8 Top Canberra Restaurants near Avenue Hotel

From squid ink linguine to duck fat potatoes, you'll be hard pressed to find something you don't love in the Canberra foodie scene. Try getting through this list without drooling, we dare you!

Marble & Grain

Marble & Grain, Ground Floor Avenue Hotel, Northbourne Avenue, Braddon

Located on the ground floor of the Avenue Hotel, Marble & Grain is a European steakhouse inspired restaurant with a true paddock to plate mentality. With shared options such as the slow cooked 1.2kg locally sourced lamb shoulder, the Marble & Grain ‘butchers board’ with venison sausages, lamb ribs, steak, bone marrow, onion rings and more, you can’t go wrong.

Or, if you’re not the sharing type, with so many delicious options for main course including five hour braised lamb cheeks and seafood bouillabaisse, you’re bound to find something you’ll love. In saying this, you might find it a little difficult to look past the steak options… with six choices, from a 220g wagyu sirloin, to a 400g locally sourced rib eye, all served with bone marrow, red wine jus and duck fat potatoes. Drool.

Pop past at lunch and grab a bite to eat from the $15 lunch specials menu, including dishes like slowly braised local lamb with couscous and herb salsa, and fish and chips with fennel slaw.

Kokomos

Kokomos, Genge Street, Canberra

Still the relatively new kid on the block, Kokomos, sister restaurant to the ever-popular Akiba, has already secured its place on the must-try list of foodies near and far! Serving up trans-pacific cuisine in an equally tropical and divine venue, this is something far from what Canberra has ever seen before. In a similar style to Akiba, Kokomos promotes the idea of sharing food at the table, with options branded as ‘lighter’ plates, or ‘larger’ plates. 

The lighter options include lobster lollipops, their reinvention of the classic prawn toast (with an addition of lime, sweet corn & smoked chilli mayo!) and smoky pork belly with banana ketchup. For something heartier, opt for the honey yuzu glazed bbq pork neck or wood roasted lamb shoulder - perfect for these cold Canberra nights.

Italian & Sons

Italian & Sons, Lonsdale Street, Braddon

Since sparking the Lonsdale Street transformation when first opening in 2009, Italian and Sons has truly maintained its place as one of Canberra’s finest Italian restaurants. Boasting a menu that will immediately get your mouth watering, start with the affettati, a charcuterie board with cold cuts, Provolone, grissini and broad bean pesto. Moving on to mains, you’re spoilt for choice. From pizzas (tomato or white base) to delectable pasta such as the squid ink linguine with blue swimmer crab, tomato, chilli and pangrattato, to the ever popular weekly specials.

For the ultimate chilled evening, step into the adjoining Bacaro, accessed via the restaurant or separate laneway entrance and you’ll be greeted with the most stylish of layouts. In winter, find yourself a spot by the fireplace and enjoy a cheese platter or a selection of house made salamis.

Lazy Su

Lazy Su, Lonsdale Street, Braddon

A perfectly executed blend of Korean, Japanese and American design and cuisine, Lazy Su plays on the idea of casual dining whilst providing an intimate, stylish experience. With a retro chic set out, Tetris light boxes detailing the spirits list and, arguably one of the most instagrammed ‘venue shots’ of the moment, the wall of lucky cats, Lazy Su offers a banquet, with either seven or eight of their best dishes, or choose from their extensive menu.

Split into various sections, their menu boasts a number of mouth watering items, from their famous wagyu cheesesteak spring rolls to pork and cabbage dumplings, bao-gers (pork belly, chicken or tofu bao) to tuna ceviche and black rice pudding. And, if you needed another reason to visit them… espresso martinis on tap. ‘Nuff said!

Eighty/Twenty Food

Eighty/Twenty, Lonsdale Street, Braddon

With a seasonal, yet always healthy & nutritious menu, Eighty/Twenty Food focus on serving clean, natural and unprocessed whole foods. Step inside their light-filled Lonsdale Street store and find yourself faced with enticing homemade raw desserts, pre-made salads, locally made Kombucha and the smell of freshly ground coffee. With a menu dedicated to food, and one dedicated to drinks and acai bowls, you’re spoilt for choice.

Bar Rochford

Bar Rochford, London Circuit, Canberra

Hidden in the iconic Melbourne building, enter Bar Rochford and experience a European-style bar like no other in Canberra. Light green leather adorning the booths and stools, paired back with deep wood and crisp white walls, plus the addition of a fireplace, create a truly European vibe which is continued through the menu.

On offer are sharing foods, such as pork, pistachio and fig terrine, house pickles and hand-cut chips, as well as a number of vegetarian dishes like the cauliflower, yoghurt and burnt chilli or the brussel sprouts with smoked mussels and pangrattato. Or, if you’re a fish fan, opt for the red snapper or for something hearty, locally sourced rump steak. Bar Rochford makes the perfect place for after work drinks that turn into a casual, long dinner spent working your way through the delectable menu.

Blackfire

Blackfire, Mort Street, Braddon

When you hear that their executive chef has worked in two Michelin starred restaurants, you build a certain idea of what you’ll be getting. Blackfire promises big and delivers big. Located on Mort Street, Blackfire offers Mediterranean cuisine, with meats, seafood and vegetables all cooked on an open fire roast, wood fire oven or charcoal grill, you can expect bold, unique flavours.

Whether you are after breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you can be sure to find something to suit your taste on their extensive menus. If you’re dining with a group, they’ve got you covered, with two group lunch menus and a dinner group menu set to please, with delicious dishes on offer including Wagyu skirt steak and suckling lamb shoulder pasta. Yes please!

Eightysix

Eightysix, Cnr of Elouera & Lonsdale Street, Braddon

Located on only a 6 minute walk from Avenue Hotel is Eightysix.  Known for its unique and colourful take on modern Australian cuisine, Eightysix is an abosulute must try of the Canberra dining scene.  You can go it alone and make your own selection, or choose their tasting menu, which you can also customise! 

Our favourites are the Oxtail Ragu, slow cooked to perfection, served on housemade pappardelle complimented by a zesty gremolata, and their house favourite Caramel Popcorn Sundae, broken waffle cone, fresh caramel ice cream, peanut brittle, caramel popcorn.