If you’re looking to get out in Canberra for a chilled out Sunday Session, we’ve got you covered with our list of the restaurants, bars and entertainment venues to top off your weekend.
Scroll down for the list and click on the venue name for more info.
Ainslie Football and Social Club: Be at Ainslie every Sunday afternoon to enjoy member raffles, where you could score a meat tray from The Butcher Shop, case of beer or a gift card. Tickets are only $1 for 5 numbers on sale from 3pm, and the draws kick off at 5pm and will continue until all prizes have been won. Be sure to get in early for a good spot in the Fireside lounge bar and try a craft beer or one of the delicious snacks from the Grazing Menu, or stay for dinner at Limestone restaurant.
Akiba: Try some electric Yum Cha, enjoy a long lunch with exclusive dumplings and a large range of cocktails, beer and Sake, from 11.30am to 3pm.
First Edition: First Edition Canberra offers a vast variety of spirits and specially crafted cocktails using the finest seasonal ingredients whilst paying tribute to local distilleries.
Baan Latsamy: From the moment you walk into Baan Latsamy, you are a part of the family. From the friendly staff to the pride and passion that the owners put into every dish that comes out of the kitchen, Baan Latsamy is a must-try in the Manuka precinct, with the dishes served a fusion of Lao and Thai cuisine. Open for dinner 5pm to 10.30pm.
BentSpoke Brewing Co: A modern take on the classic pub menu features dishes which incorporate beer, brewing ingredients and highlight great local produce. At the Braddon brewpub you will find 18 varieties of beer and cider available at any one time, all brewed on the premises. A wide range of beer styles are made by their award-winning head brewer, as well as hand-crushed apple cider, and gluten-friendly ginger beer, all on full display so you can watch the brew team at work while you sample a selection of brews by the pint.
Blu Ginger: Why not try the Blu Ginger Chef’s Tandoori Platter, an amazing appetizer of selected pieces of chicken tikka, seekh kebab and lamb cutlets served with mint sauce.
Casino Canberra: Casino Canberra is a destination that mixes style, elegance and entertainment in a unique and complete package. Experience the thrill of the next generation gaming in the multi-terminal gaming stadium, dazzle your senses with a Pop Chinese experience at Natural Nine, or soak up the ambiance at the end of a long day in the sophisticated new Onyx Lounge and Chandelier Bar. Join them for live gaming action including Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Poker, Pai Gow and more!
Debacle: Craft beer fans, Pirate Life selection is on tap at Debacle as the beer of the month, starting with their Pale Ale and Stout with IPA, Mosaice, and Unfazed to come.
Edgar’s Inn: Wrap your laughing gear around Edgar’s Inn Deluxe beef burger, with their signature beef patty with bacon, fried egg, pineapple, cheese, lettuce, tomato, beetroot, mustard relish and fries.
Gungahlin Lakes Golf and Community Club: The Lakes restaurant offers something for everyone with a focus on regional produce and flavours to suit every palate. The menu features all your favourites, a specialty Riverina steak selection and daily value deals. A dedicated selection of meals for the kids and an equipped play room is perfect for those with a family. This month Gungahlin Lakes are supporting Gold Creek School Junior Campus, North Canberra-Gungahlin Athletics Club and Melba Men’s Shed, to join the initiative, make any purchase at the Lakes cafe and drop your token in your chosen group’s box to show your support for the local community. Open for lunch from 12pm to 2pm and dinner from 5.30pm to 9pm.
Gus’ Place: With outdoor heaters, Gus’ Place is the place for top food in the city – why not try one of their delicious soups for only $10 served with sourdough.
Hog’s Australia’s Steak House Canberra (Civic): Get your RIB-A-LICOUS on, Hogs is now serving three delicious choices of ribs using 100 per cent succulent Australian grain fed pork for only $29.90 each.
Hopscotch: With one of the largest spaces in Braddon, and boasting an expansive beer garden, complete with outdoor spit, Hopscotch is a great spot for a Sunday session. With the largest range of whiskies (including scotches, blends, bourbons, Irish, French, Japanese and Australian) available in Canberra coupled with a wide selection of fine wines and craft beers on tap, you will be sure to find a delicious beverage to enjoy with anything from their imported wood-fired Argentine Grill. Sundays are known for drinks and 50 cent wings, too!
Hotel Kurrajong: Hotel Kurrajong Canberra has preserved a piece of the nation’s history and revived the story of the dawn of our capital while becoming a destination in itself. It has a warm and inviting ambiance, elegantly redesigned rooms and Chifley’s Bar & Grill, named after long-time hotel resident, former Prime Minister Ben Chifley, featuring a new whisky bar and locally sourced seasonal menus. Make the most of your lunch with their Quick Lunch, three courses all-in-one for $29, such as cream of pumpkin soup, salt and pepper squid and the dessert of the day. There are new menus every fortnight to keep you on your toes!
Kokomo’s: Enjoy a long lunch way down at Kokomo’s with a menu of ingredient focused trans pacific eats and creative cocktails in a lively two storey setting. Try the Pan Fried Goldband Snapper with crispy garlic, asian salad and chilli lime caramel – it’s gourmet and delicious.
Lazy-Su: Distinctly Asian, Lazy-Su is inspired from a mashup of retro 60’s to 80’s American-Japanese-Korean pop culture, Asian eating houses and hawker vendors, where food and drink are served up express and designed to be shared. It’s loud, quirky, cheeky, brash, and absolutely fun.
Lucky’s Speakeasy: A private hideaway for those wanting to take the edge off a long day in the trenches, Lucky’s has a fully stocked bar and a fully loaded bar snack menu. Order up the Organic Popcorn Chicken dinner, served with house BBQ hot sauce, blue cheese and yoghurt dressing – you won’t be able to get past this house favourite.
Mecure: To celebrate the official start to the Truffle Season in Canberra, why not try a Wagyu Truffle Burger, for a fine dining weekend session.
Muse: Muse regularly hosts Sunday book talks with esteemed authors an dindustry representatives. This Sunday, social researcher Hugh Mackay, who revolutionised Australian social analysis with the publication of Reinventing Australia, now takes another unflinching look at us and offers some compelling proposals for a more compassionate and socially cohesive Australia in Australia Reimagined. You might not agree with everything he suggests, but you’ll find it hard to get some of his ideas out of your head. Meet Hugh for the launch of this, his nineteenth book, and see if his optimism rubs off on you.
National Arboretum Canberra: For a healthy Sunday, why not take part in the West Side Stories Forest Walk, this Sunday 9.30am to 11.30am. Join an experienced guide for a walk on the little-explored western side of the Arboretum and hear stories about the trees including three of the rare eucalyptus forests. The walk will last around 2 hours and will need moderate fitness. Please wear sturdy covered footwear, bring water and dress for the weather conditions. Bookings essential as place are limited. Brought to you by the Friends of the National Arboretum.
RAKU: RAKU is a sleek, modern Japanese bar + restaurant offering a unique dining experience. RAKU combines the precision and artfulness of Japanese culinary history, with the vibrant energy of modern Australian dining. Their sushi team crafts beautiful plates of sashimi, nigiri and maki rolls, whilst the robata grill produce meat, seafood and vegetables dish that sing with the flavours of the flames.
Redsalt Restaurant: Have dinner at Redsalt during June and enjoy the delicious special of the month – chicken souvlaki served with wild rice and Greek salad, $28 with glass of house wine – or choose from the grill selection or a la carte menu.
Sage Dining Rooms: The new winter menu is in full effect – order the Grain fed Beef Tenderloin, which has been sous-vide and then seared before coated with a black pepper and buckwheat crust with a duck fat vinaigrette drizzled over top. The Brussel sprouts from the Sage Farm also add a slight crunch with the tenderloin resting on a bone marrow puree.
Shorty’s: Shorty’s is giving away $5 movie ticket vouchers from Dendy Cinemas Canberra every Sunday. Just pop into Shorty’s and purchase a burger, main or salad and receive a $5 movie ticket valid to use at Dendy Cinemas for over 6 months.
Teddy Pickers: Rotating soups are now on at Teddy’s, open 8am to 3pm, and the all day breakfast menu has something for everyone.
The District: The District has two enclosed and heated outdoor areas, providing a toasty Sunday session for you and your crew. You can get coffee any time, while alcohol is available from mid-morning through to late in the evening. The coffee experience in itself is sensational, using Element Coffee Beans roasted in Melbourne, while The District has six beers on tap and a wide selection of other drinks.
The Durham: Situated in Canberra’s oldest commercial hub, Green Square, the Durham has proudly supported the local community for more than a quarter of a century. Purveyors of the finest craft beer, wine, liquors, hot meals and entertainment in the area, they pride themselves on delivering the most definitive pub experience for all tastes and occasions.
The Duxton: Sundays are for Nan’s roast chicken with roast potato, pumpkin, peas, yorkshire pudding and gravy…. all that and a drink for just $20.
The Mawson Club: Grab a drink or a well-priced meal and find out how you can win a trip for two to Hamilton Island – but get in quick.
The Old Canberra Inn: A living piece of Australian history built in 1857 now a family friendly pub with great live music, fresh food sourced locally and rotating craft beer, open Sunday 11.30am to 10pm.
The Pedlar: The Pedlar kitchen offers a varied menu including all the pub classics, burgers, a range of fresh salads and plenty of sharing options. Drinks are also covered with the menu boasting a range of fresh juices, smoothies, milkshakes and freshly brewed boutique coffee and tea. Of course, any local pub would not be the same without an extensive bar and The Pedlar does not disappoint, featuring eight taps, a great range of wines, cocktails, and craft beers; perfect for lingering over on a sunny afternoon or a cosy evening.
Turkish Pide House: From banquets on the Mediterranean deck amongst ivy and white tiles to delicious takeaway Turkish pizzas, Turkish Pide House has options to tantalise anyone’s tastebuds. The menu is rich and hearty, packed with Mediterranean flavours.
Walt & Burley: Situated in one of Canberra’s most idyllic locations, the Kingston Foreshore, Walt & Burley provides a relaxed dining and bar experience. The menus are designed to tantalise and delight, indulging your senses with food, drinks, views and atmosphere. With foraged and locally produced ingredients paired with subtle, sublime wines from the local regions and across Australia, Walts is the place to enjoy your Foreshore experience.
Wild Duck: Wild Duck is a restaurant for a fine dining experience. While the halls may be frequented by some of the nations’ most powerful leaders, Wild Duck remains a warm and welcoming restaurant that is perfect for anyone to explore the broad and exciting world of China’s numerous domestic cuisine, as well as other authentic offerings from across South East Asia.
Young & Frisky: From the creators of Hopscotch in Braddon comes a pub, fried chicken, rum and whiskey! Young & Frisky specialises in fried chicken and whiskey (the bar’s name comes from a play on words with the Aussie rhyming slang for whiskey). Using imported pressure fryers to make the friskiest fried chicken, you can grab a bucket with 6 to 50 pieces of succulent chicken, with house made dipping sauces ranging from 90 to over 90,000 on the Scoville heat unit.
