The best coffee in Canberra – a caffeine lover’s guide

After the perfect cappuccino? More of a batch brew type? You’ll find both in the nation’s capital.

Finding the best coffee in Canberra is harder than you might think, but not because the city lacks great cafes. It’s the opposite – there are so many talented baristas and cosy spots to enjoy a cappuccino it can make it hard to narrow it down.

Luckily this means that no matter which neighbourhood you stay in when visiting Canberra, you can find a great brew. Now known for its vibrant restaurants and cosy cafes, Canberra is definitely in the business of perfecting lattes, and those with particular tastes (we’re looking at you, batch brew drinkers) won’t be left stranded, either.

1. Arc

Part of the Redbrick Coffee group, Arc makes our list due to proximity – right in the middle of Canberra’s CBD underneath A by Adina Hotel, it’s easy to get to and does a damn good breakfast, too. On the coffee front, beans are by Redbrick (of course), and you can pick up bags to take away if you like, too. A pro tip is to avoid the weekday rush hour before 9am. This cafe is hugely popular with local office workers, and there are long lines for takeaway in the mornings.

Address: 1 Constitution Ave, Canberra, ACT

2. Lonsdale Street Roasters 7

Lonsdale Street Roasters are renowned in the ACT. You’ll find cafe after cafe brewing their beans across town, so why not head to the brand’s very own cafe, Lonsdale Street Roasters 7?

Get your caffeine fix at Lonsdale Street Roasters.

Tucked away in the lively neighbourhood of Braddon, you won’t be disappointed with your morning espresso. Plus, there is a range of breakfast options on the menu, too, and the pastries are crispy, buttery and delicious.

Take home your own freshly-roasted beans.

Address: 3/7 Lonsdale St, Braddon, ACT

3. Intra

A dark, cosy cavern in leafy Campbell, Intra is definitely in the business of perfecting coffee. Using local beans from Barrio Collective, their blend changes seasonally depending on which single origins are best at that time. They also stock single-origin coffee from Edition Coffee Roasters in Sydney. Their breakfast menu is short and sweet, but whatever you do, get a side of chashu bacon – it’s perfectly crisp and smoky.

Address: 30/12 Provan St, Campbell, ACT

4. Lava

There are three iterations of Lava across Canberra – in Kingston, Weston and Phillip. All of them are popular places to get your coffee fix, with top-quality beans roasted by highly trained baristas. A hot tip: head down on a Friday and take advantage of Lava’s $1 filter coffee special. Is there a better way to end the week? We don’t think so.

Address: various in Kingston, Weston and Phillip

5. Barrio Collective

Many of Canberra’s top cafes and coffee spots use Barrio Collective’s beans, but heading to their own cafe means access to all their offerings. The space has ample outdoor seating and is dog friendly.

Pull up a stool at the bar to enjoy a freshly-brewed cup of Barrio Coffee Collective.

If you’re hungry, it’s worth trying their stacked toasties and other creative takes on classic breakfast fare – a recent addition being ‘mushymite’, a fermented mushroom product with a similar taste to Australia’s favourite spread.

Find a range of coffee options on the menu.

Address: 59/30 Lonsdale St, Braddon ACT

6. ONA Coffee House

Another Canberra-based coffee bean supplier is ONA Coffee, and you’ll find their beans in cafes not just throughout Canberra but across Australia. Founded by former Olympic handball player Saša Šestić, who started the company out of his garage in 2008, the brand is now famous for premium blends and smooth coffee.

Be sure to order a cup of ONA’s adorable latte art. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Visiting their Coffee House (attached to the roastery in Fyshwick) is the ideal way to explore ONA’s wide variety of beans, as you can access their entire signature range of house blends and single-origin coffees. Have a latte (or two), enjoy breakfast on their outdoor deck, then take home some specially roasted beans for espresso or filter use.

Fresh and vibrant breakfast options at ONA. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Address: 68 Wollongong St, Fyshwick, ACT

7. The Cupping Room

Speaking of ONA Coffee, one of their first forays into Canberra’s cafe culture was with The Cupping Room, and the eatery remains one of the best places in Canberra to get coffee and one of the most stylish.

The Cupping Room is an all-around crowd-pleaser. (Image: visitcanberra.com.au)

You’ll find ONA Coffee’s great roasts here, plus an extensive and Instagram-worthy array of brunch dishes like Bircher muesli with apple-ginger gel, chorizo skillet and stracciatella toast.

Start your day at The Cupping Room. (Image: Visit Canberra)

Address: 1/1-13 University Ave, Canberra, ACT

8. Highroad

As Canberra’s biggest roastery, ONA Coffee has its hand in many of the best cafes across the city for grabbing your morning coffee. Highroad was the first, and remains one of the most popular run by the team, located in Canberra’s northern suburb of Dickson. The focus here is community – a brief but delicious brunch menu, the best in ONA Coffee beans, and a modern, airy space designed for gathering.

Address: Cnr Cape & Woolley St, Dickson, ACT

9. Gather

Braddon has no shortage of wonderful cafes, restaurants and fine dining, but Gather should be on your list if you’re staying in the area. Sourcing its produce from local suppliers across the ACT and NSW like free range eggs from Hilltop in Boorowa and milk from Country Valley in Picton, Gather’s coffee is unique to their cafe, a blend of Ethiopian, Brazilian and Colombian beans roasted in Braddon. The cafe also has a hearty breakfast menu with classics like granola, smashed avo and corn fritters.

Address: 4/24 Mort St, Braddon, ACT

For more tried and tested eating out options in Canberra, read our round-up of family-friendly restaurants, or our hit list of breakfast and brunch spots in Canberra.