Perched on the edge of NewActon in Civic, the flagship café for the city’s largest specialty roasters Ona Coffee is a place to please even the most serious caffeine nerd. The broad Scandi-styled coffee shop serves the A-Z of bean-based brews - you can even try cascara tea, made with the cherry from the coffee tree – while an all-day brunch menu of comfort-driven classics including avo on toast and hotcakes keeps energy levels pinging. The Canberra coffee diaspora should also put on their radar Ona’s Highroad café in Dickson, plus city centre Redbrick Coffee Shop, Intra in Campbell and Redbrick Roastery in Fyshwick for a quality cuppa.

1/1-13 University Avenue, Canberra 

This eatery from chef Sean McConnell (ex Monster Kitchen and Bar) is all salvaged timber, raw concrete and matt black finishes – but the stripped-back interiors contrast with a jam-packed menu. From parmesan and black truffle cannoli to conift duck with fregola, cavolo nero and chestnut, the food is flavoursome, creative and best shared.

23 Marcus Clarke Street, New Acton

The influential restaurant group behind Canberra stalwarts Chairman & Yip and Lanterne Rooms is aiming surprisingly small with its latest salvo, a refined omakase restaurant with seats for just 10 diners at a time around its glossy L-shaped counter. From this stage set, their skilled sushi chefs deftly prepare an 11-course menu that might include delicacies such as Hokkaido scallop brushed with egg yolk sauce and Patagonian toothfish saiko yaki with hazelnut miso and fingerlime.

Constitution Place, 1 Constitution Avenue, Canberra

There’s just a footpath between this elegant pavilion-styled dining room and Lake Burley Griffin. A wraparound deck further exploits the setting but chef John Leverink’s menu does an admirable job of drawing attention back to the plate with his imaginative spin on fine dining: think Daintree barramundi with burnt butter macadamia and baby leek, followed by a mascarpone mousse composed of wattleseed sponge, espresso cremeux and cocoa.

Grevillea Park, Menindee Drive, Barton

At hipper-than-hip hotel Ovolo Nishi, this all-day eatery and bar has become a compelling reason to visit – even when you’re not checking in. Terrazzo-crazy paving, quirky objects d’art and a soundtrack of pop classics are a worthy backdrop to a plant-based menu that showcases seasonal produce, with past iterations including the likes of splendid cauliflower shawarma with spiced yoghurt and pickled kohlrabi, and coal-roasted autumn squash served alongside hummus and pomegranate.

Ovolo Nishi, 25 Edinburgh Avenue, Canberra

There’s no better spot when you have a hankering for the classics. The aptly named dining hall sports a fit-out worthy of Habsburg royalty – all glossy wainscoting, plush leather banquettes and lighting set to moody – while the menu and wine list are proudly local yet conjure the Old World. The signature pepper steak is the go-to move, while porcini risotto, duck à l'orange, and crème caramel will transport you to the other side of the globe.

29 Jardine Street, Kingston

If it feels like an impossible feat to keep little ones contained at a restaurant, head to this popular lakeside spot for lunch or dinner. With its crowd-pleasing menu of crumbed, grilled or battered fish and burgers and chips, as well as outdoor seating, a zero-judgement atmosphere and wine and beer list, everyone can relax.

Mariner Place, Yarralumla

Forget what you think of when you hear the term “food hall”. With magazine-worthy design across its indoor and outdoor seating areas, this gastro emporium opened late last year in the central heritage-listed Sydney Building. Among the six different kitchens, you'll find Naples-style woodfired pizza at Una Pizza, Korean soul food at Seoul Chicken, traditional Vietnamese at Petite Saigon and South American fusion at La Cocina Pura. As for drinks? They’re covered at Dear Prudence (wine), Louie Louie (gin), and Brew Nation (beer).

50 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra

Only 15 minutes’ drive from the city centre, this jewel of the ACT’s winery scene has the restaurant to match its vineyard setting. A timber-beamed pavilion frames the bucolic views and the menu follows suit by sticking to the rustic delivery of time-honoured flavour combinations. Pialligo Estate figs saddle up with burrata, honey and pistachio, while soft polenta, chorizo and cherry tomatoes make good sense with veal cutlet parmigiana. 

18 Kallaroo Road, Pialligo

As urban as an urban brewery gets, this shrine to craft beer is in the heart of buzzing Braddon. Pouring up to 18 frothies on any given day – almost all made on site – this brew pub presents you with the challenge of choosing between a Barley Griffin pale ale or the hoppy Sprocket. Family friendly, it has mac-and-cheese balls or chicken and chips for the tykes.

38 Mort Street, Braddon

There’s no crying over spilt milk with the Canberra outpost of the all-conquering gelateria from Orange in NSW, which opened in Dickson at the end of last year. Classic milk bar stylings make the perfect canvas for the all-natural artisan ice cream that see local produce and a whole lot of flair combine in flavour combinations including brown bread and jam, milk and raspberry and the crowd-pleasing salted caramel. One ice cream is never enough, so take your tastebuds on a city-wide whirl to the award winning Pure Gelato in Mitchell and the dairy free-friendly Gelatissimo in the city centre.

Unit 70/2 Cape Street, Dickson