Canberra's Must-Do Food Tour

I recently ticked another experience off my Canberra wish list by joining an Eat Canberra Walking Food Tour.

Canberra may be Australia’s capital, but its food scene is anything but predictable. Over the past few years, the city has developed a strong reputation for excellent restaurants, creative chefs and a growing hospitality scene.

As someone who loves discovering a destination through its food, a walking tour felt like the perfect way to uncover some of Canberra’s best local spots while learning more about the city along the way.

Read on to discover the foodie gems we visited and the delicious dishes we tried.

The ultimate foodie tour

Stop #1

Our meeting point was BentSpoke Brewing Co. - a popular brewery and gastropub in the heart of Braddon, and the first stop on our foodie adventure.

Amelia, the founder of Eat Canberra and our guide for the day, warmly welcomed us outside before leading us upstairs to our reserved table. After a round of introductions, she gave us an overview of the tour and what we could expect over the next few hours.

BentSpoke is renowned for brewing its award-winning beers on site and serving a modern take on classic pub favourites, making it the perfect place to kick off the tour.

We started with a tasting paddle, choosing between a selection of craft beers or apple cider and ginger beer. I opted for the latter but also sampled the beers, each with its own distinctive flavour.

The food quickly followed, with Smoked Mac 'n' Cheese Balls served alongside BentSpoke's famous Hop Potatoes. Both dishes incorporated elements of the brewery's own beers, adding a unique twist to familiar favourites.

The mac 'n' cheese balls were a standout and ended up being one of my favourite dishes of the entire tour. Crispy on the outside and creamy in the middle, they were perfectly paired with roasted corn and chilli salsa jam.

The Hop Potatoes were equally hard to resist. Dusted with hops and malt and served with house-made sauces, they were crispy, full of flavour and dangerously moreish, especially with so many more stops still to come.

It was an excellent introduction to Canberra's food scene and set the bar high for the rest of the afternoon. I'll definitely be back to try more of BentSpoke's menu.

Stops 2 & 3

After spending almost an hour enjoying great food and getting to know our fellow food lovers, it was time for our second stop: The Hamlet.

A Canberra favourite, The Hamlet is a vibrant collection of food trucks serving everything from pizza and burgers to Asian and South American street food. During our visit, we sampled dishes from two of its popular vendors: 10" Custom Pizzeria and Mr Papa.

We began at 10" Custom Pizzeria, one of the few Australian pizzerias accredited by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana in Naples - so we knew we were in for an authentic experience.

Two woodfired pizzas were brought out to share: the popular Halloumi & Potato, and the Romana, topped with mozzarella, smoked pancetta, cherry tomatoes, red onion and shaved parmesan. Both were beautifully cooked, with light, chewy bases and fresh toppings that transported me straight back to Italy. It's easily some of the best pizza I've had outside of Naples.

Next up was Mr Papa, specialising in traditional Peruvian street food. My eyes nearly popped out of my head when a tray piled high with their famous Chanchitos arrived at the table.

The Chanchito combines slow-cooked pork belly, sweet potato and salsa in a crusty bread roll, and it was every bit as good as it looked. The pork was melt-in-your-mouth tender, while the sweet potato added just the right amount of sweetness to balance the rich flavours.

We also sampled their sticky Alitas chicken wings and a glass of Chicha Morada, a traditional Peruvian drink made from purple corn. I'd never tried it before, but it was surprisingly refreshing and something I'd happily order again.

One of my favourite things about the tour was being introduced to cuisines and dishes I may never have ordered on my own. It left me even more excited to one day visit Peru and experience its incredible food culture firsthand.

Stop #4

Our next stop was Tipsy Bull, a stylish local gin bar known for its collection of more than 80 different gins and its "friendly fine-ish dining" philosophy.

To start, we were each served a Seasonal Gin Sour, a beautifully presented cocktail that was light, fruity and incredibly refreshing. To me, it tasted just like peaches and cream, and judging by the reactions around the table, I wasn't the only one who loved it.

Alongside our drinks, we shared a plate of Betel Bites - caramelised pork belly with cashew nuts, chilli and lime, all wrapped in a betel leaf. They were bursting with flavour, with the perfect balance of sweet, salty and spicy in a single bite.

By this point in the afternoon I was beginning to feel pleasantly full, so it was nice to slow the pace with a beautifully crafted cocktail and a lighter dish. One thing I really appreciated about the tour was how well each stop complemented the next, making the whole experience feel balanced rather than overwhelming.

In fact, I enjoyed Tipsy Bull so much that I returned straight after the tour to try one of their signature gin and tonics—which was just as impressive as the Gin Sour!

Stop #5

Floating on a food cloud, we made our way to Akiba, one of Canberra's most popular Asian-fusion restaurants. With its modern interior, lively atmosphere and creative menu, it was easy to see why it's such a local favourite.

We each chose a cocktail to accompany our meal, and I opted for a refreshing passionfruit vodka cocktail that was perfectly balanced with just the right amount of zing.

Our first dish was Akiba's popular pulled beef bun, topped with kimchi and peanut soy. The bun was pillowy soft, the beef beautifully tender, and the combination of flavours made it the ultimate comfort food.

Next came the prawn and chicken dumplings, served with a ginger and black vinegar dressing. Light, delicate and packed with flavour, they were another standout dish that disappeared from the table in no time.

By this stage of the tour we'd all settled into good conversation, and Akiba was the perfect place to relax, enjoy another excellent meal and swap recommendations with the other food lovers on the tour.


Stop #6

Our final savoury stop of the day was Sanya Bar, a stylish restaurant specialising in authentic Beijing-inspired tapas and street food with a modern twist.

To accompany our meal, we were each served the Revolution cocktail - a refreshing take on a Beijing Mule made with vodka, peach liqueur, ginger beer, mint, lime and, my favourite addition, a subtle kick of chilli. It was the perfect balance of sweet, citrusy and spicy, and quickly became a hit with the group.

The venue itself was just as memorable as the food and drinks. The colourful mosaic artwork covering the walls and even the ceiling gave the space a vibrant, quirky atmosphere that made it feel unlike anywhere else we'd visited.

Good company, yummy food and a few drinks = @eatcanberrafoodtours 👌🍴Such a good afternoon with a great group of food lovers!! I love my job 😄

A post shared by Food & Travel (@eatcanberra) on Nov 10, 2017 at 11:37pm PST

For our tasting, we stepped well outside our comfort zones with Crispy Banana Chicken Wings—something none of us had tried before. The wings were perfectly crispy, while the mashed banana added an unexpected sweetness that created a fascinating mix of savoury and sweet. It was unusual, but surprisingly delicious.

One of the highlights of the tour was being encouraged to try dishes I would probably never have ordered myself, and Sanya Bar was a perfect example of that. It's another hidden Canberra gem that I'd happily return to explore further.

Stop #7

Our final stop was the aptly named Frugii Dessert Laboratory, Canberra's much-loved artisan dessert shop. Every product is made in-house using natural ingredients, with an incredible range of ice cream, gelato, sorbet, pastries and desserts to tempt every sweet tooth.

We sampled a selection of their signature flavours, including Lemon Myrtle (my absolute favourite!), Dark Chocolate, Blackcurrant, Vanilla Bean and Salted Caramel, along with some more adventurous limited-edition creations such as Blue Cheese and even Bacon. There was also a Durian flavour on offer, but none of us were brave enough to give it a go!

Every flavour was beautifully creamy and packed with flavour. The Lemon Myrtle was a standout, but honestly, every scoop was exceptional. It's easily some of the best ice cream I've ever tasted.

As if that wasn't enough, we also enjoyed a Hazelnut Mousse Choux, complete with a little pipette of Frangelico to inject just before eating. It was rich, indulgent and the perfect finale to an afternoon of incredible food.

Frugii was the ideal place to finish the tour. We left completely satisfied, having discovered some of Braddon's best food and drink while sharing the experience with a great group of fellow food lovers.


The Details

The tour: Eat Canberra Braddon/City Walking Food Tour

Time: Starts at 1 PM and finishes around 5:30 PM

Price: $135 pp including all food and drink at 7+ stops

Reviews: 5/5 stars on Trip Advisor

Final Thoughts

The Eat Canberra Walking Food Tour exceeded every expectation I had. Over the course of the afternoon we discovered an incredible mix of restaurants, bars and hidden foodie gems, while sampling a wide variety of dishes and drinks that showcased just how exciting Canberra's dining scene has become.

Each stop felt carefully chosen, offering something completely different from the last. From craft beer and woodfired pizza to Peruvian street food, Asian fusion and artisan desserts, the tour was varied, well-paced and left us pleasantly full by the end.

A huge part of what made the experience so enjoyable was our guide, Amelia, founder of Eat Canberra. Her genuine passion for Canberra's hospitality scene was infectious, and she shared fascinating stories, local recommendations and insider tips throughout the afternoon. Between venues she pointed out some of her favourite cafes, restaurants and hidden gems, making the tour feel like you were exploring the city with a knowledgeable local friend.

Eat Canberra also offers a Sweet Tooth Tour for dessert lovers, which is firmly on my list for my next visit!

Whether you're visiting Canberra for the first time or you've lived there for years, I'd highly recommend adding this tour to your itinerary. It's a fantastic way to discover some of the city's best food while learning more about the people and stories behind each venue.

I only wish I'd booked it earlier during my time living in Canberra, as I left with a long list of places I wanted to return to before moving away.

With generous tastings, excellent drinks and six unique venues included, the tour offers fantastic value for money. I left completely satisfied (I definitely didn't need dinner afterwards!) and with an even greater appreciation for Canberra's thriving food scene.

If you're planning a visit, be sure to check out Eat Canberra on Facebook and Instagram for the latest restaurant openings, events and plenty of foodie inspiration.

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Pro tip: If you're planning to do an Eat Canberra tour (and I highly recommend you do), skip breakfast and wear your stretchiest pants!

Happy Travels,