Your guide to Braddon: Canberra’s coolest suburb

Lucy Cousins Lucy Cousins
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With cosy coffeehouses, a sleek luxury hotel and lively farmers’ markets, Braddon is where it’s at right now.

When you think of our nation’s capital, your mind might wander to Parliament House, the National Gallery or the Australian War Memorial – school visit staples, if you will. However, Canberra also features a stream of burgeoning new hotspots that rival its big city sisters – especially the happening suburb of Braddon. Think Sydney’s Newtown mixed with Melbourne’s Fitzroy, with a healthy helping of Canberra’s unique charm.

A heady mix of award-winning restaurants, busy coffeehouses and avant-garde retail spaces, this former industrial suburb has been taken over by creatives. Gone are the rusty car dealerships and dusty factories of decades past. They’ve been replaced by boutique shops, busy bars and the irresistibly cool Midnight Hotel. The best way to explore the neighbourhood of Braddon is on foot, especially with a strong brew from Barrio Collective in hand. It’s one of the top coffee spots in Canberra and will have you coming back daily.

Barrio Collective in Braddon, Canberra
Barrio Collective is a top spot for good coffee in Canberra.

Where to stay in Braddon

1. Midnight Hotel

Designed by acclaimed architects Fender Katsalidis and offering luxury, art-led accommodation, Midnight Hotel features bespoke artwork, modern furnishings and locally sourced products (including brews from BentSpoke Brewing Co, more on them later). Dedicated to working with local artisans, producers and institutions, especially their cultural partner the National Portrait Gallery, the five-star hotel is elevating the suburb with its sharp design aesthetic.

Midnight Hotel lobby
Connect with the local surroundings at the chic Midnight Hotel. (Image: Ryan Linnegar)

2. The Kindred

If you’re looking for more of a home-away-from-home vibe, check into The Kindred. The cosy, two-bedroom apartment is one of the best Airbnbs you can book in Canberra, offering all the creature comforts and filled with locally made decor. Nestled in a garden-filled complex, its perfect for those who crave the quiet but want to stay close to the action.

The Kindred Airbnb in Braddon, Canberra
The Kindred is perfect for those seeking creature comforts.

Where to eat in Braddon

1. Haig Park Village Markets

Offering family-friendly activities and plenty of breakky, brunch and lunch options, the Haig Park Village Markets is a great way to start your day in Braddon. Held every Sunday from 8 am to 2 pm, the markets also boast an array of fresh local produce if you’d rather cook up a storm yourself.

Grab a hot pretzel or crepe, peruse the stalls and listen to live music while you contemplate what to grab for lunch.

Haig Park Village Markets in Canberra
Head down to the markets and grab a bite to eat. (Image: Haig Park Village Market/Martin Ollman)

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2. Midnight Bar

On the ground floor of Midnight Hotel, you can steal away from the bustle outside at Midnight Bar. It’s the perfect spot for an evening tipple, with a curated menu offering delicious bar-style food.

Come for the flavoursome plates (think aged duck breast with cherry, red amaranth and amaro jus), stay for the innovative cocktails. Favourites include the Kwick Fix, which packs a punch with Bacardi white rum, Malibu, green apple liqueur, pineapple, kiwifruit and lime juice. Cheers to that!

Midnight Hotel Bar
Stop for a tipple at the sophisticated Midnight Bar.

3. Braddon Merchant

With a big focus on drinks and a wine list longer than most, it’s no surprise that this modern restaurant has won best wine list in ACT. Braddon Merchant is open for breakfast, when the room fills with soft morning light, lunch and dinner, when the wine list really shines.

Championing local produce, you’ll find the refreshingly simple menu features refined dishes such as king salmon ceviche with finger lime, watermelon radish and yuzu dressing – perfect on a summer night in Canberra. The popular venue, known as one of Canberra’s best restaurants, is also connected to the Midnight Hotel.

Food from Braddon Merchant in Canberra
Feast on fresh, local produce at Braddon Merchant. (Image: Iconic Hotels by Geocon)

4. Eightysix

The perfect place for dinner with friends, eightysix is always packed and filled with the sounds of hip-hop. The dynamic menu features locally sourced ingredients and a wine list that will surprise you. Book an early table (and don’t forget to try the famous banoffee pie), then hop between a few of the city’s best bars.

Food at Eightysix restaurant in Canberra
Eightysix is a popular eatery in Braddon. (Image: VisitCanberra)

5. BentSpoke Brewing Co.

With over a decade spent in the suburb, BentSpoke Brewing Co. is so entrenched in the area that they serve up a beer called the Braddon Bitter; it’s crisp, goes down well and leaves you wanting another. Spend a lazy afternoon trying some of the 26 varieties of beer and cider on tap before attacking the classic pub food on offer.

Bentspoke Brewing Co in Canberra
Take your pick from the 26 craft beers on tap. (Image: VisitCanberra)

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Things to do in Braddon

1. Buzz about at Hive

Make sure you put aside some time to hit up Hive, a well-curated gift gallery filled with ethical and sustainable ceramics, jewellery, kitchenware, artwork and toys. With an emphasis on artisan-crafted products built to last, the owners encourage customers to think carefully about what they choose to take home.

Hive in Canberra, ACT
Stop in at Hive to peruse its ethical goods and gifts. (Image: VisitCanberra)

2. Pop into POP Canberra

Known as ‘one door to to 300 local makers, thousands of products and one big thriving community’, POP Canberra is a Braddon boutique worth checking out. Offering everything from savoury snacks and sweet treats to homeware, skincare and stationary, there’s something for everyone at POP.

POP shop in Canberra, ACT
There’s something for everyone at POP. (Image: VisitCanberra)

3. Buy a bottle from Blackhearts & Sparrows

Lucky for you, Melbourne-based speciality wine and beer store Blackhearts & Sparrows has an outpost in Braddon. Inside, the shelves are packed with an incredible range of craft beer, premium wines and non-alcoholic options. It’s the only location for the brand in Canberra, so be sure to stop by.

Blackheart & Sparrows in Braddon, Canberra
Oenophiles will adore Blackheart & Sparrows. (Image: VisitCanberra)

4. Explore Braddon’s street art

A great way to get the lay ofd the land is by hitting the streets – and the streets of Braddon are anything but boring. Walls and buildings throughout the neighbourhood have been thoughtfully decorated by eclectic street art by local artists, resembling the coolest outdoor art gallery you’ve ever seen. There’s even a digital map visitors can download to make sure nothing gets missed.

Braddon street art in Canberra, ACT
The streets of Braddon are adorned with colourful street art. (Image: Lightbulb for VisitCanberra)

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Lucy Cousins
Lucy is an experienced travel and lifestyle writer who loves exploring Australia and further afield any chance she gets. Whether it's on the water, in the air, by car or on foot, she’s always planning her next new adventure with her family and rescue dog, Stella.
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Taking the route less travelled along the Great Ocean Road

    Megan Arkinstall Megan Arkinstall
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    The Great Ocean Road has captured the hearts of Australians with its astounding scenery since 1932, but going off-course can enrich your experience with untouched nature, foodie delights and charming towns. 

    It’s a chilly 16 degrees. My husband pulls on a steamer and jogs – as all seasoned surfers do – into the water. We’re at Bells Beach, the legendary break on Victoria’s Surf Coast that’s home to the Rip Curl Pro, the world’s longest-running event in competitive surfing. Each year, over the Easter long weekend, up to 40,000 people descend on the region for the event. Today, though, we have the beach almost to ourselves, and the less-than-favourable temperature doesn’t deter my husband from surfing this famous break.  

    Bells Beach
    Bells Beach is known for its epic surf break and is at the start of the Great Ocean Road. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Torquay to Anglesea and Aireys Inlet 

    Split Point Lighthouse
    The red dome of Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    The nearby surf town of Torquay marks the starting point for the Great Ocean Road. Unfolding our map, which we have marked out with a highlighted route for our children to follow, we set off for lesser-known Anglesea, a chilled-out town 20 minutes south of here. Its wide, sandy beach is a gentler swimming option for our young family. Groms can learn to surf here with Go Ride a Wave, which also runs stand-up paddle boarding on the Anglesea River.  

    Split point lookout
    The lighthouse overlooks the Shipwreck Coast. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    After a couple of nights in Anglesea, we hit the road again, first stopping at Aireys Inlet. Here we stretch our legs at Split Point Lighthouse, which was made famous by the 1990s television series Round the Twist, before driving under the Memorial Arch that welcomes us, officially, to the Great Ocean Road.  

    This 243-kilometre coastal road was built by returned First World War servicemen and serves as a permanent memorial to those who fought and died during the war. Carved into rock using hand tools and horse-drawn carts, it was a huge engineering feat and provided much-needed access to isolated coastal communities. 

    Lorne to Birregurra 

    Lorne is a delightful beachside stop for lunch and browsing boutique stores. It’s also the gateway to Great Otway National Park, which comprises a varied landscape of old-growth forests, cool-temperate rainforests, heathy woodlands and rugged coast. With the highest rainfall in Victoria, the region is home to many waterfalls – 10 of which are within 10 kilometres of Lorne.  

    Turning slightly off the main drag, we wind along a gum-shaded road to Erskine Falls. Here, our son leads the way through the hyper-green rainforest and down 200-plus stairs to the cascade that drops 30 metres into a lush fern gully. We hop over large boulders to get closer to the falls, enjoying the entire place to ourselves; it’s worth the return climb.  

    From Sheoak Falls Picnic Area, there are walking trails to Henderson Falls, Phantom Falls, Won Wondah Falls and Kalimna Falls, some of which follow an old timber tramway from forest-logging days, which only came to an end in 2008.  

    Erskine Falls
    Erskine Falls is one of many falls within a day trip of Lorne. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    You can follow your appetite north to the town of Birregurra, which is part of the Otway Harvest Trail that connects farm gates, markets, wineries, breweries and distilleries. It’s home to three-hatted modern Australian restaurant Brae, helmed by celebrated chef Dan Hunter, set among native gardens and an organic farm, and Otways Distillery, which produces small-batch spirits using local produce and botanicals.  

    Brae restaurant
    Brae is a three-hatted restaurant in Birregurra. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Apollo Bay to The Otways 

    Back on track, the cliff-hugging stretch between Lorne and Apollo Bay is breathtaking. At Teddys Lookout, we overlook the winding road ahead and St George River spilling into the ocean. We spend languid days in Apollo Bay, a buzzy seaside town that boasts a three-kilometre-long, crescent-shaped beach with a backdrop of rolling green hills. One evening, as the sun sets, we take the steep 10-minute walk to Marriners Lookout, which affords panoramic views of the ocean, hinterland and town.  

    A 15-minute drive along the road, Maits Rest is a lush rainforest gully that has been protected since the early 20th century. Wandering along the 800-metre boardwalk, we inspect the delicate moss-covered forest floor and the gnarled roots of 300-year-old myrtle beech trees, then crane our necks to see their canopies, some 50 metres above us. It’s therapy in nature.  

    Cape Otway to the Twelve Apostles 

    Twelve Apostles
    One of the famous Twelve Apostles, limestone sea stacks that rise from the Southern Ocean. (Image: Ben Savage)

    The southernmost tip of Cape Otway is a delightful detour, home to the 1848-built Cape Otway Lightstation, the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia. We climb the narrow winding staircase to the gallery deck, explore the keepers’ quarters and telegraph station, and enjoy a coffee and some ‘famous’ scones at the charming onsite cafe.    

    It’s a pinch-me moment to finally see the Twelve Apostles in person. This unmistakable cluster of limestone stacks rising abruptly from the sea were never 12, however. When coined this in the 1890s as a marketing ploy, there were only nine; today, only seven remain after two collapsed in 2005 and 2009. We admire these Aussie icons from the viewing platform, in awe of Mother Nature’s ever-evolving artwork.  

    The Grotto
    The Grotto is another natural attraction within Port Campbell National Park. (Image: Carmen Zammit)

    Edging the wild Southern Ocean, this part of the coast – dubbed Shipwreck Coast – is made up of many sea-carved natural wonders including London Bridge, The Grotto and Gibson Steps. After exploring the lookout trails of Loch Ard Gorge/Poombeeyt Kontapool – its English name taken from the site of the 1878 shipwreck – we nestle into the sandy beach encircled by towering sandstone cliffs, as our children splash about on the water’s edge, and soak it all in.  

    Port Campbell to Timboon 

    Timboon Fine Ice Cream
    Timboon Fine Ice Cream is part of a regional foodie trail. (Image: C McConville)

    Just north of Port Campbell National Park, the region of Timboon is part of the 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail, filled with purveyors of delicious foodstuffs such as Timboon Fine Ice Cream, Timboon Railway Shed Distillery and Apostle Whey Cheese. As an antidote to the indulgence, the 20-kilometre Poorpa Yanyeen Meerreeng Trail is a self-guided ride or walk between Port Campbell and Timboon through tall forests, over historic bridges and past sparkling lakes and farmland with grazing cattle.  

    Warrnambool to Port Fairy 

    Warrnambool building
    A 19th-century building in Warrnambool. (Image: Peter Foster)

    In Warrnambool, a town rich in maritime history, we take the four-kilometre Thunder Point Walk that traces the coast. The kids squeal when an echidna shuffles out from beneath the wooden boardwalk, and we stop to admire a seal lazing on a rock at the port.  

    Further along, the streets of quaint fishing village Port Fairy are lined with 19th-century cottages, old stone churches and Norfolk pines. Follow the historic walking trail to see some of the 60-plus National Trust buildings. Port Fairy is also home to Port Fairy Folk Festival (6-9 March), one of the country’s longest-running music and cultural festivals. You could time your road trip with the event for a fittingly celebratory end to any journey.  

    The Great Ocean Road can easily be done in three days, but we’ve spent a week on the road. The highlighted line on our now creased and well-worn map doesn’t follow the famous route precisely. It has sprouted branches in many directions, leading us to untouched rainforest and charming rural towns filled with culinary delights, and where we experienced some of our most memorable moments on the Great Ocean Road.    

    A traveller’s checklist 

    Staying there

    Oak & Anchor
    The Oak & Anchor in Port Fairy.

    The Monty is a highly anticipated, newly refurbished motel with a chic Palm Springs-inspired aesthetic set across the road from the Anglesea River. Basalt Winery in Port Fairy grows cool-climate wines such as pinot noir and Riesling in rich volcanic soil. Stay among the vines in its tiny home, complete with a kitchen, lounge area and outdoor firepit. 

    The Oak & Anchor Hotel has been a Port Fairy institution since 1857. Cosy up by the bar in winter or bask in the sunshine of the Lawn Bar in summer. The rooms are beautifully boutique with considered details, such as luxe baths for sinking into post-road trip. 

    Eating there

    The Coast in Anglesea is a modern Australian restaurant focused on local ingredients. Grand Pacific Hotel has been a local landmark in Lorne since 1879 and recently underwent a restoration. It serves a mix of traditional pub and Italian fare alongside ocean views.  

    Graze is a cosy 40-seat dining room in Apollo Bay with a modern Australian menu complemented by regional wines. Apollo Bay Distillery offers tasting flights, a gin blending masterclass and serves woodfired pizzas.