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

Winding down in the Yarra Valley, where ‘work from home’ becomes ‘work from wine country’.

Steam from my morning coffee curls gently into the cool valley air, mist-veiled vineyards stretch out in neat rows below me. Magpies warble from trees, and the morning’s quiet carries the soft bleating of lambs from a nearby paddock. Midweek in the Yarra Valley has its own rhythm. It’s slower, quieter, with more empty tables at cafes and cellar doors, and walking trails I can claim all to myself. It’s as if the entire region takes a deep breath once the weekend crowd leaves.

walking trails in the Yarra Valley — You’ll find walking trails are less crowded during the week. (Image: Visit Victoria)

I haven’t come here for a holiday, but to do a little work somewhere other than my home office, where I spend too much time hunched over my desk. Deadlines still loom, meetings still happen, but with flexible work evolving from ‘work from home’ to ‘work from anywhere’, I’m swapping the view of my front yard to the vineyards.

A quiet afternoon at Yarra Valley Dairy

holding a glass of wine at Yarra Valley Dairy — Wine time at Yarra Valley Dairy, where you can enjoy a toastie or bagel in the cafe. (Image: Visit Victoria)

With the Yarra Valley just over an hour from the CBD, many Melburnians could drive here in their lunch break. I arrive late in the afternoon and am delighted to discover the Yarra Valley Dairy still open. On weekends, I’ve seen queues spilling out the door, but today there’s only one other couple inside. There’s no need to rush to secure a table; instead I browse the little store, shelves stacked with chutneys, spices, artisan biscuits and gorgeous crockery that would look right at home in my kitchen. It’s hard not to buy the lot.

a cheese tasting plate atYarra Valley Dairy — A cheese tasting plate at Yarra Valley Dairy.

I order a coffee and a small cheese platter, though the dairy has a full menu, and choose a wooden table with bentwood chairs by a wide window. The space feels part farm shed, part cosy café: corrugated iron ceiling, walls painted in muted tones and rustic furniture.

Outside, cows meander toward milking sheds. If pressed for time, there’s the option of quick cheese tastings – four samples for five dollars in five minutes – but today, I’m in no rush. I sip slowly, watching a grey sky settle over the paddock. Less than an hour ago I was hunched over my home-office desk, and now my racing mind has slowed to match the valley’s pace.

Checking in for vineyard views at Balgownie Estate

Restaurant 1309 at Balgownie Estate has views across the vines.

As my car rolls to a stop at Balgownie Estate , I’m quietly excited, and curious to see if my plan to work and play comes off. I’ve chosen a suite with a spacious living area and a separate bedroom so I can keep work away from a good night’s sleep. I could have booked a cosy cottage, complete with open fireplace, a comfy couch and a kettle for endless cups of tea, but as I am still here to get some work done, I opt for a place that takes care of everything. Dinner is served in Restaurant 1309, as is breakfast.

oysters at Restaurant 1309, Balgownie Estate — Oysters pair perfectly with a crisp white at Restaurant 1309.

On my first evening, instead of the usual walk about my neighbourhood, I stroll through the estate at an unhurried pace. There’s no need to rush – someone else is preparing my dinner after all. The walking trails offer beautiful sunsets, and it seems mobs of kangaroos enjoy the view, too. Many appear, grazing lazily on the hillside.

I wake to the call of birds and, after breakfast, with the mist still lingering over the vineyards, I watch two hot-air balloons silently drift above clouds. Perched on a hill, Balgownie Estate sits above the mist, leaving the valley below veiled white.

kangaroos in Yarra Valley — Spotting the locals on an evening walk. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Exploring the Yarra Valley on two wheels

the Yarra Valley vineyards — Swap your home office for a view of the vineyards. (Image: Visit Victoria/Cormac Hanrahan)

Perhaps because the Yarra Valley is relatively close to where I live, I’ve never considered exploring the area any way other than by car or on foot. And with a fear of heights, a hot-air balloon is firmly off the table. But when I discover I can hop on two wheels from the estate and cycle into Yarra Glen, I quickly realise it’s the perfect way to step away from my laptop and experience a different side of the region.

COG Bike offers pedal-assist e-bikes, and while the bike trail and paths into town aren’t particularly hilly, having an extra bit of ‘oomph’ means I can soak up the surroundings. Those lambs I heard calling early in the morning? I now find them at the paddock fence, sniffing my hands, perhaps hoping for food. Cows idle nearby, and at a fork in the bike path I turn left toward town.

It’s still morning, and the perfect time for a coffee break at The Vallie Store. If it were the afternoon, I’d likely turn right, in the direction of four wineries with cellar doors. The ride is about 15 kilometres return, but don’t let that put you off. Staying off the highway, the route takes you along quiet backroads where you catch glimpses of local life – farmers on tractors, weathered sheds, rows of vines and the kind of peaceful countryside you don’t see from the main road.

A detour to the Dandenong Ranges

legs hanging over the sides of the train, Puffing Billy Railway — The iconic Puffing Billy runs every day except Christmas Day.

The beauty of basing myself in the Yarra Valley is how close everything feels. In barely half an hour I’m in the Dandenong Ranges, swapping vineyards for towering mountain ash and fern-filled gullies. The small villages of Olinda and Sassafras burst with cosy teahouses, antique stores and boutiques selling clothing and handmade body care items.

I’m drawn to RJ Hamer Arboretum – Latin for ‘a place for trees’. Having grown up among tall trees, I’ve always taken comfort in their presence, so this visit feels like a return of sorts. A stroll along the trails offers a choice: wide open views across patchwork paddocks below, or shaded paths that lead you deeper into the quiet hush of the peaceful forest.

The following day, I settle into a quiet corner on the balcony of Paradise Valley Hotel in Clematis and soon hear Puffing Billy’s whistle and steady chuff as the steam train climbs towards town. Puffing Billy is one of Australia’s most beloved steam trains, running through the Dandenong Ranges on a narrow-gauge track. It’s famous for its open carriages where passengers can sit with their legs hanging over the sides as the train chugs through the forest. This is the perfect spot to wave to those on the train.

After my midweek break, I find my inbox still full and my to-do list not in the least shrunken, just shifted from one task to another. But I return to my home office feeling lighter, clearer and with a smug satisfaction I’d stolen back a little time for myself. A midweek wind-down made all the difference.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

Balgownie Estate offers everything from cellar door tastings to spa treatments and fine dining – all without leaving the property.

Playing there

the TarraWarra Museum of Art, Yarra Valley — Visit the TarraWarra Museum of Art. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Wander through Alowyn Gardens, including a stunning wisteria tunnel, then explore the collection of contemporary artworks at TarraWarra Museum of Art . Cycle the Yarra Valley with COG Bike to visit local wineries and cellar doors.

Eating and drinking there

Olinda Tea House offers an Asian-inspired high tea. Paradise Valley Hotel, Clematis has classic pub fare, while the iconic Yering Station offers wine tastings and a restaurant with seasonal dishes.

seasonal dishes at the restaurant inside Yering Station — The restaurant at Yering Station showcases the best produce of the Yarra Valley. (Image: Visit Victoria)

The best Braddon restaurants for your next Canberra visit