8 Canberra Fine Dining Restaurants Worth Splurging On

Canberra is fast becoming one of the top foodie destinations in Australia, with a wealth of fine-dining restaurants to choose from.

Once known as merely the capital of Australia city, Canberra has proven critics wrong over the past decade, fast becoming known for its thrumming hive of creative, unique restaurants and, in particular, a fine dining scene to rival that of Sydney and Melbourne.

A visit to Canberra would not be complete without splurging on one of the many luxury dining experiences the city has to offer. From modern European cuisine to Japanese-style feasts, these are the best fine dining restaurants in Canberra.

1. Mu

Using the Japanese dining experience of Omakase (which translates to ‘leave it up to you’), at Mu you won’t be selecting your dishes – rather, the chefs create 11-course menus inspired by what produce and ingredients are best on the day.

a person preparing a plate of seafood at Mu, Canberra — Pair your wine with a plate of seafood. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Dining is tasting style, with plates delivered beginning with lighter fare and moving on to heavier courses. Premium sake pairings are available to really make a night of it, too.

Bookings go fast, so it’s worth locking down a spot in advance – there are two sittings between Tuesday and Thursday at 6 pm and 7 pm, with Friday and Saturday sittings at 5:45 pm and 8 pm.

A Japanese meal at Mu, Canberra — Dine authentic Japanese cuisine at Mu. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Address: 1 Constitution Avenue, Canberra ACT

2. Corella Restaurant & Bar

Named as one of the Top 82 restaurants by Gourmet Traveller two years in a row, Corella Restaurant & Bar may only be a few years old, but it’s already renowned as one of Canberra’s best fine dining restaurants.

Inspired by native Australian flavours and ingredients, expect fresh fare and a cosy ambience, with good service and an extensive wine and cocktails list. Whether its date night or just dinner with friends, Corella is the perfect place to pop in.

dinner at Corella Restaurant & Bar, Canberra — Indulge yourself at Corella Restaurant & Bar. (Image: Kara Rosenlund/VisitCanberra)

Address: 14 Lonsdale Street, Braddon ACT

3. Pilot

This intimate 24-seater in Ainslie is all about experience. You won’t have to worry about fussing over a bunch of options and picking between two (or more) delicious dishes. The menu here is set, taking the onus off you and letting you sit back, relax and enjoy your meal.

the dining interior of Pilot, Canberra — Snag a spot at Pilot, Canberra. (Image: VisitCanberra)

There’s the $105 lunch menu, $150 Pilot menu and, if you want to splash out, the $195 extended menu. Each features an array of fresh produce with seasonal additions, plus a selection of Australian beverages. Pilot is a true hidden gem, and once you find it (hint: it’s tucked behind the local shops), you’ll be coming back for more.

a table-top view of food at Pilot, Canberra — Take delight in Pilot’s gastronomic menu. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Address: 1 Wakefield Gardens, Ainslie ACT

4. Capitol Bar & Grill

Many of Canberra’s best hotels also house some of the city’s best fine dining restaurants. The QT Canberra is a perfect example, where you’ll find Capitol Bar & Grill . Local ACT and NSW produce is the hero on its extensive menu, which favours wood-fired grills and fresh ingredients.

the dining interior of Capitol Bar & Grill — Book a table at Capitol Bar & Grill.

Known for its prime meat cuts, it’s no surprise the steak is to die for, arriving cooked to your liking and perfectly juicy. You can also order fresh seafood and sides to enjoy, as well. Order a Canberran varietal from the carefully curated wine list by Sommelier Ashleigh Smith.

a table-top view of meals at Capitol Bar & Grill — There’s just plenty of indulgent meals to die for.

Address: 1 London Circuit, Canberra ACT

5. Monster Kitchen & Bar

Chances are, if you’re relatively across Canberra’s fine dining scene, you’ve heard of Monster Kitchen & Bar . A cavernous, moody space at Ovolo Nishi, Monster has long been known for its intriguing dishes and creativity. But more recently, this divine restaurant has gained a new fanbase by going 100 per cent plant based.

the dining space at Monster, Canberra — Pick your spot at Monster.

Carnivores shouldn’t be put off by this news, though – you won’t miss your steak amidst punchy plates of cauliflower shawarma, coal-roasted autumn squash, chraime eggplant and oyster mushroom skewers. Don’t fill up too much though, the dessert options are also to die for.

a vegetarian menu at Monster, Canberra — Enjoy a full vegetarian menu at Monster. (Image: Zachary Griffith Photographer)

Address: 25 Edinburgh Avenue, Canberra ACT

6. Courgette

Fine dining at its most classic is found at Canberra institution Courgette . Think opulent dining rooms, crisp white tablecloths and an intimate, unhurried experience, with modern European cuisine and premium wines.

Open for both lunch and dinner, Courgette is the perfect place for your next special occasion. You can dine via a three-course a la carte menu, a five-course degustation or the extensive, 100 per cent vegetarian degustation.

Courgette restaurant in Canberra — Courgette is the perfect restaurant for a special occasion.

Address: 54 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra ACT

7. Raku

If you’re looking for the best Japanese in Canberra, head to Raku . Known for its sushi and sashimi dishes, you can sit around the central workspace and watch chefs deftly slice your fish before it reaches your plate.

Order your dishes individually or choose from one of two tasting menus, priced between $110 and $170. Go the extra mile and order something from the wine or dessert menus; perhaps both. Raku also has a dedicated gluten-free menu with extensive options.

a dimly lit fine dining interior at Raku, Canberra — Spend a night of opulence at Raku. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Address: 148 Bunda Street, Canberra ACT

8. OTIS

Awarded two hats by the Australian Good Food Guide in 2021, OTIS technically aligns itself with ‘fine-casual’ dining. Still, with head chef Damian Brabender’s stellar CV filled with Michelin-starred London restaurants and acclaimed Aussie resorts, OTIS will give you the fine dining experience you’re seeking.

The menu here is fresh, creative and seasonally-led, which is perfectly paired with premium matching wines. Choose from a variety of tasting menus, like the classic three-course degustation to the chef’s menu, which is only available Fridays and Saturdays.

a table-top view of food at OTIS, Canberra — Experience fine-casual dining at OTIS.

Address: 29 Jardine Street, Kingston ACT

For more tried and tested eating-out options in Canberra, read our round-up of family-friendly restaurants, or our hit list of breakfast and brunch spots in Canberra.

A town charmingly paused in time has become a hot mountain biking destination.

There’s a forest reserve full of eucalyptus and pines surrounding town – when you combine all the greenery with a main street of grand old buildings still standing from the Victorian Gold Rush, Creswick looks more period movie set than a 21st-century town.

old gold bank Victoria — Grand buildings from the Victorian gold rush. (Image: Visit Victoria)

This entire region of Victoria – the Central Goldfields – is as pretty-as-a-picture, but there’s something extra-special about Creswick. I used to live 30 minutes north; I’d drive in some evenings to cruise its main street at dusk, and pretend I was travelling back in time.

It was sleepy back then, but that’s changed. Where I used to walk through its forest, now I’m hurtling down the state’s best new mountain bike trails. There’s a 60-kilometre network of mountain bike trails – dubbed Djuwang Baring – which make Creswick the state’s hottest new mountain biking destination.

Meet Victoria’s new mountain biking capital

Creswick bike trail — This historic town has become a mountain biking hotspot.

Victoria has a habit of turning quiet country towns into mountain biking hotspots. I was there in the mid-2000s when the tiny Otways village of Forrest embarked on an ambitious plan to save itself (after the death of its timber cutting industry) courtesy of some of the world’s best mountain bike trails. A screaming success it proved to be, and soon mountain bike trails began popping up all over Victoria.

I’m no expert, so I like that a lot of Creswick’s trails are as scenic as they are challenging. I prefer intermediate trails, such as Down Martuk, with its flowing berms and a view round every corner. Everyone from outright beginners to experts can be happy here. There’s trails that take me down technical rock sections with plenty of bumps. But there’s enough on offer to appeal to day-trippers, as much as hard-core mountain-bikers.

I love that the trails empty onto that grand old main street. There’s bars still standing from the Gold Rush of the 1850s I can refuel at. Like the award-winning Farmers Arms, not to be confused with the pub sharing its name in Daylesford. It’s stood since 1857. And The American Creswick built two years later, or Odessa Wine Bar, part of Leaver’s Hotel in an 1856-built former gold exchange bank.

The Woodlands is set on a large bushland property. (Image: Vanessa Smith Photography)

Creswick is also full of great cafes and restaurants, many of them set in the same old buildings that have stood for 170 years. So whether you’re here for the rush of the trails or the calm of town life, Creswick provides.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

Inside the Woodlands, a chic 1970s log cabin. (Image: Vanessa Smith Photography)

RACV Goldfields Resort is a contemporary stay with a restaurant, swimming pool and golf course. The Woodlands in nearby Lal Lal comprises a chic log cabin set on a 16-hectare property abundant in native wildlife.

Eating there

Le Peche Gourmand makes for the perfect pitstop for carb and sugar-loading.

The menu at Odessa at Leaver’s Hotel includes some Thai-inspired fare. Fuel up for your ride on baguettes and pastries from French patisserie Le Peche Gourmand . The Farmers Arms has been a much-loved local institution since 1857.

Playing there

Creswick State Forest has a variety of hiking trails, including a section of the 210-kilometre-long Goldfields Track. Miss Northcotts Garden is a quaint garden store with tea room.

8 fine dining restaurants in Canberra worth splurging on