Must-see nightlife in Canberra

Bearded barmen concentrate earnestly on their cocktail constructions and wine recommendations at this sophisticated but unstuffy bar in the Melbourne…

Out in industrial Fyshwick are straight-from-the-tap local craft beers served in a stylishly fitted-out taproom. Get your bearings with a tasting paddle…

Colourful glass and draped metal beads add to the glitzy boho ambience at this attractive Italian wine bar attached to the East Hotel. The extensive…

The doorway to this little gem, hidden away down quiet Odgers Lane, is illuminated only by a light bulb. It may take some courage to push through the…

In a little courtyard just off Lonsdale St, achingly hip Kyō serves coffee just as good as its slick, minimalist fit-out promises. Options are limited to…

Locally owned and roasted Ona coffee beans are the drawcard at this excellent cafe on the pedestrian mall in Manuka. Coffee-lovers should make a beeline…

This cosy upstairs lounge-bar is popular with young whisky and cocktail slurpers who file in for Wednesday-night jazz – the turntable rules other evenings…

You'll need all your travel nouse to find this louche tropical take on a 1920s Cuban rum bar. Among the barrels and the palms are Canberra's smoothest…

Smith's is an arty cafe-bar and performance space, with a makeshift stage in one corner and cakes in the cabinet. In the evenings, expect to be bemused by…

In trendy Braddon, this grungy-chic cafe serves up damn fine coffee along with tasty pastries and paninis. Head upstairs for a spacious, light-filled…

Hidden inside the Tradies complex (enter via the Quality Hotel reception) you'll find this small, sleek wine bar that feels more Brooklyn than Dickson…

Party like it's 1985 at 88mph (named for the speed the DeLorean had to reach to time travel in Back to the Future). A neon pulsing dance floor, cocktails…

Coming and going a few times over the last 160 years, Canberra's oldest pub is once again thriving. Today it pours a changing roster of craft beers in…

In the bottom of Little National Hotel (but entered through a separate door) this sleek cafe does a roaring trade with local public servants and office…

Tucked around the back of Hotel Realm, superchill Ostani has quickly become a favourite gathering spot for Barton residents. Drop by for an end-of-day…

An upmarket pub at the centre of Braddon's growing fine-dining strip. The front beer garden is the place to be on summer nights, where regular live-music…

Tired shoppers seeking a caffeine fix near the Canberra Centre should look no further than Coffee Lab, where smooth brews are dispensed to clamouring…

Hanging ferns and potted plants make this airy corner pub feel more oasis-like than its busy Manuka location would suggest. Street-side tables brim with…

The 'Kingo' is an old Labor Party stalwart and an easy place near leafy Manuka to have a few frothies either in a neat, busy beer garden or among the…

Modern banquettes share the polished wooden floor with well-stuffed chesterfield lounges at this contemporary take on a Victorian smoking lounge. Stop in…