The best cafés in Canberra right now

What is it? A vegetarian café supporting migrant and refugee women.

Why we love it: Café Stepping Stone isn’t just cooking up great food – it’s changing lives. Co-founders Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello were named Australian of the Year Local Heroes in 2025 for their work employing migrant and refugee women, giving them a ‘stepping stone’ toward a brighter future. With locations in Dickson and Strathnairn, the café’s heart lies in its wholesome vegetarian menu, inspired by Asian, Middle Eastern and South American flavours. Set in a charming 1920s homestead, the Strathnairn café serves up everything from potato masala toasties and mushroom medley pies to a soul-warming red curry with mixed vegetables and jasmine rice. If you’re known to be a bit of a sweet tooth, there’s no going past the brownie or burnt basque cheesecake either. Meanwhile, the Dickson spot offers a shorter but equally delicious menu, ensuring every meal here does good – both for your taste buds and the community. 

Time Out tip: Café Stepping Stone in Strathnairn is the place to be for grassy flats to dine upon with Canberra’s divine hilly vistas and gum tree surroundings.

Address: Dickson & Strathnairn

Expect to pay: Brunch from $17.50, coffee from $4.20

What is it? A chain with the most, bringing sustainability to the forefront of their operations.

Why we love it: You’ll find Two Before Ten cafés speckled well across Canberra from the north, south, east and west, including a dedicated roastery in Mitchell if you’re a coffee aficionado. And it doesn’t stop there – farm-to-table isn’t just a tagline at Two Before Ten either, it’s Canberra’s most sustainable café empire. Over the last decade, their original Aranda café has evolved from an abandoned shopping village into a bustling community hub and urban garden, complete with an on-site roastery, beehives, fruit trees, expansive vegetable garden and industrial composter. TBT’s Urban Garden provides year-round produce to support its 13 cafés, with seasonality taking centre stage on the 70 per cent vegetarian menu. Expect rustic plates with a focus on sourdough, rolls, bowls and sandwiches, like the Garden Rosti Roll of house-made potato hash, fried egg, romesco, avocado, rainbow chard and melty Swiss cheese.

Time Out tip: After something a little harder than the AM beans? Head on over to the Aranda outpost to experience the brand’s eatery and wine bar, 10 Yards.

Address: Multiple locations, including Aranda, Barton and Dickson 

Expect to pay: Brunch from $14, coffee from $4.50

What is it? A Japanese-inspired joint that takes their coffee very seriously.

Why we love it: If you haven’t swung by this specialty coffee house and Japanese-inspired café in Campbell, consider this your sign to fix that ASAP for some dang tasty coffee. First-timers can sample Intra’s offerings with a coffee flight, featuring their Staple blend with notes of butterscotch, hazelnut and nectarine. Other single origin blends feature beans sourced from Costa Rica, Ethiopia and Honduras, with all four options available for purchase from Intra’s retail nook. Do yourself a favour and pair your batch brew or chocolate malt shake with Intra’s signature kimchi jaffle for the full trifecta worthy of a mention in the group chat – there’s even vegan, gluten- and lactose-free options up for grabs that are sure to satisfy the hangriest of stomachs. Sip on house-made sodas or rare Chinese teas, and if you’re visiting on weekends, match your cuppa with a cardamom bun from the legends at Under Bakery. 

Time Out tip: Intra PRVN are shaking it up a bit with their cashless ethos. So don’t bring your spare change, they simply shan’t accept it.

Address: 30/12 Provan Street, Campbell

Expect to pay: Brunch from $14, coffee from $5

What is it? A city hangout that’s popular for its unusual caffeine blends and diverse menu.

Why we love it: Remember the legends at Ona? Another one of their flagships is The Cupping Room, or The Cuppo, as it’s affectionately known by Canberrans. You can swing by their University Avenue outpost seven days a week, and on public holidays too, for when you need that caffeine hit the most. Ona’s complex roasts hail from all around the world, and this Ona branch is inspired by the age-old practice of ‘cupping’, where little cups of coffee are judged and compared to get their flavour profile. The Cuppo demands your adventurous side to lurk out of the shadows and go all out with the Christmas Trifle reserve milk-based coffee, which hints at vanilla custard, brandy and baked stone fruit. Yes please. With a coffee in hand, pull up a chair next to the sun-drenched windows and dig into chorizo benedict with caramelised hollandaise, duck noodle salad with Shantung-style glaze, or perhaps cinnamon-soaked French toast doused in house-made custard, white chocolate ganache, strawberry syrup, salted Biscoff caramel sauce and crumble.

Time Out tip: Just when you thought you’d seen it all (in terms of coffee shops), The Cupping Room has come out with a new initiative in collaboration with Ikigai Film Lab – photography nerds, we’re looking at you. In one fell swoop, you can order your morning brew and put your film into be developed at the cafés dropbox. How’s that for two birds, one stone?

Address: 1/1-13 University Avenue, Canberra

Expect to pay: Brunch from $18, coffee from $5.40

What is it? A rustic café smackbang on Kingston Foreshore for breakfast with a view.

Why we love it: Everyone has their own idea about what makes the perfect café breakfast, which is why this sustainable, free-range loving, gently industrial café on Kingston Foreshore provides the building blocks to make your own morning masterpiece. At Local Press Café, toast is the foundation, and you can opt for simple spreads or customise with eggs, goat’s cheese, house-cured salmon, smoked bacon, avo or a tomato with olive caramel (we’re listening intently). Vegans and gluten-free-ers, you’ll be pleased with Local Press too, with the roast mushroom-capsicum ciabatta roll with vegan cheese and spinach, and the jackfruit tacos with tomatillo sauce, respectively. Throw a salted peanut butter caramel smoothie in there for good measure, and it’s a strong start to your day. 

Time Out tip: As lovely as Local Press Café is, with its waterfront alfresco dining and whatnot, we’d recommend eating in and drinking out. Take your morning jitter juice on an adventure along the banks of Lake Burley Griffin for an inner-city nature walk with the most.

Address: 35 Eastlake Parade, Kingston

Expect to pay: Brunch from $15, coffee from $4

What is it? A truly elite coffee haunt that serves up award-winning cuppas and breakfast classics to boot.

Why we love it: Much to Melbourne’s dismay, the best coffee in Australia hails from Canberra. Ona Coffee’s founder, Sasa Sestic, once won the World Barista Championship and is now one of the world's most influential people in the coffee industry. Ona has three shopfronts around Canberra, but their rustic and spacious Fyshwick coffee house is where the roasting magic happens. Here, classic Australian café fare, like halloumi fritters and avocado toast, is also crafted with precision to match the prize-winning roasts. Ona’s kangaroo latte art is one to admire beside a pillowy bacon and egg roll – adding the hash brown is a non-negotiable too. The café itself invites you to stay for a good time and a long time (remote workers welcome) with its soft-toned interior of blue hues and timber touches – there’s even a semi-indoor deck where you can cosy up beneath the ever-so-necessary heaters. 

Time Out tip: Ona offers weekly barista classes that’ll have you mastering the tools in just one day. Ideal if you’re visiting the Bush Capital short-term or running a tight schedule.

Address: 68 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick

Expect to pay: Brunch from $19, coffee from $5.40

What is it? ​​A light-filled all-day eatery by Canberra’s famous sustainable coffee roaster, Ona.

Why we love it: Australia is a notoriously difficult place to get a coffee after 3pm. Enter: Ona’s third Canberra flagship store, Highroad. The café is open ‘til 9:30pm from Thursday to Saturday and is all about keeping things natural. The cafés sunshine-dappled wooden interiors were designed to reflect the raw yet refined natural landscape of our Bush Capital, with an equally considered menu to match. Highroad’s offerings change with the seasons, and a diverse breakfast menu keeps things interesting with everything from Greek tzatziki eggs and Japanese shokupan toast to Spanish omelette. But the eggs benedict with your choice of protein is a mainstay. You can even customise your roll to be vegan or gluten-free. As for the rocket fuel, the specialty coffee on offer is a part of Project Origin – an initiative creating strong relationships with coffee farmers and producers around the world. We’re comin’ over immediately.

Time Out tip: Can’t make it to Highroad in the morn? Fear not, the café is open for dinner too with a menu that reflects a French-Mediterranean flair.

Address: 1 Woolley Street, Dickson

Expect to pay: Brunch from $16, coffee from $5.50

What is it? A hotspot that just happens to serve up some of the best coffee in Canberra.

Why we love it: What began as a tiny espresso bar and coffee roaster in Curtin back in 2011 has grown into one of Canberra’s proudest specialty coffee spots, now boasting three locations spanning from the city centre to Curtin in the east and Fyshwick in the west. At Redbrick’s roastery in the latter locale, you can watch the roasting action through large glass windows, using beans sourced from sustainable farms in Central and South America and Africa. Their flagship café in Civic is our favourite spot for a cosy cuppa, offering four distinct blends – classic, sweet, rich and complex – plus a rotating selection of single origins, available as filter or espresso. Pair your chosen brew with brunch classics, like avo toast, egg-bacon rolls or chilli scrambled eggs. The slow-cooked lamb with tomato, smoked tzatziki and fresh herbs over house-made flatbread goes down a treat too.

Time Out tip: If you’re on the hunt for tried and tested coffee equipment, Redbrick offers a range of apparatuses on their website that’ve received the seal of approval, so you can live your best bean life at home, in the office or wherever you see fit, really.

Address: Civic, Curtain & Fyshwick

Expect to pay: Brunch from $16, coffee from $5.50

What is it? A local hub where gathering is encouraged, whether you’re herbivorous or omnivorous. 

Why we love it: This sunny, suburban café and bakery is a love letter to its local community. Put your name down for a table in the front courtyard and skim The Knox Made in Watson’s all-day menu, featuring Mexican baked eggs with beans and charred chorizo, and a to-die-for house-made flat bread topped with labneh, mushrooms, kale, dukkah, rosti, poached egg and a rich sun-dried tomato tapenade. Pair your brunch with a hot cuppa or refreshing bevvy from Canberra’s very own Redbrick Coffee, Adore Tea, Yarrh Wines and Bentspoke Brewery. Don’t leave without saying hello to the pastry cabinet, where you’ll likely be tempted to grab a cream-filled doughnut or fruit and honey loaf for the road home – pleasantly unavoidable.

Time Out tip: If you’re laying off the animal products, The Knox Made in Watson has you back. A separate vegan menu enlists all sorts, namely the potato rosti with pumpkin puree, a yuzu-glazed tempura-mushroom sandwich, and even a benedict option with all the toppings minus the egg. Extra pumpkin hollandaise, thanks.

Address: 1/13 Watson Place, Watson

Expect to pay: Brunch from $16.50, coffee from $5.60

What is it? A Canberra mainstay with eateries scattered across town, including a gluten-free locale.

Why we love it: Canberra’s answer to wholesome, balanced and healthy fare is found at Eighty/Twenty. At all seven of their cafés – including a 100 per cent gluten-free cafe in Belconnen – you'll be spoilt for choice with acai bowls, nourishing salads, buckwheat waffles and nutrient-rich smoothies. The plates are big, and the Mighty Breakfast is even bigger, piled with sourdough, smoked bacon, free-range eggs, grilled chorizo, avocado, halloumi, hash brown, greens, garlic-thyme mushrooms and tomato. But if that doesn’t quite fill the gap, the chilli-prawn croissant with scrambled egg, parsley and lemon might just do the trick. Make sure to save space for that 20 per cent indulgence, whether it’s a side of loaded potato wedges, a house-made raw dessert, or a snug hot choccy ideal for the frosty Canberrian days.

Time Out tip: Over at Eighty/Twenty in Belconnen (the gluten-free site), they’re churning out some fab pizzas minus the wheat. The in-house bakery is well worth a suss if you’re on the hunt for considered breads.

Address: Multiple locations, including Canberra CBD, Braddon and Kingston

Expect to pay: Brunch from $20, coffee from $5

What is it? Said to be one of the best bakeries in Canberra.

Why we love it: You can get very Parisian at this bakery that managed to gain the attention of the New York Times on their last visit to the Capital. Silo Bakery and Café stuff buttery croissants with ham and cheese, pipe coconut mascarpone onto French toast, and fold chorizo and chilli into your omelette. Silo’s menu rotates with the season, but you can rest assured that it’s never not carb-heavy (just the way we like it). If you’re partial to a hefty savoury number, it’s the steak focaccia you’re going to want to grab – filled with medium rump, caramelised onions, rocket and irresistibly soft Maasdam cheese. But if it’s sugar you crave, the baked oats topped with banana ice cream and raspberry coulis is bound to hit the spot (it just happens to be vegan too). Not to mention, they bake fresh baguettes and pastries daily, and won’t bat an eye if you order five pains au chocolat to go. 

Time Out tip: While we’re a huge fan of the French-esque fare, Silo also has the classic on hand for when you’re on the run. Think bacon-egg rolls, spinach-feta borek and chicken salad sangas too.

Address: 36 Giles Street, Kingston

Expect to pay: Brunch from $23, coffee from $5.70

What is it? A calm lakeside café on Black Mountain Peninsula offering all-day classics with a sunny Italian twist.

Why we love it: With Lake Burley Griffin shimmering like a stand-in for Lake Como and panini that taste fresh from a Roman forno (bakery), Café Sosta offers a slice of la dolce vita without leaving Canberra. This lakeside café, tucked inside the zhushy new Red Shed rowing facility, takes its name from the Italian word meaning to stop, take a break and pause. And that’s exactly what rowers, walkers and weekenders are invited to do, while soaking up the beauty of Black Mountain Peninsula. Come in the morning for breakfast classics with an Italian twist, including pistachio-stuffed croissants, chorizo and parmesan frittatas, and the popular egg and bacon roll with melty cheese and sweet tomato relish. Coffee is served the Italian way, complete with two mini biscotti, while protein shakes and energise juices are perfect for refuelling post-workout. In summer, bask on the sunny deck with fresh paninis, salads and pasta, then slide seamlessly into aperitivo hour (2.30pm–6pm) with pizzas, small plates and a classic Spritz or vino in hand.

Time Out tip: The scenic two-kilometre loop around Black Mountain Peninsula is a perfect pre- or post-brunch activity.

Address: Red Shed, John Cardiff Cl, Acton

Opening hours: Mon-Wed 7.30am-3pm; Thur-Fri 7.30am-6pm; Sat 8am-6pm; Sun 8am-3pm

Expect to pay: Brunch from $15, coffee from $4.50

What is it? A very vegan café that’s a hit with locals and beyond.

Why we love it: No meat? No worries. Sweet Bones has been winning the hearts of Canberra’s vegan crowd and beyond since 2012, and has recently shifted operations from Lonsdale Street to Scullin. Don’t let the punk rock-inspired interiors and skull table numbers fool you. These guys make plant-based eating approachable for all with their diverse menu that doesn’t hold back on cheesiness, sugariness, fried and healthful goodness alike. From New Orleans and New York to Mexico, Sweet Bones offerings hit all the right flavour profiles – whether it’s the Po Boy of fried oyster mushrooms, remoulade sauce and all the fresh stuff on a ciabatta roll, the Reuben with marinated tempeh, maple-roasted cabbage, sauerkraut, Russian dressing and plant-made cheese on sourdough, or the Nacho Mountain (need we say more). Truth be told, we’re a sucker for the McMuffin riff featuring tofu scramble and coconut bacon with an all-important hash brown on the side.

Time Out tip: Sweet Bones' cinnamon scrolls are famous for a reason. They're baked fresh daily and slathered with thick vegan cream cheese frosting. Pop in early to grab one – they sell out fast!

Address: 3 Scullin Place, Scullin 

Expect to pay: Brunch from $16.50, coffee from $5

What is it? A stone-timber café that curates pretty plates with an elegant flair.

Why we love it: On a sunny corner of Canberra’s edgy arts and culture hub, New Acton, sits this stylish little nook dishing out ethical edibles and fair-trade coffee. It’s easy to pick your breakfast poison with the all-day menu divided between small things, favourites, salads and rolls. Močan and Green Grout are elevating the classics like the trusty bacon-egg and relish roll, the smoked trout salad with green beans, potato, egg, barley and dill mayonnaise, the apple and lemon balm bircher, as well as the corned beef roll with gooey Swiss cheese, house pickles and a lathering mustard. But sometimes all you need is a slice of fruit bread with warm, melted butter and Močan and Green Grout deliver on that front too. For those who love a daytime tipple, there’s even a tight selection of wines to get the cogs ticking. 

Time Out tip: The winter specials board sees plenty of hearty soups that go above and beyond. Think slow-cooked beef goulash, lamb and lentil, along with creamed chicken and potato-y bowls of liquidy goodness.

Address: 1/19 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra

Expect to pay: Brunch from $13, coffee from $5.30

What is it? A Belconnen hang-out that’ll take your taste buds on an adventure across the globe.

Why we love it: If you like your breakfast in as many styles as backpackers like passport stamps, head to this smart casual café in Belconnen. You could start your morning adventure in Japan with chashu pork tacos with daikon-apple slaw and wasabi aioli, then take a Mexican detour with the grilled chicken quesadilla, where plenty of tangy tomatillo is the go. Korean is represented in a milk bun burger featuring spicy-glazed fried chicken, while Aussie classics like no-frills ham-cheese croissant and sausage rolls also get a look in. 54 Benjamin’s drinks list is also pretty substantial, offering up everything from cappuccinos and chai to strawberry-matchas and banana smoothies – they all pair quite nicely with the doughnut French toast, if we may say so – served with raspberry compote, velvety mascarpone, white chocolate crumb, vanilla ice cream and seasonal fruits for a hint of the healthful life.

Time Out tip: 54 Benjamin is all about the fur babies, and you’re welcome to dine with yours right outside for a cuppa with the most.

Address: 4/54 Benjamin Way, Belconnen

Expect to pay: Brunch from $19, coffee from $4.80

What is it? An airy Braddon that does what it says on the tin.

Why we love it: If you need a cosy place to gather with your nearest and dearest, pick Gather. Founded by a group of close friends, this community-minded café in trendy inner-city Braddon spotlights local producers from ‘every region, in every season’, so they say. And you can taste in every bite too, in the: Tasmanian hot-smoked salmon hash brown with poached egg and ajvar (Balkan capsicum relish); brekkie quesadilla of grilled Spanish chorizo and Monterey cheese; as well as the more-so uncommon dish of salt-baked sweet potato, Tuscan cabbage and poached egg dolloped with creme fraiche and showered in pancetta, pecorino and a zesty-herb dressing. Gather’s house-blend coffee is roasted just down the road, while all their kombucha, kefir and juice are made in-house. Plus, they warmly welcome and pamper four-legged friends with doggy biscuits, steak tartare and puppychinos – big ‘one for you and one for me’ energy.

Time Out tip: If you’re trying to up your vitamin D intake or simply aiming for some fresh air, Gather has plenty of outdoor lunch benches complete with sun (or rain, likely) umbrellas.

Address: 4/24 Mort Street, Braddon

Expect to pay: Brunch from $19, coffee from $6

What is it? A courtyard café that’s doing things a little differently.

Why we love it: On one hand, you could start the day with baked eggs shakshouka or a bacon and cheese brekkie burger. But you could just as easily find yourself slicing into buttermilk hotcakes because you’re a dessert person who isn’t afraid to start the day with vanilla bean gelato, cookie crumble or whatever seasonal goodness the weekly specials board has to offer. And the best part? The Doubleshot Deakin team aren’t one to judge. Located a mere five-minute drive south-west of Parliament House, this cute café is as nice to look at as it is the food. The pretty plates are a vibrant backdrop in contrast to the red-brick hotspot. Vines wind around the facade and planter boxes line the out-front courtyard, while the mesmerising log wall interior makes for an earthy, suburban affair. It’d be rude not to try a matcha chai while you’re at it, likewise the Belgian hot chocolate, which is seriously thick and, well, chocolatey. An organic range of teas is the cherry on top, but the caramel thickshakes are the cream of the crop.

Time Out tip: Speaking of thickshakes, you can go all out and add your morning coffee to the blend for an absolutely, outrageously tasty way to start the day.

Address: 7 Hopetoun Crescent, Deakin

Expect to pay: Brunch from $19, coffee from $5

What is it? A Kingston café that takes inspiration from London’s first coffeehouses.

Why we love it: It’s A’s across the board for this specialty coffee house sitting just a few streets back from Kingston Foreshore. When you rock up to Penny University, be prepared to wait, as you’ll be joining the other half of Canberra eager for a taste of their Japanese-inspired plates. As the name suggests, Penny University pays homage to the original coffeehouses of 17th-century London, where customers would pay just a single penny to enter – a fair price for caffeine, company and the news of the day. These days, Penny University in Kingston offers much the same (although you’ll be paying more than a penny for your morning eggs). The crowd favourite okonomiyaki savoury pancake is a real winner, as is the katsu chicken burger and seasonal miso salmon bowl. On the caffeine front, Penny’s house blend works best with milk, while their single origins are best served black. 

Time Out tip: Your brunch can easily turn into a boozy affair with Mimosas, Bloody Marys and Espresso Martinis.

Address: 15 Kennedy Street, Kingston

Expect to pay: Brunch from $19, coffee from $5.50

What is it? An eatery-cross-gallery in the heart of Lyneham.

Why we love it: Every plate is a canvas at this neighbourhood café and art gallery in Lyneham. The Front has a good reputation for a good reason – it’s a descendant of the Two Before Ten café family, so you’re in safe hands when it comes to specialty coffee, sustainability, and keeping things local, thanks to that urban farm of theirs we mentioned earlier. The Front is the place to head for French toast that’s almost drowned in strawberry rhubarb preserve, whipped vanilla mascarpone and topped with white chocolate crumble and maple syrup. It’s also the place for a classic brekky burger beefed up with Swiss cheese and greens alongside your egg and bacon combo (adding the optional hash brown isn’t an option, by the way). After filling your bellies, head to the gallery next door to catch the latest exhibition by local Canberran artists – and maybe even some after-hours entertainment on an opening night. 

Time Out tip: If you’re an artist, don’t be shy, get in touch with The Front, they’re always on the hunt for a new, inspiring local to support.

Address: 1/84 Wattle Street, Lyneham

Expect to pay: Brunch from $16

What is it? A funky joint that’s spinning tunes from early AM to the mid PM.

Why we love it: With vinyl records spinning laid-back tunes (queue plenty of The Beatles and 50 Cent, too), a cosy heated courtyard and top-tier coffee, Recess is the coolest spot in town for your next brunch outing. Opened in August 2024 by hospo veterans Anthony Iannelli (ex-Terra) and Scott Brewer (ex-Barrio), this place takes its caffeine seriously. Recess sources its beans from small-scale farmers, roasting them locally in Canberra and packaging some for sale in its quirky retail shop. On the food front, the brunch menu is impressive, with old-school classics done right. The buttermilk pancakes drizzled with bacon and maple syrup, as well as the brekkie burrito loaded with turkey sausage, scrambled egg, cheese, hash brown, avocado and salsa are for sure scrumptious. Just remember to dunk your doughnut into your freshly brewed coffee – it’s encouraged for a little slice of caffeine paradise. 

Time Out tip: Keep an eye on the cheesecake specials; the divine creations are sure to knock your socks off.

Address: 6B Barker Street, Griffith

Expect to pay: Brunch from $16, coffee from $5.50