The Best Braddon Restaurants, ACT | Australian Traveller

The best Braddon restaurants sit at the heart of Canberra’s food scene, both literally and figuratively

I love Canberra’s Eat Street. Lonsdale Street in Braddon is one of the reasons why heading on down to Australia’s capital always feels like such a treat, with its own distinctive food scene that crawls through every price point, offers numerous cuisines, and has been built with the kind of consistency that’s lost on many modern food precincts.

Braddon is far removed from its industrial past, but you won’t have to squint to see the distinct edge still wrapping around the inner-city suburb’s best restaurants. It is to Canberra what Fitzroy is to Melbourne or Surry Hills to Sydney, pushed as the capital’s centre of cool with a healthy mix of vintage stores standing next to studious bakeries and agenda-setting restaurants.

If you’ve ever wondered why Canberra’s restaurant scene is constantly praised, just walk down Lonsdale Street and walk into any one of the best Braddon restaurants. You’ll walk out with a sharp understanding of why locals are so fiercely proud of their dining scene, and why visitors can’t seem to get enough.

I have my favourite restaurants in Braddon, but it always seems like something new has popped up every time I make the drive from Sydney. Importantly, I actually want to try it just because it’s new, and just because it’s in Braddon. I guess the true test of a successful food precinct is that it gives you the confidence to explore, rather than stick to one or two spots.

The Shortlist

Best for Business Lunches: Corrella Restaurant & Bar
Best for Vegan / Vegetarian: EightySix North
Great for Special Occasions: Italian and Sons
Hidden Gem: White Chaco
Best Date Spot: Lazy Su

1. Italian and Sons

people dining inside Italian and Sons, Lonsdale St — This fun trattoria leads Canberra’s dynamic food scene. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Italian and Sons is a fast and fun trattoria leading Canberra’s dynamic food scene since opening in 2010. The simple, unadorned dining room has that arrestingly casual, almost bistro-like familiarity, focusing purely on authentic pasta and proteins on a menu that switches daily and rests on seasonality.

I’ve found that restraint is always the best way to approach the Italian and Sons menu, so I always only order one or two dishes. This could mean anything from texturally perfect pappardelle with wagyu short rib ragu or a pumpkin and leek tortelli with ricotta and burnt sage butter, to a lightly spiced 300g wood-fired pork cutlet with prosciutto.

This is where you go in Braddon if you want loud, fun and delicious.

Cuisine: Italian
Price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Casual, noisy and theatrical with an open kitchen
Location: 7 Lonsdale St

2. Corrella Restaurant & Bar

the cosy seating inside Corella Restaurant & Bar, Canberra — Grand arched windows give this restaurant a Euro feel. (Image: VisitCanberra/OhBoi Creative and Umami Creations)

Corella Restaurant & Bar opened in April 2021, immediately setting a new agenda for Canberra foodies with its effortlessly chic interior and highly snackable share plates. Native flowers frame a Euro-styled space splashed with elegant terrazzo floors, while grand arched windows pull in just the right amount of outside.

The kitchen’s deep reverence for native ingredients can be found all over the menu, from simple house focaccia with saltbush and buttermilk to a fan-favourite wagyu tartare casualised with salt and vinegar onion rings. There’s an irrepressible sense of creativity strung throughout, keeping Corrella front of mind in any discussion on where to eat in Braddon.

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Price: $$$
Atmosphere: Fun and intimate with a strong sense of community.
Location: 14 Lonsdale St

3. Zaab Street Food

The top Braddon restaurants maintain a grungy backbone while offering something modern and visually impactful. That’s Zaab Street Food in a nutshell, translating moreish Lao and Thai food for Canberrans with stellar cocktails and an approachable, graffiti-laden atmosphere.

Pick anything on the menu, and you’re guaranteed a good time. My favourites, like crispy pork belly and massaman curry, are staples, but the share-style menu rewards exploration, so venture outside your comfort zone.

The flamed cauliflower, beautifully spiced with a mix of paprika, ginger, garlic, pomegranate, and sweet potato curry blend, caramelised corn puree and roast chilli oil, is the subversive showstopper you never knew you needed. Pair it with a Snicker’s Old-Fashioned if you’re feeling adventurous. Fortune favours the bold at restaurants like this high-energy gem.

Cuisine: South-East Asian
Price: $$$
Atmosphere: Trendy and upbeat with a loud, clangy kitchen
Location: 2/9 Lonsdale St

4. Rizla

the restaurant exterior of Rizla, Braddon — Rizla reels you in with its inviting atmosphere. (Image: VisitCanberra)

You’ll find Rizla on the corner of Lonsdale and Eloura, billed as Braddon’s best wine bar. The menu mostly dances around the ACT to hero the region and support Canberra’s best wineries.

I’ve always found it to be a bit of a Canberra wine tasting hack when I don’t have the time to pop around to some of the state’s many award-winning cellar doors. The Rizla team sources the best from the best, so you’ve got everything in one spot.

Riesling is always the answer at Rizla, pulled in many different directions with a diverse selection of bar snacks to pair. Try the biji chicken skewers with banana ketchup, or roast pork loin with almond romesco and eggplant caponata or grab a highlight reel with the $80 feed me menu.

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Price: $$
Atmosphere: Intimate with a fine-casual ambience.
Location: 24 Lonsdale St

5. Lazy Su

dinner with cocktails at Lazy Su, Braddon — The buzzy K-pop speakeasy is a magical spot for cocktails. (Image: Lazy Su)

Bright, buzzy and big (notice a theme here?). Lazy Su is another strong reason to eat your way up and down Londsdale Street with Mod-Asian cobbled from different countries around the continent.

On paper, the menu is diverse. Overwhelmingly so. But what you get is a burst of big, focused flavours fused by a constant need to experiment.

Speedy service means you’ll get those wagyu cheesesteak spring rolls piping hot, but your feast should also include the fun jalapeno noodle poppers, maybe some Japanese roast chicken, and definitely the spicy prawn and bacon wontons.

Cuisine: Modern Asian
Price: $$$
Atmosphere: A lively atmosphere perfect for date night or an after-work meal with friends
Location: 1/9 Lonsdale St

6. EightySix North

the dining interior of EightySix North — EightySix North has a cosy dining setting with a casual atmosphere. (Image: Pew Pew Studio)

Grab a seat as close to the furiously busy open kitchen as possible and enjoy the drama at EightySix . It’s pure open-counter chaos.

I find the raw industrial interior very blunt and impersonal, but the simplicity hides some of my favourite produce-forward dishes in Canberra. Like a lovely prawn and saffron risotto flecked with tomatoes and drizzled with light crispy chilli oil, or the fragrant crispy eggplant with Sichuan chilli caramel.

Playful desserts like a banoffee pie with pretzels and strawberry cheesecake are also included in the $100pp vegetarian tasting menu that’s always in such high demand at this fun and approachable fine-casual diner. There’s no obvious style or technique, just great food and good times.

Cuisine: Modern Australia
Price: $$$
Atmosphere: Low-key and approachable with a beautiful sense of theatre
Location: Corner of Eloura & Mode3, Lonsdale St

7. WineRoom

As per its name, WineRoom slots in as Braddon’s favourite neighbourhood vino-slinger and pitch-perfect snacks, wrapped with a transportive atmosphere that’ll place you anywhere from the tight laneways of Spain to the cobblestone streets of Florence.

Seasonality is key, so work through the enthusiastic list of worldly snacks like charred king prawn with roasted tomato puree and broccolini with an onsen egg and soy mirin. That or you can grab a “Trust the Chef" menu for $89, giving you plenty of ways to bring the most out of the lovingly curated wine list that’s always pushing you to try something new and exciting.

I’ve been introduced to some of my favourite wines in Australia through this reliable wine bar, so it’s always an easy pick when I’m in the area. The communal feel certainly helps as well, especially if I’m in Canberra by myself.

Cuisine: European
Price: $$$
Atmosphere: A neighbourhood wine bar channelling your favourite European summer holiday
Location: 24 Mort St

8. White Chaco

The savoury Sichuan Beef Bao at White Chaco. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Taking up just a tiny part of the Nibu Building on Lonsdale Street, White Chaco gives off that if-you-know-you-know vibe, billing itself as a hidden gem. Most visitors brush over this Asian fusion restaurant, but the quality is unquestionable.

There are only two sittings per night for the space, which seats around 20 people and presents delicate, beautifully executed dishes typically marrying Japanese and Taiwanese flavours.

Take whatever plum wine the highly knowledgeable staff suggest (trust me) and then see what’s new and interesting on the menu, with previous dishes like warm scallop sashimi with butter soy, smoked nuts and pecorino cheese showcasing the kitchen’s creativity.

Cuisine: Japanese (predominantly)
Price: $$$
Atmosphere: Secretive, intimate space with a smart use of light and shadow
Location: g10/27 Lonsdale St

9. Braddon Merchant

a look inside Braddon Merchant, Midnight Hotel — Braddon Merchant is housed within the Midnight Hotel. (Image: Ryan Linnegar)

Braddon Merchant is that tireless Lonsdale Street favourite that has consistency down to a fine art. Head along for breakfast, dinner or weekend brunch and you’ll find Canberra’s most discerning foodies fooling around with fresh, simple Mediterranean dishes done well and kept affordable.

The award-winning drinks menu has over 150 local and international wines paired with simple fare like meatballs with smoked mozzarella, cod with coconut and chilli, and a fan-favourite steak ciabatta with caramelised onion and sundried tomato. Yes, it’s really that simple. And the results are effortlessly excellent.

Cuisine: European
Price: $$
Atmosphere: Simple and bright with all attention given to top-shelf produce
Location: 1 Elouera St

10. Grease Monkey

Beer over dinner at Grease Monkey — Enjoy your beer over a greasy feast. (Image: Grease Monkey)

Each city’s hip and happening foodie strip needs at least one reliable burger joint. For Lonsdale Street, that prerequisite is filled by the bare-bones Grease Monkey .

American-style burgers with an Australian twist are dialled in with strong flavours. You’ll regularly see this spot take out yearly lists of Canberra’s best burgers. But to be quite honest, I’d say these are some of the best in Australia simply because of how reliable Grease Monkey has been over the years. They’re cheap, definitely cheerful, and small enough that you could put away two without feeling guilty.

You’ll always find a queue pouring out of this former mechanic’s garage, which has kept the industrial vibe and even brings on DJs on weekends. Forget the Coke; wash that burger down with a shake or local craft beer.

I love coming here because of its community. Canberra locals swear by Grease Monkey, so you’ll always find a fun-loving crowd here

Cuisine: American
Price: $
Atmosphere: Grungy and industrial with DJs on weekends
Location: 19 Lonsdale St

11. Wilma

the interior of Wilma, Braddon — Settle in for Asian BBQ at Wilma. (Image: VisitCanberra)

James Viles and chef Brendan Hill have found purpose in primitive cooking techniques, stripping Asian BBQ down with strong, fatty flavours. Fire cooking is popular all across Australia, but Wilma seems to outgun even famous spots like Adelaide’s arkhé and Sydney’s Firedoor.

Why? The distinction is in those Asian flavours. Hill and Viles are masters at carefully balancing flavours with consistency, propping up dishes like the popular scallops with crispy egg noodles and wood grilled zucchini with whipped tofu.

My least favourite thing about Wilma is how hard it is to snag a last-minute reservation. Booking ahead is essential if you’re dining in groups, but I’ve had luck showing up solo before and taking one of several spots at the counter.

Cuisine: Asian BBQ
Price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Fiery and fast with the strong scent of Asian BBQ
Location: 1 Genge St

12. Yaki Boi

Oversized soy sauce bottles hang nearby, shadowed by mood lighting. It’s not an art piece, but it very well could be. Yaki Boi’s boxy design is peppered with these fun references, reflecting the very approachable menu that pitches pizza and burgers next to poke bowls and premium sushi.

Yes, Yaki Boi might be trying to appeal to a broad demographic, but the quality is surprisingly far beyond what you’d expect from an affordable fusion restaurant in Westfield. My favourite roasted beef meatball udon is my go-to if I’m feeling indecisive and need some supplies from Canberra’s biggest shopping centre.

Cuisine: Japanese-American
Price: $$
Atmosphere: Fun and family-friendly with playful references to Japanese culture
Location: Shop 083B/5/5 Keltie St

Time your visit to Margaret River just right, and you can spend the ultimate weekend wining, dining and exploring the region with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.

Wine, world-class produce, surf, sun and beaches: it’s an alluring combination. And the reason so many pin the Margaret River region high on their travel hit-lists. There’s drawcard after drawcard to the southwestern corner of Western Australia, and the Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover food and wine festival showcases the best of it over the course of one weekend in November. It’s never been easier to sip, see and savour the Margaret River region.

In partnership with Pair’d Margaret River Region, Range Rover invites you on a seven-day itinerary of refined adventure, where luxury and exploration go hand in hand. It’s the perfect WA road trip, and there’s no better way to do it than in a Range Rover.

Day 1

the pool at Pullman Bunker Bay — Check into Pullman Bunker Bay.

There’s no more popular West Australian road trip route than that between Perth and the Margaret River Region. It’s an easily digestible, three-hour drive, with worthy pit stops along the way.

Make the first of them one hour and 15 minutes in, at Lake Clifton. Here, find a 2000-year-old living thrombolite reef. Drive for a further 40 minutes and chance meeting some of Bunbury’s dolphin population at Koombana Bay.

Pullman Bunker Bay is the final stop, just over three hours south of Perth. This beachfront, five-star resort is the ultimate base for exploring the Margaret River Wine region.

Day 2

After a leisurely morning breakfast with an ocean view, start your Range Rover and head towards the Dunsborough town centre. Browsing the decidedly coastal-themed goods of the town’s many independent boutiques is a great way to while away the hours, breaking up the sartorial with an artisan gelato snack stop, or some good old-fashioned Australian bakery fare.

Leave room; you’ll need it for the Good Natured Gathering dinner at Wayfinder. Indulge in a four-course feast by chef Felipe Montiel, which uses produce from the winery’s market garden to enhance a selection of sustainably sourced seafood and meat. But food is just the support act. It’s organic wine that’s the star of the show, generously poured and expertly paired to each dish.

Day 3

Settle in for cabernet at Cape Mentelle Winery.

With a grand total of 20 wines from vintage 2022 to try, it’s a good thing Cape Mentelle’s International Cabernet Tasting kicks off early. Make your way to the estate for a 10:00 AM start, where a global selection of wines will be poured blind, before a long lunch by Tiller Dining is served.

Given that the Margaret River is responsible for more than 20 per cent of Australia’s fine wine production, it’s only right to delve into it while in the area.

Continue exploring the region via taste and terroir aboard Alison Maree, a whale-watching catamaran, as you cruise Geographe Bay . Admire the rolling green hills and crisp white beaches of Quindalup in sunset’s golden light, all the while sipping through the Clairault Streicker catalogue and dining on canapes.

For a more substantial dinner, venture into Busselton for a seven-course British x Australian mash-up , courtesy of Brendan Pratt (Busselton Pavilion) and Oliver Kent (Updown Farmhouse, UK). They’ll be putting their rustic yet refined spin on the likes of local marron, wagyu and abalone – championing the simple beauty of the world-class ingredients.

Day 4

Wrap your fingers around a wine glass and wiggle your toes into the sand at Pair’d Beach Club x Range Rover on Meelup Beach. Sit down to an intimate wine session with sommelier Cyndal Petty – or a four-course feast by Aaron Carr of Yarri – and revel in the open-air beach club, bar and restaurant’s laidback coastal vibe. It’s a whole new way to experience one of the region’s most renowned beaches.

Follow up a day in the sun with a casual Italian party at Mr Barvel Wines . Purchase wines –including the elusive, sold-out Nebbia – by the glass and enjoy canapes with the towering Karri forest as a backdrop.

If you’d prefer to keep it local, head to Skigh Wines for the New Wave Gathering , where the region’s independent wine makers and their boundary-pushing wines will be on show. Street-style eats, a DJ and complimentary wine masterclasses complete the experience.

Day 5

pair'd Grand Tasting — Taste your way through Howard Park Wines. (Image: C J Maddock)

Spend the morning at your leisure, driving the winding roads through the Boranup Karri forest in your Range Rover. Soak in the views at Contos Beach, and call into the small cheese, chocolate and preserve producers along the way.

Make your next stop Howard Park Wines for The Grand Tasting presented by Singapore Airlines . Numerous wine labels will be pouring their catalogues over four hours, accompanied by food from chefs Matt Moran and Silvia Colloca, with live opera providing the soundtrack.

Cap off a big weekend with one last hurrah at Busselton Pavilion. Six ‘local legends’ – chefs Brendan Pratt (Busselton Pavilion), Mal Chow (Chow’s Table), Aaron Carr (Yarri), Ben Jacob (Lagoon Yallingup), Corey Rozario (Dahl Daddies) and Laura Koentjoro (Banksia Tavern) – will be preparing a dish each. Dance the night away as vinyl spins and the sun sets on another day.

Day 6

Ngilgi Cave western australia — Head underground. (Image: Tourism WA)

After a busy few days of wining and dining, it’s wise to observe a rest day. There’s no easier task than unwinding in the Margaret River Region, also famous for its high concentration of world-class beaches.

Relax on the grassy knoll as you watch the region’s most experienced surfers braving the World Surf League break at Surfer’s Point, or don your own wetsuit and try out one of Gracetown’s more beginner-friendly waves. Swimmers will find their Eden at Meelup Beach, Eagle Bay, or Point Piquet, where the sand is brilliantly white and the water as still as a backyard swimming pool.

Not into sun, sand, and surf? Head underground at Mammoth Cave, just one of the region’s many stalactite-filled caves.

Day 7

Burnt Ends event at Pair'd — Farewell the Margaret River.

Pack up your Range Rover with new favourite wines and newfound memories, ready for the three-hour journey back to Perth.

Prebook your discovery journey through the south-west corner of Western Australia with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.

The best Braddon restaurants for your next Canberra visit