Where to find Canberra’s best breakfast and brunch, shaped by local favourites and informed by return visits.
It took multiple weekends away travelling the beach-to-country corridor between Sydney and Canberra to research the best places for breakfast in the ACT. And, in doing so, we’ve narrowed it down to a list that includes sprawling lobby restaurants, places to play ‘stacks on’ with a mound of pancakes and packed cafes that do a thoroughly decent avo on toast.
The Shortlist
Best pastries: The Pialligo Bakesmith
Family-Friendly Spot: Edgar’s
Best for Brunch: Wildflour Bakery
Best Design/Most Instagrammable: Patissez
Best For Large Groups: Good Neighbour
Best for Vegan/Vegetarian: Sweet Bones
Best Outdoor Dining: Urban Pantry
The best places for breakfast in Canberra
Breakfast is taken seriously in the nation’s capital. From bakeries worth lining up for to cafes that invite us to linger by the lake, here are the venues that deliver.
1. Space Kitchen
Most of the best places for breakfast in Canberra feature French toast on the menu. Space Kitchen layers its version with strawberries, passionfruit curd, mascarpone and caramelised meringue. Space cadets are struck dumb with indecision when trying to choose between fritters or the full brekkie. The unicorn hotcake is a kiddie-pleasing sugar rush of maple custard, vanilla ice cream, waffle cone and fairy floss. Need a last-minute birthday cake in Canberra? Get the cookie monster cake for kids and Ferrero Rocher for ya fancy dinner party.
Cuisine: Willy Wonka-esque wonderful
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Colourful and celebratory
Location: 12 Furzer Street (corner Of Furzer St &, Worgan St, Phillip ACT 2606
2. Edgar’s
A lot of Ainslie locals treat Edgar’s Inn as an extension of their living room. And it’s easy to see why. Edgar’s is part of a sprawling multi-venue space: there’s both indoor seating, a leafy courtyard and Wakefield’s Bar & Wine upstairs, one of the best bars in Canberra. But for daytime, Edgar’s remains a quietly excellent cafe and a contender for the best breakfast Canberra locals return to for brekkie rolls and coffee. The toasties made with Three Mills sourdough or smashed avo with goat’s feta and mint-parsley dukkah are also top options.
Cuisine: Mod Oz
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: A double hit of excellent coffee and food makes for a buzzy cafe
Location: 1 Edgar St, Ainslie ACT 2602
3. Good Neighbour
Residents of Kingston were thrilled to hear a Good Neighbour was moving into the ‘hood. Run by the team behind the long-time institution Gus’s Place, the light-filled cafe feels as relaxed and welcoming as its predecessor. The menu leans into comforting classics done well like huevos rancheros, shakshouka, ricotta hotcakes and chilli crab folded eggs. There is pet-friendly seating and the interiors are softened by eucalyptus greens and warm, earthy tones.
Cuisine: Expect global influences
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: A place to escape the city
Location: 1/55 Wentworth Ave, Kingston ACT 2604
4. ONA Coffee House
You can’t write about the best cafes in Canberra without including ONA Coffee House, founded by world-champion barista Saša Šestić. The brand helped forge the city’s reputation for specialty coffee and offers barista training and roasting for those who take their bean hunting seriously. This Fyshwick venue attracts serious caff-fiends, industry folk and locals who converge here to pair ONA’s award-winning coffee with pulled pork benedict on garlic butter focaccia or huevos rotos layered with chorizo and paprika.
Cuisine: Exceptional brunch options
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Relaxing space for coffee lovers
Location: 68 Wollongong St, Fyshwick ACT 2603
5. Wildflour Bakery
This industrial-chic cafe is one of the best places to eat with kids in Canberra. The artisan bakery has a courtyard near to play equipment, which keeps kids happy while waiting for their food. Take your pick between breads with spreads, eggs benedict with herbed potato rosti and sautéed spinach. Get your caffeine fix with a cup of ONA coffee and pick up some bread to go. Wildflour is the place I consistently mention when talking about the best breakfast spots in Canberra.
Cuisine: Baked goods and beyond (think Japanese chicken burgers, Snickers smoothies and Spanish eggs)
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: It’s giving handsome Fyshwick warehouse
Location: 8 Townsville Street, Fyshwick, ACT 2609
6. The Pialligo Bakesmith
Set amid sprawling gardens, this leafy cafe with indoor and outdoor seating is oriented toward the greenery. It’s a calm and quiet place to sit and savour a coffee and pastry away from the bustle of Canberra. Pastries are the headline act here, including a cinnamon scroll crowned Australia’s best, alongside a brunch menu of chilli scrambled eggs, quiche, French toast and pancakes. The pace is unhurried and the setting feels restorative. Devour a few cinnamon scrolls, then take a box of chocolate hazelnut escargot to go.
Cuisine: Artisan bakery fare
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Quiet and calm with a lovely leafy outlook
Location: Beltana Rd, Pialligo ACT 2609
7. Little Oink
A quick browse of the Little Oink menu presents perfectly pun-tastic options like the Oinko Burger, Got Beef, and the Keep it Simple Stupid option of eggs your way on sourdough. You can also plump for the Pimp my Meal option, where you can pick and choose additions such as marinated haloumi and gluten-free toast. The hum of conversation at Little Oink is pleasant and comfortable and it’s the sort of lovely light-filled cafe that you wish existed in your neighbourhood.
Cuisine: Fresh, honest pork-forward food
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Comfortable suburban favourite
Location: 22 Cook Pl, Cook ACT 2614
8. Sonoma
Canberrans take their bakeries seriously. You’ll see them bonding over their teacup poodles while standing in line at this artisanal bakery in Lonsdale. Expect all the usual suspects on the menu: cultured butter croissants, pain au chocolat, almond croissants and Portuguese custard tarts. Grab a kalamata olive sourdough to go before exploring the national capital. Each handcrafted loaf of artisanal sourdough takes 36 hours to make, so my recommendation is the signature Sonoma ham croque forno baguette. A morning bun with a coffee on the side is also a good option.
Cuisine: Pastries and baked items like baguette sangas
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Endlessly inviting
Location: 1/21 Lonsdale St, Braddon ACT 2601
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9. B-Side
Locals obsessed with caffeine peg B-Side to be one of the best places for coffee in Canberra. And I’ve lost count of how many times my mornings in Canberra have started here. If you’re in Canberra for business for at least 72 hours, you might want to duck in during the day when high-profile pollies come to get their caffeine buzz on. I’m a huge fan of the toasted sourdough topped with cucumber, peanut butter and chilli oil. Campbell sister caff Intra is also worth a visit.
Cuisine: Slabs of sourdough topped with inventive creations and salads and toasties
Average price: $$$
Location: G01/35 Lonsdale St, Braddon, ACT 2612
10. Monster Kitchen & Bar
I’ve enjoyed breakfast at Monster at Ovolo Nishi many times while visiting family in Canberra and it always feels like a special treat. The colourful design-forward hotel in the NewActon precinct is one of the best hotels in Canberra and draws a steady crowd for brekkie. As the name suggests, Monster is a behemoth of a venue. It’s also cosy, colourful and quirky. The menu at Monster is no longer plant-based, but vegetarians are still well cared for. The seasonal fruit plate with yoghurt is stellar. And the Nishi breakfast burger elite.
Cuisine: Mod Oz
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Whimsical and eclectic as the crowd
Location: Ground/25 Edinburgh Ave, Canberra ACT 2601
The best places for brunch in Canberra
The following list of the best brunches Canberra offers is sure to satisfy, with everything from freak shakes to brekkie burgers. Tuck in.
11. Mocan & Green Grout
Some of the city’s hippest bars, cafes and restaurants are in the NewActon precinct. Mocan & Green Grout is one of them. The leafy, courtyard-style cafe is so colourful it’s like walking into a rainbow. Sit at the bar and watch the chefs plating up with precision at the pass. The cafe doesn’t just walk a line between grungy and cool, it positively struts. Secure a spot at the concrete countertop for favourites such as the avocado and chevre on sourdough which secures its spot among the best breakfasts Canberra regulars swear by.
Cuisine: Considered cafe fare
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: The cafe hums with colour and texture
Location: 1/19 Marcus Clarke St, Canberra ACT 2601
12. Cup & Coaster
Located in the quasi-industrial fringes of Canberra, Fyshwick is where you will find places like Capital Brewing Co. one of the best places for a beer in Canberra and cafes like Cup & Coaster, which has loads of charm. The French toast arrives stacked with seasonal fruits, vanilla ice cream, roasted almonds, butterscotch sauce and mango sauce. Those who prefer savoury flavours will gravitate toward the all-day Filipino-inspired tapsilog, comprising filo-marinated dry beef, garlic rice and fried egg. Burn off the calories with a lap around Lake Burley Griffin, one of the best things to do in Canberra.
Cuisine: Asian fusion
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Rustic charm
Location: Unit 2/64 Wollongong St, Fyshwick ACT 2609
13. The Cupping Room
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better brew in the morning than at The Cupping Room where world-champion barista Sasa Sestic is behind your freshly ground ONA Coffee beans. I still make a point of coming here early when I’m in town to claim a spot among the bearded, nose-ringed crowd. The cafe has well and truly conquered Canberra and is known for brewing some the best coffee in Canberra. Geek out over an ONA education, then cap it off with toast topped with a mushroom medley or garlic prawn chilli scram.
Cuisine: Contemporary Australian riffs on classics
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Snug and sophisticated
Location: 1/1-13 University Ave, Canberra ACT 2601
14. Doubleshot
Locate Doubleshot by looking for its ivy-clad walls, which have dressed up Deakin Court. The food here makes this one of the best cafes in Canberra. It’s a lovely place to brunch before or after visiting the National Gallery of Australia, one of the most popular attractions in Canberra. Yes of course, they have smashed avo, levelled up with pickled chilli, almond dukkah, Meredith feta, coriander, lime and turmeric dressing. The apple crumble porridge is my decadent dish of the day. Plant yourself at an al fresco table.
Cuisine: Mod Oz
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Community vibes
Location: Shop/7 Hopetoun Cct, Deakin ACT 2600
15. Sweet Bones
Emily and Russell Brindley of Sweet Bones understand vegans don’t always want to be virtuous. The cafe’s cinnamon scrolls have a cult following as does the Rusty McMuffin Meal with tofu scramble. The cafe gives off a creative energy thanks to its artfully dishevelled customers who gather around the canteen-style tables and chairs. Try the towering nacho mountain dolloped with cilantro sour cream and avocado, or the New Orleans po boy. Whatever you try, you’ll vow to return to work your way through the menu, which does right by local producers.
Cuisine: Tex Mex but make it vegan
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Hippie-chic
Location: 3 Scullin Place, Scullin ACT 2614
16. Silo Bakery
Head east to Silo Bakery in Kingston for chilli jam poached eggs or freshly baked tasca bread stuffed with mortadella, ricotta, pistachio and roquette. The best part of enjoying breakfast at a bakery is that all the breads and pastries are freshly made onsite. Described as “part Brooklyn, part wartime Parisian bakery…" by the NY Times – it’s certainly one of the best bakeries in Canberra. The question is: how are you going to decide what to indulge in? A croissant with smoked ham and Maasdam cheese or the Gruyère omelette?
Cuisine: Freshly baked bread and treats
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Elegant working interiors with wooden tables and polished concrete
Location: 36 Giles St, Kingston ACT 2604
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17. Ricardo’s Cafe
It’s easy to fall into a scroll hole while admiring the eye-popping colours that season Ricardo Cafe’s Instagram page. But visiting here for a lazy weekend brunch in Canberra is way better than the virtual experience. Ricardo’s is a great place for a gatho with gusto. The coconut hotcakes and French toast sound simple, but they are really works of art. Zucchini fritters are also memorable, given heft with the addition of poached eggs, and made pretty with beetroot sauce, carrot puree, smashed avocado, grilled zucchini and two poached eggs.
Cuisine: Mod Oz meets mod Med
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Fun, loud, vibey
Location: Jamison Plaza, 1 Bowman St, Macquarie ACT 2614
18. Intra
You’re as likely to find academics as students tapping away on their laptops at Intra. The cafe is dedicated to enjoying seasonal ingredients. Make your first meal of the morning substantial with a kimchi jaffle or granola with coconut yoghurt and seasonal coffee. Buy a great literary work or brainstorm your next novel at this convivial cafe, which celebrates Canberra’s cafe culture. Vegans and vegos are also catered to. Take your extrovert mate along so they can wax lyrical about the bolognese jaffle, another must-try menu item.
Cuisine: Mod Oz
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Bookish and bustling
Location: 30/12 Provan St, Campbell ACT 2612
19. Patissez
Patissez was launched into the stratosphere through social media thanks to the ‘freak shake’, which kick-started the trend around the world. The cafe deserves kudos for creating infernally evil concoctions such as the Super Chocolate Fudge freak shake, which is served pelted with cookie crumbs. But it’s not all chocolate-free pours and fudge by the litre. The cafe also causes Insta chaos with its tried-and-tested Tijuana tacos and loaded breakfast burgers. There are also low-key options such as hotcakes and avo and Danish feta smash.
Cuisine: Cafe food with a cult following on the side
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: It’s all sunshine and good times
Location: Unit 3/21 Bougainville St, Griffith ACT 2603
20. Local Press
One of the best things to do in Canberra is hire an electric GoBoat. Local Press doesn’t open until 8am, so you have ample time to pootle about in the water before arriving in style at Local Press on the Kingston Foreshore.
Mingle with pet owners who are here with their pooches on the deck overlooking the water. Local Press is all exposed bricks, flower-filled vases and ferns spilling out of baskets. Sit outside on a sun-splashed day to enjoy roasted granola with lemongrass pannacotta, seasonal fruits and mango puree.
Cuisine: Mod Oz with Mediterranean influences
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: The rustic café has a communal table at its heart and is all warm vibes by the water
Location: Cnr Eastlake Parade & Giles Street, Kingston Foreshore, ACT 2604
21. Urban Pantry
Urban Pantry is a popular brunch spot for families, couples and groups of friends who sprawl on the deck overlooking Manuka Lawns. The leafy, sun-dappled cafe offers up a menu that is more Melbourne than Manuka and updates with the seasons. And you’d do well to give it a whirl. The special all-day menu is dedicated to staples such as corn fritters and blueberry hotcakes. Say bye-bye to your hangover with an Urban Burger stuffed with a fried egg, Brindabella bacon, cheddar, relish, hash brown and aioli.
Cuisine: Contemporary Australian
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Comfortable and stylish
Location: 5 Bougainville St, Griffith ACT 2603
22. The Knox Made in Watson
I wish there was a cafe like The Knox Made in Watson when I lived in nearby Hackett. Wander past and you will be lured in by the aroma of loaded croissants being warmed in the oven. The cafe with the sunny courtyard in Watson shops is a reliable fave, filled with locals catching up over coffee and families winding down after weekend sport. The all-day menu spans everything from Mexican baked eggs with beans and chorizo to flatbread topped with labneh, mushrooms, kale and dukkah.
Cuisine: Nourishing food that relies on local suppliers
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Cosy, community hub
Location: Shop 1/13 Watson Pl, Watson ACT 2602
23. Penny University
Crawl around the Kingston precinct in Canberra until you reach Penny University Coffee House, which serves righteous brunch options such as French toast, topped with strawberries and cream. As well as the smoothies and freshly squeezed juices, there are brunch cocktails to take the edge off. The all-day breakfast menu also includes an okonomiyaki savoury pancake and Bircher muesli. The coffeehouse is named after London’s Penny Universities from the 17th century when it only cost a penny to enter and created a unique social environment.
Cuisine: Considered café fare
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: It’s not just for beardy hipsters; everyone is welcome.
Location: 15 Kennedy St, Kingston ACT 2604
24. Eighty Twenty
Eighty Twenty just opened its 9th venue in Canberra. Located on the spot that was previously known as Nicky’s in Dickson, Eighty Twenty is the kind of place made for a power brunch. Look to the specials board for inspiration and hook into savoury brunch options such as the green eggs with beans, chilli prawn croissant and burrito bowl. Catch up over coffee at the cool cafe where you can sit alongside inner-urbanites and uni students who appreciate the neighbourhood vibes.
Cuisine: Fusion cafe fare
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Busy, buzzy neighbourhood hub
Location: 28 Challis St, Dickson ACT 2602
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