Here's a place to kickstart a night out or savour 'New Asian' food with attitude. Canberra's coolest bar-restaurant is cocktails first, questions later, but all these are answered by slick staff who recommend dishes like octopus with duck-fat potatoes, king-prawn fried rice and crab dumplings, but the eight-plate dinner ($49) will ensure you don't miss out. A raw bar serves delectable sashimi, freshly shucked oysters and zingy ceviche.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Canberra attractions

1. Canberra Museum & Art Gallery

0.21 MILES

This local museum is worth it for the Sidney Nolan paintings alone – 141 works, including canvases from his Ned Kelly series and Burke and Wills…

2. Glebe Park

0.36 MILES

This spacious green park is filled with leafy elm trees that turn a lovely golden yellow in autumn. There's a playground for kids and lots of paved paths…

3. Drill Hall Gallery

0.42 MILES

The Australian National University's main gallery displays specials exhibitions and items from the ANU's art collection. On permanent display is the…

4. National Film & Sound Archive

0.67 MILES

Set in a delightful art-deco building (look for the stained-glass platypus in the foyer dome), this archive preserves Australian moving-picture and sound…

5. Nerang Pool

0.81 MILES

This lovely pool is a serene spot in Commonwealth Park, with an abundance of bird life and some beautiful landscaped gardens.

6. National Capital Exhibition

0.88 MILES

This small but fascinating museum tells the story of how Canberra came to be Australia's capital. Displays include reproductions of the drawings entered…

7. Captain Cook Memorial Water Jet

0.98 MILES

Built in 1970 to mark the bicentenary of British explorer James Cook's landfall, this memorial near Regatta Point consists of a 6-tonne column of water…

8. Australian War Memorial

1.02 MILES

Canberra's glorious art-deco war memorial is a highlight in a city filled with interesting architecture. Built to commemorate 'the war to end all wars',…