Isabel Cant

Nothing beats sinking your teeth into a good old-fashioned burger – whether it’s a classic cheeseburger with tangy pickles, a caramelised smash burger hot off the grill, or a true-blue Aussie piled with beetroot. Or maybe you’re team crispy fried chicken or halloumi? Whatever your protein, make sure your burg has a pillowy soft bun– and some fries, of course. When we asked food writer Isabel Cant to take on the delicious task of finding the best burgers in Canberra, she was only too happy to comply (all in the name of research, of course!). And luckily for her – and us – Canberra has more than its fair share of top-notch burger joints. So, dive into this list when those cheat-day cravings strike.   Editor's favourite burgers in Canberra 💰 Best cheap ’n’ cheerful burger: Mafia Buns 🍔 Best smash burgers: Pattysmiths 🧀 Best cheeseburger: Brodburger For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🍕 The best pizza in Canberra🍽 Canberra's best restaurants🥐 Canberra's best bakeries

Australia takes its baked goods very seriously. Between our sourdough-centred meals, we all need a little sweet treat (trust us, you deserve one). Luckily, Aussie bakers are giving Parisian pâtissiers a run for their money, creating their own takes on classic baked goods that taste as good as they look. You’ve undoubtedly heard of the big players (hello Lune Croissanterie), but there are plenty of neighbourhood gems to spend your hard-earned dough. While we wish we could shower love on every flaky croissant, pie and sausage roll, our expert food writers have narrowed it down to 30 of the best bakeries in Australia right now. Find the best bakeries in:Adelaide | Brisbane | Canberra | Darwin | Hobart | Melbourne | Sydney | Perth

A good burger is easily one of life’s greatest pleasures, and Australia is teeming with top-notch options, most of which fall comfortably into that hits-the-spot territory. A burger’s simplicity – take a pillowy bun, place a juicy patty inside it, maybe add cheese or salad, drizzle over a sauce or two, then apply to face – makes it hard to stuff up. The flip side, however, is that it also makes finding the ultimate burger a bit of a challenge. Time Out’s hungry team of local Aussie writers have bravely put their jaws and stomachs on the line (in the name of exceedingly difficult research, you understand) to compile this list of the best burgers in Australia. We've told you exactly which burger to order at each spot, from the award-winning Fillet-O-Shrimp at CBCo Brewing Port Melbourne to the world-famous Gidley Burger in Sydney. Now it’s up to you to crown the true buns of glory. Note: These are ranked in no particular order. Editor's favourite burgers in Australia: 🍔 Best icon: The Gidley, NSW ⭐️ Best gourmet: Le Rebelle, WA 😋 Best cheeseburger: Charrd, VIC For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🥧 Australia's best pies🌭 The best sausage rolls🍕 The best pizzas in Australia

With its award-winning restaurants and dishes worth trekking interstate for, Canberra has earned its place on Australia’s gourmet map. The star of the show is the region’s local produce – including truffles, smoked meats and wines – which are fired, flamed, fermented and fried into all sorts of culinary creations. Time Out Australia’s Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley spent four years immersed in Canberra’s dining scene before returning to Sydney, and she can vouch that its newest openings are right up there with the Emerald City’s. Whether you’re dining at the Italian spot in Braddon, vying for a table at a tiny Parisian-style restaurant, or making friends at one of the city’s funkiest pan-Asian eateries, these are the best Canberra restaurants you want to be hittin' up. Update September 2025: Since our last update, we've added three high-anticipated new restaurants that have already earned a reputation as some of Canberra's best – Lunetta Trattoria perched atop Red Hill, Azuma Den at East Hotel, and Shaw Estate Restaurant in the Murrumbateman wine region. For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🍹 The best bars in Canberra☕️ Canberra's coolest cafés🍣 The best Japanese food in Canberra

Brisbane’s Italian dining scene has long been among the best in Australia – and it just keeps getting better. Drawing inspiration from regions all over Italy and working with top local produce, these restaurants show why we have such top-notch Italian fare. Time Out Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley has drawn on her recent dining adventures in Brisbane and teamed up with expert foodie Isabel Cant to bring you this list of the top spots for your next Italian feast. There are stylish diners like Gemelli, longtime favourites like Ristorante Tartufo and family-friendly joints like Marinara Restaurant. So, whether a hearty ragu in a cosy dining room is what you’re after or linguine with prawns enjoyed al fresco is more your speed, these are the best Italian restaurants in Brisbane. 🍽️ Brisbane's best restaurants🍕 The best pizza in Brisbane🥩 The best steak in Brisbane

Adelaide owes much of its flavour to its thriving Italian community that's been shaping the city’s culture and cuisine for well over a century. From bustling pasta bars to elegant trattorias, Italian dining is woven into the fabric of the city. Adelaide loves Italian food – and the locals do it exceptionally well.  Whether you’ve got a hankering for the legendary woodfired pizzas at Amalfi, want to celebrate in style at Fugazzi (MasterChef’s Laura Sharrad is a founding owner), or (re)visit a beloved institution like Luigi Delicatessen in the CBD, Adelaide’s best Italian restaurants have it all. Take your pick from our favourites below.  For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines.  🍷 The best restaurants in Adelaide🍕 Adelaide's best pizza joints☕️ The best cafés in Adelaide

Canberra’s Italian dining scene is thriving. Whether you're craving some simple yet sublime antipasti, woodfired pizzas with a char-ry base or secondi that leave you fully satisfied, the capital's top Italian restaurants deliver authenticity, ambience and exceptional flavour. Our Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley and freelance food writer Isabel Cant here teamed up to bring you this list of the best Italian restaurants in Canberra. Want a lakeside setting for your pasta? Try La Rustica. Want to savour a long lunch that’s loud and lively? Go to Pronto, pronto! After some sun-kissed Mediterranean vibes and vino? Olive at Hawker is our recco. Yes, Canberra’s best Italian restaurants have something for every palate. For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🍕 The best pizza in Canberra🍽 Canberra's best restaurants🍣 The best Japanese in Canberra

Politics aside, Canberra’s food scene is thriving, with innovative chefs and world-class produce putting the capital firmly on Australia’s culinary map. Case in point? It's steak restaurants. In close proximity to Australia’s premier cattle regions, Canberra enjoys unrivalled access to premium, locally raised beef – perfectly marbled, ethically produced and bursting with flavour. At the Meat & Wine Co, expect succulent steaks served in a stylish CBD setting. Just across town, Capitol Bar and Grill (inside the QT Hotel) fires up a wood-grilled selection of premium cuts. And for lovers of Japanese-style steak, Raku brings Wagyu to the robata grill. Our food writers have shortlisted the best steaks in Canberra for your protein fix (and a glass of red).  For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🍔 Canberra's best burgers🍱 The best Japanese joints in Canberra🥘 The best Indian food in Canberra

​​With trendy restaurants and bars popping up all over the city, it’s no wonder Brisbanites and visitors alike can feel a bit overwhelmed when deciding where to eat. That’s where we come in! Our expert local writers, along with Time Out Australia’s Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley, have tasted their way through Brisbane’s diverse food scene to bring you this list of must-try restaurants. From a sprawling Japanese izakaya overlooking the river and an old-school pizzeria to a contemporary Chinese eatery with a spicy Sichuan fish broth that will make your eyes water, these are the best restaurants in Brisbane for a culinary adventure in the River City. Update August 2025: Since our last update in May, we've added three fresh dining destinations already turning heads – Stilts Dining, Queensland's first restaurant on a bridge; The Summit Restaurant, a multi-million dollar venue with million-dollar views; and Layla, a sleek city gem by renowned Melbourne chef Shane Delia. For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🍸 The best bars in Brisbane☕️ Brisbane's coolest cafés🥐 Where to find Brisbane's best pastries

Combining seriously stylish design with access to abundant fresh produce from the surrounding wine regions, Adelaide’s restaurant scene has the best of both city and regional dining. Forward-thinking mod-Oz cuisine is informed by food traditions from across the world, which are also visible in everything from Afghan comfort food to Parisian classics and what might be Australia’s first pizza restaurant.  The accompanying wine lists are just as wide-ranging, encompassing powerful Barossa reds, spritzy natural wines and everything in between, all served by knowledgeable staff. And the best bit? Even the extended degustations sit at a price point that will come as a pleasant surprise to East Coast diners. Contributing writer and 11-year resident of Adelaide, Dale Anninos-Carter, has long been scouring the city for the utmost tastiest fare within dining rooms that tick all of the boxes. Together with Time Out’s Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley, she's curated this guide to the best restaurants in Adelaide for all your eating pleasure. Update August 2025: Since our last update, we’ve ticked a few restaurants off the list and added recently opened eateries that are already turning heads to our guide, like Monica Bistro. Plus, we added some long-time favourites that deserve a visit, including La Louisiane and Africola. For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🍷 The best bars in Adelaide🍕 Adelaide's best pizza joints☕️ The best cafés in

With its golden sands and laid-back holiday vibe, the Gold Coast has always been a favourite destination for those seeking a relaxed seaside escape. However, this famous Queensland holiday spot offers more than just a day at the beach.  With its rich Indigenous heritage, vibrant markets, adrenaline-pumping theme parks and thriving live music scene, there's plenty to keep you entertained along the coastal strip. Our Travel & News Editor, Melissa Woodley, particularly loves the food and drink scene here, and reckons a day trip to the naturally beautiful Gold Coast hinterland offers a welcome chance of pace. Bring your swimsuit and your sense of adventure. Here are the best things to do on the Gold Coast. 🌮 The Gold Coast’s best restaurants🌊 The best hotels on the Gold Coast☕️ The top cafés on the Gold Coast

Australians are constantly in a heavenly food coma, courtesy of Italian cuisine. This is thanks to the huge influx of Italian immigrants who arrived on our shores after World War II, bringing not just a suitcase of dreams, but a whole lot of pasta, pizza and parmesan. Whether you’re craving fresh antipasti straight from The Boot, hand-rolled pappardelle with rich ragu, wood-fired sourdough pizza or boozy tiramisu made just like nonna, we’ve scoured out the best Italian restaurants in Australia for every occasion. Our team of Aussie food writers has independently chosen these spots for their authentic flavours, prime locations, buzzing ambience and signature Italian hospitality. In Sydney, a cheery waterfront spot has been serving classic Italian hits for more than a decade. In Brisbane, live lobster is plucked from tanks and tossed through house-made spaghetti. And in Hobart, a tiny CBD wine bar keeps the vibes flowing with vinyl records all night. In no particular order, here's our pick of the best Italian restaurants in Australia. RECOMMEND: The best Italian restaurants in...Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane | Adelaide | Perth | Canberra | Hobart | Darwin

What is it? Part Italian restaurant, part inventive wine bar with a few modern twists up its sleeve. Why go? Traditional Italian dishes mingle with other cuisines at Anchovy Bandit to create playful, inventive dishes. Bucatini is tossed through Goolwa pippies, yuzu kosho and chives, and pineapple on a pizza gets a revamp with prosciutto, pineapple, kimchi and spring onion joining forces on their puffy dough. Anchovy Bandit's pizza crusts are so thick and round, you could roll your hair with them. Except don’t; it’s put to much better use paired with one of the house-made “crust dips”. Choose from garlic butter, taramasalata or XO sauce mayo. Wine is taken very seriously here too, with a great range of South Australian and Italian varieties to try.

What is it? A family-run Adelaide institution operating since 1985.  Why Go? Siblings Jessica Favaro-Richards and Nicholas Favaro have taken the baton from their parents to balance tradition and modernity with grace on their seasonal menu. Start with addictive rabbit croquettes, crunchy and soft in all the right places, and served with dragoncello sauce (tarragon salsa) and pickled carrots. Meaty centrepiece dishes are chargrilled over sangiovese vines, like juicy half-chicken with Jerusalem artichoke and porcini. Explore it all through the five-course menu – excellent value at $95 per person.

What is it? A woodfired pizza staple with outdoor seating in the heart of town on Lonsdale Street.  Why go? Past the happy revellers parading down Lonsdale Street with takeaway boxes and through the restored stained-glass windows, lies some of Canberra’s finest pizza. For over a decade, Pizza Gusto’s oven has been cranking out pizzas and calzones cooked at a sizzling 400 degrees. Toppings range from classic Margheritas and capricciosas to less traditional (but packed with flavour) butter chicken and other specials, like beef brisket and jalapeño.

What is it? A part cool and casual wine bar, part luxurious takeaway on Lonsdale Street. Why go? Chez Frederic was born on Perth’s Cottesloe Beach in 2002, but has found a home in Braddon. Here, friends can share a cheeky bowl of gnocchi and a glass of vino, or opt for takeaway, where boxes of pasta fly out the door on any given night. The menu is Italian with some playful modern twists here and there. Crisp spring roll wrappers hide Italian flavours inside with garlic prawns and mozzarella, and cheeseburger gnocchi is the devilish dish that will revive you on a cold winter night. 

What is it? A swish lakeside restaurant inspired by the Italian coast run by a celebrated Canberra chef.  Why go? Are we on the shores of Lake Como or Lake Burley Griffin? Carlo Tosolini’s expansive restaurant will transport you straight to the heart of Italy, with its comforting carbs and deli fridge, stocked to the brim with local and specially imported DOP cheeses and meats. Pair buffalo mozzarella and gnocco fritto with an Aperol Spritz on one of their outdoor tables and you could call it a splendid day, but you’ll want to order a dish from their woodfire oven. Butterflied king prawns in garlic and chilli oil, or one of their pizzas with a bubbly charred crust.

What is it? A handsome seasonally-focused restaurant in a famous Canberra setting since 1996. Why go? Behind the grand arched windows of the landmark Melbourne Building sits one of Canberra’s best and longest-running Italian restaurants. Between their fresh bread and pasta, and the peppering of woodfired dishes throughout their menu, the food at Mezzalira is truly special. Changing with the seasons, you may find pappardelle with smoked duck breast, casarecce with suckling lamb, and the mainstay wood-baked focaccia with whipped ricotta and chestnut honey.

What is it? A relaxed eatery slinging woodfired pizzas and mozzarella plates.  Why go? As the name suggests, come to this laidback restaurant for some of the best wood-fired pizza in this city. And don’t forget about their mozzarella plates! Their fresh buffalo mozzarella with beef carpaccio and pickled green tomato reminds us that simplicity really is bliss. Follow it up with a pizza, fresh out of their two hand-built woodfired ovens, roaring at 400 degrees. Our favourite is the calabrese, sticking to its roots with the addictive Calabrian nduja spread, hot salami and chilli. Learn the secret to their perfect dough at their monthly pizza-making classes.

What is it? Traditional handmade pasta dishes in the heart of the city.  Why go? The first thing you’ll notice when entering Borsa are the strands upon strands of fresh pasta hanging over their counter. They’ve been in the business of serving the perfect pasta for over a decade, and they have perfected the craft. A long-time favourite of city workers for a lunch or dinner treat, the menu at Borsa doesn’t stray far from tradition. Fresh veal tortellini in brodo (in broth) is the ultimate comfort dish packed with umami. End on a fun note with a trio of tiramisu-inspired profiteroles.

What is it? Simple, unpretentious Italian fare tucked away in Kingston Foreshore. Why go? Nab a table outside at this lakeside joint for straightforward, comforting Italian dishes by the lake. House-baked focaccia is warm and fluffy – perfect to dip in olive oil, but even better with their antipasto plate. Their secondi will have you feeling like you’ve just been fed by Nonna. Generous portions of rich veal saltimbocca and a pollo parmigiana are finessed but comforting.

What is it? Canberra’s only Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana-certified pizza restaurant, located in Griffith.  Why go? Sometimes, no number of toppings will outdo a simple marinara pizza, where the sweetness of San Marzano tomatoes shines against the blistered bubbles of wood-fired dough. That’s exactly what earned this Griffith pizzeria, restaurant and bar certification from the strict Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. Quick lunches here are also some of Canberra’s best, with their charred bread becoming the vessel for moreish Neapolitan sandwiches.

What is it? An Italian stalwart with more than 20 years under its belt.  Why go? This Italian institution has been serving this city since 1988. Since then, their two venues in Woden and Manuka have become Canberra’s go-to restaurants when it comes to classic Italian food. The Manuka location’s sleek black marble pass sees fluffy house-baked ciabatta with unfiltered olive oil, and crisp zucchini flours stuffed with four cheeses and honey vinaigrette. Both locations offer tried and true pizza and pasta, but the magic happens in their hefty secondi offering, featuring spatchcock with perfectly caramelised skin or hearty slow-cooked lamb shank that falls apart.

What is it? A longstanding family-run restaurant with hand-rolled pasta and an excellent wine list in Narrabundah. Why go? Walking through the brick arches at La Cantina feels like you’ve descended into a secret Italian wine cellar and not a leafy corner of Narrabundah. However, you would be right in some aspects, with stacks of Australian and Italian drops available from their impressive wine collection. Let their warm and savvy waiters steer you towards a drop to go with their traditional Italian menu. Their house-made pasta dough is a highlight here, with dishes like their umami-laden duck agnolotti being a favourite since opening in 2009.