We know Albo loves a beer—so it makes sense that Canberra bars are absolutely killing it when it comes to the cool factor.
Our capital is home to funky wine bars showcasing the region's best drops, basement cocktail bars, huge breweries, and pumping live music dives that shake off any small-town stereotypes that Canberra/Ngambri might've held.
These are Urban List's picks for the best Canberra bars right now.
Wine Room
24 Mort Street, Braddon
Image credit: Wine Room | Website
A chic Canberra bar with a big sense of community, Wine Room is all about celebrating exciting winemakers and producers, and bringing people together over great food and drinks.
Food looks like snacks, small and large plates, and a cheese selection for pairing with a bottle of the good stuff. There's happy hour between 4.30pm and 6.30pm, Tuesday–Saturday, and Friday sessions with DJs.
Molly
Odgers Lane, Canberra
Image credit: Molly | Instagram
If you think you're in the wrong place—you're probably in the right place to find the wooden door that leads you up to Canberra bar Molly. This hidden gem focuses on whisky in all forms, with expertly crafted cocktails, a stage for live music and performances, and a decent food menu too.
The former vault has been converted into a space for private events (with its own bar), and group cocktails classes, guided tastings and regular live jazz nights are all part of the appeal.
Fun Time Pony
2/122 Alinga Street, Canberra CBD
Image credit: Fun Time Pony | Instagram
This is your spot for a loud, late night out in the heart of Canberra. Fun Time Pony slings $4 pizza slices, epic live gigs, free pool, and a good-time grungy atmosphere.
The stage hosts local acts every Saturday night and touring bands and comedians on the regular (you can check out what's coming up on the website), and The Parlour of Dreams—a separate spot accessed by the back stairs—is a bar-within-a-bar open Wednesday–Saturday for cocktails and funky tunes.
High Jinks
Basement 2/15 Edinburgh Avenue, Canberra CBD
Image credit: High Jinks | Instagram
Good times and cocktails are a-flowin’ at High Jinks, a perfectly charming basement hideout that is the perfect spot for a nightcap or two, or pre-dinner mini cocktail during happy hour (6pm–8pm, Tuesday to Sunday).
The flickering candles, brass bar and green leather banquettes at this Canberra cocktail bar bring a Prohibition atmosphere, the impressive signature cocktails blend unexpected elements, and the classics are executed to textbook perfection.
Dear Prudence
102 Alinga Street, Canberra CBD
Image credit: Dear Prudence | Instagram
On the edge of Canberra's bustling Verity Lane Market precinct, Dear Prudence is a wine and tapas bar with a must-try selection of international and local bottles and a charming interior with exposed brick and plaster walls, loads of low tables, and even an outdoor area for Canberra's warmer days.
The daily glass list is expansive, so there’s something for everyone, and the small menu of charcuterie and cheese makes Dear Prudence the perfect place to end a working day or enjoy a drink and nibble before dinner. This one's open seven days a week, too.
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Paloma's
2/5 Lonsdale Street, Braddon
Image credit: Paloma's | Instagram
This spot is all about tequila, obviously, with a fun Mexican snack menu of guacamole and tortilla chips, corn ribs, and tacos. Cocktails focus on agave spirits with a few takes on the titular Paloma, plus margaritas, a blended champagne pina colada, frozen cocktails and shooters.
There are DJs spinning on Fridays and Saturdays at Paloma's, and plenty of tables outside for sunny afternoons; wine and beer drinks will also find something on the menu.
BentSpoke Brewing Co.
48/38 Mort Street, Braddon
It’s not all cocktails and local wines in Canberra’s bars; much-awarded BentSpoke Brewing Co. is home to 26 different draught beers, cider and two hand-pumped beers, with a core range that’s all about eschewing convention and trying new ways to make great brews.
The warehouse-style brewpub also has a kitchen that pumps pub classics, with some dishes incorporating elements of the beer-making process, like hop salt potatoes, grain-crusted wings with brewery-made hot sauce, and a loaded pork burger with Fixie ginger beer tonkatsu sauce.
Bar Rochford
Level 1/65 London Crescent, Canberra CBD
Image credit: Bar Rochford | Website
In a minimal, heritage building, Bar Rochford is a classy Canberra bar offering a polished experience over dinner and drinks, all soundtracked by spinning records. The main event here is wine, but the seasonal cocktail program also holds its own,
Grab a spot in a green leather booth or by a window bar overlooking the street to explore the comprehensive but compact menu of Aussie or Euro (mostly Italian) wines with plates like anchovy toasts with gribiche, potato galette with miso and caviar, and Wagyu skirt steak with Warrigal greens.
Rizla
146 Mode 3/24 Lonsdale Street, Braddon
Image credit: Rizla | Instagram
Rizla by name, Rizla by nature: this "barstaurant" is Australia’s only spot dedicated to riesling, with a collection from Canberra and its surrounding regions alongside other hand-picked red and white varieties from Australia and beyond.
There’s a menu of seasonal dishes to pair with your riesling spanning one-bite snacks (like sweet potato and chickpea cigars with hot honey), larger plates like pasta, and sticky date pudding to match with a beerenauslese for dessert.
Margot
Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes
Image credit: Margot | Instagram
A super cute kiosk overlooking the lake, Margot is a must-do to soak up some sun with an afternoon wine under the blossoms in springtime, or cosy up with a mulled wine or cider.
This chic Canberra bar is all outdoor bistro seating, so prepare to rug up to enjoy its menu which moves from coffees and pastries in the morning to cocktails, French and Aussie wines and pizzas in the arvo and evening.
Bar Beirut
25 Garema Place, Canberra CBD
Bringing all the excitement and sensory stimulation of a Middle Eastern bazaar to Canberra, Bar Beirut is a nightlife hotspot where cocktails are the real drawcard.
Sip on a Don’t Tell Charlie blending Baron Samedi spiced rum, blood orange, lime, vanilla syrup and marmalade, hail the martini cart to make your perfect nightcap, or branch out with a boozy bubble tea with house-made pearls and jelly. Bar Beirut has a full menu of mezze dishes, and an impressive range of non-alcoholic cocktails.