THE CITY

Taste

5TH AVENUE $$$$

W–Su, 12pm–late

Take a trip to 5th Avenue to be temporarily transported to New York for the night. 5th Avenue is a New Yorkinspired restaurant and bar. The menu includes burgers, deli sandwiches and classic sides.

32 Northbourne Ave, Canberra; 5thcbr.com.au

AKIBA $$$$

Daily 11.30am–late

At this East Asian-inspired eatery, the menu draws on fresh flavours and features modern-day dim sum and Asian barbecue. Winner of the People’s Choice Award for Favourite Restaurant in 2020, Akiba is clearly beloved by locals. Try the Feed Me menu, which gives diners a selection of eight dishes to try. 40 Bunda St, Canberra; akiba.com.au

BICICLETTA $$$$

M–F 7am–late, Sa 7.30am–late, Su 7.30am–10.30am

Located in the vibrant NewActon precinct, this elegant dining venue plates up delicious and authentic

Italian dishes using locally sourced seasonal produce and ingredients. The usual Italian suspects populate the menu, such as antipasti, pizza and pasta, complemented by a carefully curated wine list. Finish your meal with a homemade tiramisu for dessert.

1/15 Edinburgh Ave, Canberra; bicicletta.com.au

THE CUPPING ROOM $$$$

M–F 7.30am–3pm, Sa Su 8am–3pm

A Canberra icon, these guys know their coffee. The café was designed by ONA Coffee as a place to take people through a discovery of coffee – with tasting and education built in. The café also does the usual breakfast fare.

1/1–13 University Ave, Canberra; thecuppingroom.com.au

GATHER $$$$

M–F 7am–3pm, Sa Su 8am–3pm Gather provides a happy and healthy eating experience to its customers. Freshness and seasonality are key ingredients in the menu, with most of the produce sourced locally from Canberra. There are plenty of vegan, gluten-free and dairyfree options to choose from.

4/24 Mort St, Braddon; cafegather.com.au

MARBLE & GRAIN $$$$

Daily 7am–late

Gastropub Marble & Grain takes its meat – beef, venison and lamb – seriously. So much so that most produce is grown on its very own farm, Travale, north-west of Canberra. Head here if you’re in the mood for a hearty meal.

25 Mort St, Braddon; marbleandgrain.com.au

MAYFAIR ESPRESSO $$$$

M–F 7am–3pm, Sa 8am–12.30pm

Located on the ground floor of the Mayfair apartments on Marcus Clarke Street, this breakfast hotspot serves up morning and lunchtime delicacies for hungry Canberra commuters. The locally roasted ONA coffee is always fresh and the grab-and-go options (such as freshly made sandwiches and wraps) are aplenty.

40 Marcus Clarke St, City West; mayfairespresso.com

MONSTER $$$$

Daily 7am–10.30am & 2pm–10.30pm

You’ll find this sophisticated restaurant and bar taking up space on the ground floor of the Ovolo Nishi hotel. The décor is an eclectic mix of old and new, separated into four distinct spaces: the lounge, mosaic room, salon and dining room. Prepare to share with a menu of smaller dishes and a wine list that emphasises wellknown and up-and-coming drops in equal measure.

25 Edinburgh Ave, Canberra; monsterkitchen.com.au

RICE & NORI $$$$

Daily 10.30am–8pm

Offering a unique array of sushi rolls, Japanese takeaway shop Rice & Nori is dedicated to using seasonal ingredients and fresh produce and also offers the option for customers to create their own sushi rolls by picking out their own fillings and watching them be made by the sushi chefs.

Shop 7/131 City Walk, Canberra; riceandnori.com.au

SWEET BONES $$$$

Daily 8am–3pm

This rock ’n’ roll vegan bakery and café puts equal flair into its intricate cakes and the plant-based breakfast and lunch menu. Expect a breakfast burger that includes scrambled tofu and house-made smoky coconut bacon. Or order a multi-tiered cake to help celebrate a special occasion. The café is a local favourite, so make sure you arrive early to ensure you get a seat. Shop 8/18 Lonsdale St, Braddon; sweetbonescompany.com

TERRA $$$$

M–F 7.30am–9pm, Sa–Su 11.30am–9pm Pop in to grab breakfast on the go or take a seat at one of the long tables for something heartier; the day then rolls through sandwiches and buildyour-own lunches, to a dinner menu that makes the most of Terra’s charcoal spit. Shop G2, No Name Ln, 40 Marcus Clarke St, Canberra; terracanberra.com.au

WILMA $$$$

Daily 5.30pm–9.30pm

Asian BBQ restaurant WILMA boasts an impressive menu. With ready-made dishes such as the combination truffle and egg fried rice, WILMA’s tasty offerings – combined with its dark and elegant atmosphere – will make your experience here unforgettable. 1 Genge St, Canberra; wilmabbq.com.au

Shop

Canberra Centre

A lively hub of shopping, entertainment, food and events in the centre of Canberra city. Department stores Myer and David Jones lead a premium portfolio of Australian and international fashion labels, alongside specialty stores, cafés, restaurants and a large nine-screen cinema complex (which is fully licensed). Specialty retailers include Bonds, Zara, Country Road and Witchery. Bunda St, Canberra City; canberracentre.com.au

Craft Act

A not-for-profit organisation that hosts creative programs and events to support makers of craft, design and art, the shop has an array of pieces made by members, including homewares, books, fashion, jewellery and artwork. This is the perfect place if you’re looking for a locally made gift or wanting to take a piece of Canberra home with you. Level 1, North Building, 180 London Cct; craftact.org.au

Lonsdale Street

Just 10 minutes from the city centre, this trendy street is home to local design talent, gift shops, homewares, bookshops and cool art galleries. Spend an afternoon browsing the boutiques. Lonsdale St, Braddon

National Museum Of Australia Shop

Stop by the museum’s shop to find unusual homewares, arts and crafts, Aboriginal giftware, gourmet treats and more. With prices to suit every budget, you’re sure to leave with a gorgeous souvenir.

Lawson Cres, Acton Peninsula; nma.gov.au/visit/shop

Pop Canberra

As its name suggests, this shop really will add a pop of colour and joy to your day. POP Canberra truly embraces the essence of local design, selling goods from over 200 local makers – everything from jewellery to alcoholic spirts and fruit preserves to accompany your next cheese board.

27 Londsdale St, Braddon; popcanberra.com.au

Trove Canberra

The intention of this creative treasure trove is to provide a shop space for Canberraregion artists, designers and makers to sell their wares. Set up as a cooperative, the store stocks one-of-a-kind homewares, jewellery, candles, soap, chocolate, cards, fashion, artwork and more. Shop G4a, Dickson Chambers, Dickson Pl, Dickson; trovecanberra.com.au

Explore

Australian National Botanic Gardens

These magnificent gardens are home to a collection of 83,000 Australian plants from more than 4,300 species and are worth a visit any time of year. Highlights include the Red Centre Garden, the Rainforest Gully, the Rock Garden and the Paperbark Treehouse. Take a picnic and enjoy the Eucalypt Lawn or jump on a 45-minute guided Flora Explorer tour in the electric bus.

Clunies Ross St, Acton; anbg.gov.au

Balloon Aloft

There’s no better way to see the nation’s capital and beautiful Lake Burley Griffin than from a hot air balloon. Held on both weekdays and weekends (weather dependent), Balloon Aloft’s flights are approximately 45–60 minutes long. balloonaloftcanberra.com.au

Canberra Nature Park

Canberra Nature Park is comprised of 37 separate protected areas in the ACT, including Black Mountain, Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve, Mount Ainslie and the Jerrabomberra Wetlands. The nature park reserves contain some of the finest examples of yellow box and red gum grassy woodland and are home to rare and threatened species, such as the superb parrot, the striped legless lizard and the button wrinklewort. environment.act.gov.au

National Arboretum Canberra

With panoramic views and more than 44,000 trees, the National Arboretum is a great place to explore. There are picnic spots, cycling trails and playgrounds. The Village Centre also has a café, a restaurant, a gift shop and the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection. Forest Dr, off Tuggeranong Pkwy, Molonglo Valley; nationalarboretum.act.gov.au

Experience

AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL

Commemorating the sacrifice of Australians who died in war, this world-class museum and shrine presents the stories of many brave men and women through art, photography, aircraft, equipment and mementos from an extensive archive. The Last Post Ceremony is held daily. Fairbairn Ave, Campbell; awm.gov.au

CANBERRA MUSEUM & GALLERY

This museum and gallery celebrates the region’s history and art with dynamic exhibitions and events. It houses a range of local, national and international exhibitions, including The Nolan Collection, which comprises key works from Australian artist Sir Sidney Nolan. Cnr London Cct and Civic Sq, Canberra; cmag.com.au

Canberra Theatre Centre

This premier performing arts venue offers the very best in theatre, opera, ballet, dance, comedy, circus and more. Visit the website to find out about the diverse range of performances on offer. Civic Sq, London Cct, Canberra; canberratheatre.com.au

Drill Hall Gallery

Located on the Australian National University campus, Drill Hall Gallery is housed in an historic drill hall built in the 1940s to train soldiers for the Second World War. Today the gallery showcases some of Australia’s leading contemporary artists.

Kingsley St, Acton; dhg.anu.edu.au

Jamala Wildlife Lodge

Sleep next to lions, feed a giraffe from your balcony or watch fish from your lounge room at the wild and wonderful Jamala Wildlife Lodge at Canberra’s National Zoo & Aquarium. Choose between the Jungle Bungalows, Giraffe Treehouses and uShaka Lodge.

Lady Denman Dr, Canberra; jamalawildlifelodge.com.au

National Film And Sound Archive

The National Film and Sound

Archive (NFSA) preserves and shares the nation’s audiovisual memory. More than three million items span over 100 years of creative production. There’s always a great program of film screenings and events, or you can take a journey through the NFSA collection and interactive space, the Hive. McCoy Cct, Acton; nfsa.gov.au

National Museum Of Australia

Overlooking Lake Burley Griffin, the museum explores Australian history and culture through Indigenous heritage, landscape, people and journeys that connect Australia with the world. As well as its consistently fascinating exhibitions and artefacts, the museum is an architectural gem. Make sure to check out the Gandel Atrium, and look up at the Canberra skies through the geometric glass ceiling. Take a guided tour (fees apply) and finish up with a visit to the waterfront Museum Café and enjoy the view of the lake. See the website for details on upcoming exhibitions, such as Feared and Revered (see pg 6 for more details).

Lawson Cres, Acton Peninsula; nma.gov.au

NATIONAL ZOO & AQUARIUM

Australia’s only combined zoo and aquarium offers some serious experiences for the brave at heart. Visit the lions and meerkats while they rise to meet the sun during the Awesome Roarsome Tour, or get an insight into the zoo’s conservation work with the allday Wonders of Wildlife Tour. The new encounter, the African Savannah Safari, allows you to get up close to African wildlife in a safe environment. Lady Denman Dr, Scrivener Dam; nationalzoo.com.au