Where to eat New Year’s Day 2026
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Already planning your first meal out for 2026? Here are the local eateries keeping you full and happy.
Whether you’ve woken up with a hangover or bounced out of bed after a very sensible night in, these venues have you covered. From breakfast options to a little hair of the dog, here’s where you can go grab something to eat and feel alive again.
A WORD ABOUT OPENING HOURS
As always, we recommend calling the venue before you head there, just in case their hours have changed. Start the new year with happiness, not anger 😉
Agostinis
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Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, if authentic Italian is what you’re craving, Agostinis is the place to go. Open from 7 am, sink your teeth into creamy Pecorino Romano scrambled eggs in the morning and make sure to try one of their house-made pizzas or pastas a little later in the day. The best cure for a hangover? An affogato with espresso, vanilla gelato, and liqueur. It’s the best of both worlds.
East Hotel, 69 Canberra Avenue, Kingston | agostinis.com.au
Assembly
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Chasing a delicious breakfast and barista coffee or somewhere for dinner and a cocktail? Assembly will be open from 7 am for just that. Along with all of your classic brekkie options, they’ll be serving up their share plates, burgers, steaks and mains. What sounds better than a wood-fired 250g rump served with fries and salad to welcome in the new year?
11 Lonsdale Street, Braddon | thepeoplespub.com.au
Bunny Beans
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Both Bunny Beans Kippax and Greenway will be open 8 am to 1 pm on New Year’s Day.
And in rather excellent news, until Thursday 22 January, you can get Mango or Milo Bingsu during the day at Holt while the Night Cafe takes a summer break.
16/64 Hardwick Crescent, Holt | instagram.com/bunnybeansnightcafe.kippax
335 Anketell Street, Greenway | instagram.com/bunnybeanscafegreenway
Caffe al Lago
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This schiacciata sandwich bar will be open from 8 am until 3 pm on New Year’s Day and what sounds better than a lakeside bite to eat? We suggest trying the Pistachio Mortadelle followed by one of their Italian pastries. You’ll leave feeling very full but very happy.
60A Phyllis Ashton Circuit, Gungahlin | instagram.com/caffeallago
Canberra Centre
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Most of Canberra Centre’s food operators will be open throughout the holidays, so why not make the most of the air conditioning and hit the shops? Serving everything from doughnuts to hearty burgers, make sure to check with individual operators to confirm their opening hours on New Year’s Day.
Bunda Street, Canberra City | canberracentre.qicre.com
CocoNine
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Don’t feel like cooking dinner? Fair. Luckily CocoNine in Kingston will be open from 5 pm until 9.30 pm. With water views and some of the best Thai food in Canberra, the menu is extensive and delicious – perfect for a night out.
29 Eastlake Parade, Kingston | coconine.com.au
Cypher Brewing Co
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Mac and Cheese, Classic Nachos, and Brewers Ribs coated with YUMA! Native Ginger Beer Glaze. Cypher Brewing Co is all about comfort food. Open from 11 am until 11 pm, order yourself a toasted ciabatta loaded with garlic butter and mozzarella and a craft beer for a guaranteed good time.
3/25 Hinder Street, Gungahlin | cypherbrewing.com.au
Edgar’s
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Open from 7 am, Edgar’s will have you sorted for breakfast, lunch and dinner, making it a one-stop spot for all of your cravings. Go in the morning for a coffee and Edgar’s Brekky Burger, or wander down later in the day for a classic Chicken Parmi with Xmas ham (if you’re not sick of it yet).
1 Edgar Avenue, Ainslie | edgarsinn.com.au
Eighty Twenty
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All of Eighty Twenty’s cafés (with the exception of Kingston) will be open on New Year’s Day.
Their concept is all about finding the balance in life, so if you went hard last night, you might appreciate the chance to fill your body with all things virtuous!
See website for locations | eightytwentyfood.com.au
Grease Monkey
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Soak up your sins on New Year’s Day with a loaded burger, deep-dish pizza or fried chicken from Grease Monkey. Open at all four locations on New Year’s Day, a meal isn’t a want. It’s a need.
19 Lonsdale Street, Braddon | Shop 63/33 Hibberson Street, Gungahlin | Shop R04 Bradley Street, Westfield Woden | Shop 332B, Westfield Belconnen Shopping Centre, Belconnen | greasys.com.au
Highroad
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Open from 8 am until 3.30 pm, Highroad will be serving all your brekkie favourites and lunchtime classics to help you welcome in the new year. Think: a steak omelette, tzatziki eggs, seafood pasta and steak with frites.
1 Woolley Street, Dickson | homeallday.au/highroad
Home Brew
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Open from 8 am until 4 pm, Home Brew will make sure you don’t miss out on your morning coffee. Also serving all of your brekkie favourites with a fancy twist, go for a brew and stay for the food. We promise that it will soak everything right up…
Shop 5, 76 Steve Irwin Avenue, Wright | @homebrewcbr
Kiln
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Open 7 am–2 pm on Christmas Day, you can find this lakeside spot within the Belconnen Arts Centre. Tuck into fresh dishes inspired by Australian classics and served with a twist. A great option for Belco locals (and anyone else)!
118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au/kiln
Mama Dough
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Freshly made wood-fired pizza is the way to go after a long night, and luckily, Mama Dough will be open from 11.30 am to serve you just that. From classic Margherita to Artichoke & Olive, eat it then and there or take it home to devour it in comfort. Whatever you choose, it will hit the spot.
2 Wakefield Gardens, Ainslie | mamadough.com.au
Maple and Pine
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A local favourite hidden in Isaacs, Maple and Pine has you covered for breakfast, brunch and lunch on New Year’s Day. Open from 7.30 am until 2 pm, options include a Breakfast Bruschetta, Eggs Benny, Berry Hotcakes and Masala Chili Scramble. Hungry yet?
Shop 3/6 Farr Place, Isaacs | @mapleandpinecafe
Margot Bar
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Craving a coffee post or pre-lake walk? Margot will be open from 7 am to 1 pm on New Year’s Day. Also serving pastries by Sonoma Bakery, it’s all about balance…right?
West Kiosk, Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes | margot.bar
Mavi
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Because nothing will make you feel better than baklava gelato. Perfect for those craving something cold, creamy and delicious, they’ll be open from 12 pm until late with 14 gelatos and six sorbets to choose from. And don’t worry – you don’t have to be a Hellenic Club member to get your hands on a scoop.
1 Matilda Street, Phillip | mavigelati.au
On Lake Café
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If starting the new year by the water sounds like just what the doctor ordered, On Lake Café might be your destination of choice.
The food is every bit as pretty as the views (and delicious, too!)
6 Bowen Drive, Barton | @onlakecafe
On Lonsdale
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Serving up Japanese- and Korean-inspired sandos, rice bowls and poke bowls, alongside speciality ONA coffee and matcha, you can pop into On Lonsdale from 8 am until 2 pm. An onigiri and bacon & egg sando will transport you straight to the streets of Japan.
23 Lonsdale Street, Braddon | homeallday.au/on-lonsdale
Pollen Cafe
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Because delicious food in picturesque surrounds might just make you forget about your headache. Open from 9 am until 4 pm, go for the waffles, the croissant benny, or the smoked trout salad. But the entire menu is as delicious as it sounds.
Clunies Ross Street, Acton | pollencafe.com.au
Stripey Sundae
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Need a sweet treat? Stripey Sundae is the place to go. Open from 12 pm until 5 pm, they’ll be serving ice cream, milkshakes, thickshakes, spiders and affogatos to help you get through the day. Can’t decide what to try? An ice cream tasting flight is the way to go.
Shop 4/18 O’Hanlon Place, Nicholls | stripeysundae.au
Tiger Lane
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Ramen. Sashimi. Cyoza. Sando Chicken Katsu. Tiger Lane will be open from 11.30 am until 9 pm to serve all this and more. However, it is worth noting that Taki will only be open for dinner (5 pm – 9 pm) and Mrs Wang and Inari will be closed. Plan accordingly!
Canberra Centre, Bunda Street City | instagram.com/tigerlane.cbr
Water’s Edge
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Take your New Year’s Day up a level with a meal at one of Canberra’s best fine dining restaurants – Water’s Edge. Open for both lunch and dinner, sit back and watch the world go by as you enjoy Modern Australian food with a French twist. Want something even fancier? You can also book yourself into their high tea. Set against the stunning views of Lake Burley Griffin, and featuring handcrafted savouries, delicate pastries, and freshly baked scones served with premium teas and bubbles, you can thank us later.
40 Parkes Place, Parkes | watersedgecanberra.com.au
