The Ultimate Guide to Canberra’s Coolest Neighbourhoods

Where can you find the most delicious brunch, track down vintage treasures or let the kids slide into an epic ball pit? Maximise your chances of pleasing everyone with our guide to the best neighbourhoods in Canberra to explore.

Canberra City, Acton & Braddon

Short walks and cycle paths connect the bar-studded laneways of Canberra’s CBD to artsy Acton and hip Braddon. No matter where you set out from, you won’t need to stroll far to get your coffee fix. If you’re in the CBD, head to The Cupping Room – “The Cuppo” in local dialect – where world champion barista Sasa Sestic oversees the brews. 

At Garema Place you can shop at indie treasure troves Landspeed Records and Impact Comics. The nearby Canberra Centre puts David Jones and other stores you know together with the authentic hawker-style eateries of its Tiger Lane precinct. Fancy an al fresco wine instead? Low-key bar Dear Prudence and the food hall at Verity Lane Market open onto a buzzy backstreet. 

Winding your way west into Acton, take the time to nose around the colourful exhibitions of the Drill Hall Gallery on your way to the Australian National Botanic Garden or the National Museum of Australia. 

On Lonsdale Street, which runs north from the city into Braddon, retail is the cultural experience. There’s Hive, which curates sustainable kids’ toys, knits and trinkets, plus jewellery showroom Kin Gallery, where you’ll find one-offs from local makers. When you’re ready to relax, flip a coin: heads and you steam in the bathhouse at Adytum Wellness; tails and it’s potato nori tacos from Lazy Su before beers at Bentspoke Brewing Co..

Where to stay

Try The Midnight Hotel for its elegant indoor pool and bar or A by Adina for Modernism-inspired rooms with a view.

Barton, Manuka & Kingston

Leafy village vibes meet slick dining spots and retro-inspired cocktail bars in this enclave of the inner south. Barton, once known for its office blocks, is now one of the hottest places to eat in Canberra, with Vincent among those heroing refined small plates and European wines. The Realm precinct, featuring Hotel Realm and Burbury Hotel & Apartments, with its rooftop bar Leyla, also helps make the National Circuit an after-hours hangout. 

After a meal at Cantonese restaurant Chairman & Yip, wander across to Ostani for a nightcap. In the AM, Maple + Clove pulls a weekend crowd with its nourishing smoothies, savoury spelt waffles and raw salads. This cool concrete pocket of town is also an oasis of wellness: bliss out with a massage ritual at Mudd The Spa or book in for a high-performance facial at Hale Spa.

A 15-minute walk away, Manuka village sets a chilled pace. You could spend an afternoon browsing beloved bookstore Paperchain, shopping for fashion by labels such as Alemais, Trelise Cooper and Kitx at Momento Dezigns or reading the paper at Manuka Lawns, ducking in to Urban Pantry for pasta when the mood strikes.

Neighbouring Kingston mixes the modern with the historical. “Old” Kingston has its heritage homes and Canberra Railway Museum but head down to the foreshore and you’ll find a vibrant mix of parks and eateries – try the burger high tea at Beef & Barley. If you’re still around after sundown, wander into the backstreets of Kingston to discover all its restaurants and bars, including Queenies, where the cocktails have names like My Aunty Maureen, the entirely gluten-free menu stars Bangkok chicken and the locals bring the good times.

Where to stay

Check-in at Little National Hotel for boutique sophistication; or Hotel Kurrajong for heritage suites and a family room.

Fyshwick, Pialligo & Majura

Escape to the country in a tick over 15 minutes. You’ll find truffle farms and wineries to indulge in as well as fun for kids along the way. Start at Fyshwick, an industrial-zone-turned-hipster-hangout on Canberra’s green fringe where you can snap up a wholesome brekkie and fill your picnic basket at the Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets, open from 7am, Thursday to Sunday. 

Not far away, at the design-forward development of Dairy Road, bend and stretch at Flow Yoga and let the kids loose at the Kidzplore play centre. However, no judgement if you skip yoga for a gin-sipping tour of Big River Distilling Co. or noodles at Canteen instead. 

City caffeine crew Lonsdale Roasters have also set up shop out here – with an indoor basketball court to boot. Vintage style more your addiction? You might unearth the Eames chairs and ’50s-era furnishings of your dreams at nearby store The Modern Object or collect pearls, perfume flacons and who knows what else at Dirty Janes Canberra. Designer Op Shop Emporium is a hotspot for consignment fashion and has a gallery attached. If you fancy fine art, swing by Grainger Gallery, back in the Dairy Road precinct. 

A five-minute drive north brings you to semi-rural paddocks. Pull over in Pialligo to pick fresh apples at Tanbella Orchard. Don’t miss scones with jam at the pretty Kitchen Garden at Rodney’s café. In Majura, go hunting for prized black fungi at The Truffle Farm in winter.  

Afternoons don’t get better than sundowners with a glass of Silurian sparkling while overlooking the hills at Mount Majura Vineyard. Book in for a tasting flight to take a tour of the terroir.

Where to stay

Yurts at Pialligo’s Beltana Farm have fridges filled with ready-to-cook meals. The stylish Vibe Hotel Canberra in Majura sits only 50 metres from the airport terminal.  

SEE ALSO: The Best Restaurants in Canberra to Put on Your Radar