern drinks (including what they promise will be Canberra’s best mint julep), you’ll be boot scootin’ long into the night at the Peacemaker Saloon.
Here’s what you need (and want) to know.
Bookings for Pialligo Estate’s Pavilion Restaurant are now open, and there’s a new Executive Chef at the helm
Following the hot news that Pialligo Estate is set to open in early July under new operators, bookings have recently opened at the new Pavilion Restaurant – and soon, you’ll be dining on delights from hatted chef Stefano Mondonico.
Inspired by the venue’s country-estate atmosphere, expect a menu featuring local produce and natural flavours.
Crack Bakery is back!
Only available to order online, prime those fingers – you’ll want more than one slice of these pies.
After stopping orders in 2021, Crack Bakery is finally back with a bang. And in exciting (and delicious news) along with the iconic apple pie, Canberrans will also be able to order a rhubarb pie, a pumpkin pie, and some chunky cookies. Honestly, the business name says it all…
The team behind Gus’ Place has opened a new cafe southside
We were sold when we heard that they make strawberry-iced matcha.
Good Neighbour, a new venture from the owner of Bunda Street icon Gus’ Place has opened on Wentworth Avenue. Slinging breakfast, brunch, and lunch classics, you can expect everything from Mexican-inspired Heuvos Sucios (Dirty Eggs) to New York-style chunky cookies. Yum.
BanMé has opened in Gungahlin
We said it was Vietnamese street food worth finding a park in Braddon for, but now BanMé is bringing it’s truly superior line of Banh Mi to Gungahlin with a very soft opening (they thought they could hide from us. They couldn’t)
Located next to Ikigai Ramen on Hibberson street, run, don’t walk, to sink your teeth into some delicious authentic Vietnamese. Thank us later.
An award-winning pizza chef has opened his own pizza truck
Who doesn’t love the idea of serving award-winning pizza at your next event or gathering?
After coming in at 100th place in The Best Chef Awards (and as just one of two Australians named), Thapa Magar Hemnath has just launched his very own pizza truck – Hem & Co Mobile Pizzeria. Bringing delicious, handcrafted pizzas to any location in Canberra for any kind of private event, it’s a slice of news we didn’t know we needed.
Lim Peh’s Wonton Noodles has found a new home
When it first opened at Verity Lane Market in April 2023, Lim Peh’s Wonton Noodles quickly made a name for its Singaporean hawker-style classics and specials that tasted exactly like the real deal.
Now they’re opening up a brick-and-mortar location in Woden and southsiders are in for a treat. Set to open soon, we’ll bring you all the details.
Harris Farm Markets FINALLY opens
It blew up the Canberra social-media sphere but in case you missed the news, Harris Farm Market has finally opened in Majura Park after much anticipation.
And from the crowds we’ve seen swarming the farmers-market style shopping experience, it looks like their offerings of fresh fruit and veggies – including locally grown and organic options – and flower market are a hot hit. Oh, and it helps that Three Mills is now slinging coffees there too.
We spilled the beans on Espresso Room opening at the Canberra Centre
If you didn’t know, now you do.
Taking over the open-air space where La Sable used to be on the ground floor, Espresso Room will be opening outside Coles in the Canberra Centre this August. The perfect spot for a quick coffee and a snack, we expect that seeing city workers stocking up on Wildflour sourdoughs and baguettes will soon become a common site.
Tharwa now has a fine dining destination – and it’s located in a historic homestead
It’s the first time Cuppacumbalong Homestead has opened its doors to the public as a dining facility in over seven years.
On the first Friday of every month, Friday Night @ Cuppacumbalong will turn the beautiful homestead into a fine dining destination where Canberra foodie Cath O’Neill (known as ByCath) will showcase her cooking skills with an elegant five-course pre-fixe menu.
BYO only (with no corkage fee), Cuppacumbalong is only a short 15-minute drive from Tuggeranong – ideal for anyone living in the south of Canberra looking for their fine dining fix.
OTIS Lounge brings some serious sips and snacks to Kingston
Otis Dining Hall has undergone a transformation with the opening of OTIS Lounge – a small, intimate space ideal for pre- and post-dinner drinks and snacks.
And to coincide with the new opening, Owner and Executive Chef Damian Brabender has returned to the kitchen, serving small bites and sharing plates that pack a punch. See you there!
Café Bistrot CBD brings an authentic slice of Italy to Genge Street
Who doesn’t love the idea of a thick, homemade slice of pizza for lunch? Bringing easy grab-and-go Italian goodies to Civic regulars craving something wholesome and warm in this wintery weather Café Bistrot CBD is transporting tastebuds to Europe.
Serving everything from focaccia filled with homemade roast pork, provolone, cheese, fresh tomatoes, rocket, and aioli to a Caponata sandwich on wholewheat miche, stuffed with eggplant, capsicum, zucchini, onions, and baby spinach, each bite at this café offers an authentic taste of Italy.
An elevated Turkish experience opens at the Kingston Foreshore
We predict this will become a fast favourite.
With a drink menu packed full of international flavours and food served from chef and owner Mert Toplu’s own country, at Rakkas you can expect a menu that fuses classic Turkish dishes and flavours with modern cooking techniques.
Romanée Wine Bar is Braddon’s newest spot for an unexpected tipple
Tucked away in the back of the Branx building on Lonsdale Street, this new wine bar serves an extremely curated range of sips and snacks.
Head to Romanée specifically for the by-the-glass selections. Setting Romanée apart from other bars, they present a wide variety of local wines made in ACT and surrounding regions.
Muse to close its doors in August
It’s a sad day for book and coffee lovers. Popular book café Muse is closing its doors after almost a decade of book launches and brunches. But don’t worry – it looks like the space is going to be refurbished by East Hotel into Cucina 69, a new café.
We’ll tell you when we know more….
The peeps at Honeysuckle and Morning Dew are opening a new venue
Those living in Wright better get excited, because an all-day eatery will be opening soon at Koko! Brought to life by the team behind Honeysuckle and Morning Dew, all we know is Home Brew will be brewing from day to night.
Hopefully the menu will hit all of the Wright spots…
And some more gossip hotter than your morning latte:
- A new modern Australian restaurant is coming to Civic with the opening of Flow.
- Mezcals opens in Canberra for takeaway and delivery (and they have chilaquiles!)
- 29 Café and Eatery reopen in Curtin after closing for renovations.
- A new bakery café opens in Dickson – and they have the viral crookie on the menu.
- Betty’s Burgers can now be found in Westfield Woden!
- Banana Blossom Salads has opened in the Canberra Centre’s lower food court.
- Sideway closed and then reopened as Shadows…all in one day?
- Café De Sareen brings a new breakfast spot to Narrabundah shops.
Feature image: Ben Calvert Photography.
