Canberra’s coolest suburb: The ultimate Braddon guide

With cosy coffeehouses, a sleek luxury hotel and lively farmers’ markets, Braddon is where it’s at right now.

When you think of our nation’s capital, your mind might wander to Parliament House, the National Gallery or the Australian War Memorial – school visit staples, if you will. However, Canberra also features a stream of burgeoning new hotspots that rival its big city sisters – especially the happening suburb of Braddon. Think Sydney’s Newtown mixed with Melbourne’s Fitzroy, with a healthy helping of Canberra’s unique charm.

A heady mix of award-winning restaurants, busy coffeehouses and avant-garde retail spaces, this former industrial suburb has been taken over by creatives. Gone are the rusty car dealerships and dusty factories of decades past. They’ve been replaced by boutique shops, busy bars and the irresistibly cool Midnight Hotel. The best way to explore the neighbourhood of Braddon is on foot, especially with a strong brew from Barrio Collective in hand. It’s one of the top coffee spots in Canberra and will have you coming back daily.

Barrio Collective in Braddon, Canberra — Barrio Collective is a top spot for good coffee in Canberra.

Where to stay in Braddon

1. Midnight Hotel

Designed by acclaimed architects Fender Katsalidis and offering luxury, art-led accommodation, Midnight Hotel features bespoke artwork, modern furnishings and locally sourced products (including brews from BentSpoke Brewing Co, more on them later). Dedicated to working with local artisans, producers and institutions, especially their cultural partner the National Portrait Gallery , the five-star hotel is elevating the suburb with its sharp design aesthetic.

Midnight Hotel lobby — Connect with the local surroundings at the chic Midnight Hotel. (Image: Ryan Linnegar)

2. The Kindred

If you’re looking for more of a home-away-from-home vibe, check into The Kindred . The cosy, two-bedroom apartment is one of the best Airbnbs you can book in Canberra, offering all the creature comforts and filled with locally made decor. Nestled in a garden-filled complex, its perfect for those who crave the quiet but want to stay close to the action.

The Kindred Airbnb in Braddon, Canberra — The Kindred is perfect for those seeking creature comforts.

Where to eat in Braddon

1. Haig Park Village Markets

Offering family-friendly activities and plenty of breakky, brunch and lunch options, the Haig Park Village Markets is a great way to start your day in Braddon. Held every Sunday from 8 am to 2 pm, the markets also boast an array of fresh local produce if you’d rather cook up a storm yourself.

Grab a hot pretzel or crepe, peruse the stalls and listen to live music while you contemplate what to grab for lunch.

Haig Park Village Markets in Canberra — Head down to the markets and grab a bite to eat. (Image: Haig Park Village Market/Martin Ollman)

2. Midnight Bar

On the ground floor of Midnight Hotel, you can steal away from the bustle outside at Midnight Bar . It’s the perfect spot for an evening tipple, with a curated menu offering delicious bar-style food.

Come for the flavoursome plates (think aged duck breast with cherry, red amaranth and amaro jus), stay for the innovative cocktails. Favourites include the Kwick Fix, which packs a punch with Bacardi white rum, Malibu, green apple liqueur, pineapple, kiwifruit and lime juice. Cheers to that!

Midnight Hotel Bar — Stop for a tipple at the sophisticated Midnight Bar.

3. Braddon Merchant

With a big focus on drinks and a wine list longer than most, it’s no surprise that this modern restaurant has won best wine list in ACT. Braddon Merchant is open for breakfast, when the room fills with soft morning light, lunch and dinner, when the wine list really shines.

Championing local produce, you’ll find the refreshingly simple menu features refined dishes such as king salmon ceviche with finger lime, watermelon radish and yuzu dressing – perfect on a summer night in Canberra. The popular venue, known as one of Canberra’s best restaurants, is also connected to the Midnight Hotel.

Food from Braddon Merchant in Canberra — Feast on fresh, local produce at Braddon Merchant. (Image: Iconic Hotels by Geocon)

4. Eightysix

The perfect place for dinner with friends, eightysix is always packed and filled with the sounds of hip-hop. The dynamic menu features locally sourced ingredients and a wine list that will surprise you. Book an early table (and don’t forget to try the famous banoffee pie), then hop between a few of the city’s best bars.

Food at Eightysix restaurant in Canberra — Eightysix is a popular eatery in Braddon. (Image: VisitCanberra)

5. BentSpoke Brewing Co.

With over a decade spent in the suburb, BentSpoke Brewing Co. is so entrenched in the area that they serve up a beer called the Braddon Bitter; it’s crisp, goes down well and leaves you wanting another. Spend a lazy afternoon trying some of the 26 varieties of beer and cider on tap before attacking the classic pub food on offer.

Bentspoke Brewing Co in Canberra — Take your pick from the 26 craft beers on tap. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Things to do in Braddon

1. Buzz about at Hive

Make sure you put aside some time to hit up Hive , a well-curated gift gallery filled with ethical and sustainable ceramics, jewellery, kitchenware, artwork and toys. With an emphasis on artisan-crafted products built to last, the owners encourage customers to think carefully about what they choose to take home.

Hive in Canberra, ACT — Stop in at Hive to peruse its ethical goods and gifts. (Image: VisitCanberra)

2. Pop into POP Canberra

Known as ‘one door to to 300 local makers, thousands of products and one big thriving community’, POP Canberra is a Braddon boutique worth checking out. Offering everything from savoury snacks and sweet treats to homeware, skincare and stationary, there’s something for everyone at POP.

POP shop in Canberra, ACT — There’s something for everyone at POP. (Image: VisitCanberra)

3. Buy a bottle from Blackhearts & Sparrows

Lucky for you, Melbourne-based speciality wine and beer store Blackhearts & Sparrows has an outpost in Braddon. Inside, the shelves are packed with an incredible range of craft beer, premium wines and non-alcoholic options. It’s the only location for the brand in Canberra, so be sure to stop by.

Blackheart & Sparrows in Braddon, Canberra — Oenophiles will adore Blackheart & Sparrows. (Image: VisitCanberra)

4. Explore Braddon’s street art

A great way to get the lay ofd the land is by hitting the streets – and the streets of Braddon are anything but boring. Walls and buildings throughout the neighbourhood have been thoughtfully decorated by eclectic street art by local artists, resembling the coolest outdoor art gallery you’ve ever seen. There’s even a digital map visitors can download to make sure nothing gets missed.

Braddon street art in Canberra, ACT — The streets of Braddon are adorned with colourful street art. (Image: Lightbulb for VisitCanberra)

Beyond the winding bitumen and coastal views lies another side to Victoria’s most famous route.

There’s something hypnotic about this stretch of Victoria’s coast. Maybe it’s the way the road hugs the ocean so tightly, or how the cliffs catch the sun in colours you can’t name. Or, for local Victorians who drove this route as kids, maybe it’s the memories of winding through the impossibly tall trees as they seemingly guide you on your journey like wooden guardian angels. Most travellers know it for the 12 Apostles, but there are plenty of alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road equally as worthy of your time.

So, next time you’re in that neck of the woods, park that car, stretch those legs and try these experiences.

1. Discover living culture at Budj Bim

Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism — Walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Breakaway Creek’s Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is a masterclass in educational storytelling. Join a guided tour with Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism to walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system, where the Gunditjmara people built sophisticated eel traps and stone channels more than 6,000 years ago.

Budj Bim’s aquaculture system predates Egypt’s pyramids by roughly 2,000 years, making it one of the oldest examples of human engineering on Earth. If that’s not enough to get your history-loving family members involved in this road trip, we’re out of ideas.

2. Unwind in the hot springs at Warnambool

woman relaxing at Deep Blue Hot Springs — Let mineral-rich water heal you.

If your legs need a break after a long drive, Deep Blue Hot Springs is your remedy. The geothermal pools sit just metres from the coastline, filled with mineral-rich water that bubbles up from deep underground. Move between open-air baths, waterfall pools and quiet zones made for meditation.

The water in Deep Blue’s geothermal pools comes from an ancient aquifer nearly 850 metres below the Earth’s surface, which, in non-scientific terms, means it’s far more likely to have healing properties than the mineral water you’d find at the supermarket.

3. Take to the air at Princetown

12 Apostles Helicopters flight alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road — See an icon from a different view.

You may have seen the Twelve Apostles from the trusty viewing platform, but a helicopter flight with 12 Apostles Helicopters shows you just how sprawling and rugged this coastline really is.

The trip covers everything from Port Campbell to London Bridge (not to be confused with the UK’s own), giving you a rare chance to watch waves carving the limestone cliffs from above. It’s worth noting that the limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles are said to erode by roughly two centimetres each year, so the longer you leave it, the less of the Apostles you’ll see.

4. Step into the past at Flagstaff Hill

Continue the tour through Warnambool at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum , a recreated 19th-century port town. Hear stories from the days when shipwrecks were as common as seagulls, with an astounding 180 ships believed to have sunk along the Shipwreck Coast in less than five years.

The night show, complete with lights, sound, and sea spray, brings the coastline’s most dramatic stories to life.

If you’re staying the night, Simon’s Waterfront offers relaxed dining with fresh local seafood and oceanfront views. Order the catch of the day and toast to the sailors who never made it ashore.

5. Learn to surf in Torquay, Lorne, or Anglesea

kid having a lesson with Go Ride A Wave — Learn how to hang 10. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Whether you’ve surfed before or can barely stand on a board, Go Ride A Wave will have you upright in no time. Torquay’s calm beaches are ideal for first-timers, while Lorne and Anglesea bring a bit more energy for those unafraid to get dunked.

Bells Beach, just down the road from Torquay, has even hosted the world’s longest-running professional surfing competition since 1962. So, for those eager to have a gander at pros using surfboards like they’re an additional appendage, the competition usually runs sometime in autumn.

6. Tackle the trails in Forrest

Barwon Flow Trails Otways Flow MTB — Hire a bike and explore MTB trails through the Otways.

Forrest is a haven for mountain bikers thanks to an expansive network of trails through stunning natural scenery. The Forrest trail network has almost 100 kilometres of singletrack across 36 trails, so there’s something for every level of rider. That’s including more than 60 kilometres of purpose-built mountain bike trails winding through the Otways’ dense forest. Cycle through ancient myrtle beech trees and towering tree ferns, with smaller ferns and soft mosses forming a carpet at your feet.

Hire a bike from Forrest MTB Hire and take your pick from easy, scenic rides to more challenging singletracks, such as Red Carpet or Rollercoaster.

7. See wildlife up close in Apollo Bay

bush rat on Wildlife Wonders tour — Get help spotting the locals. (Image: Doug Gimsey)

If spotting koalas and kangaroos in the wild feels like winning the lottery, Wildlife Wonders gives you guaranteed sightings without cages or crowds. Every visit to the sanctuary helps fund the Conservation Ecology Centre which supports endangered species across the Otways, so your business is appreciated by humans and animals alike.

The guided walk takes you through protected Otways habitat where you might spot potoroos (or joey lookalikes for those unfamiliar with a potoroo), wallabies, and sleepy koalas lounging in the trees.

8. Visit the Cape Otway Lightstation

Towering over the sea on a cliff above the Southern Ocean, Cape Otway Lightstation has been guiding ships since 1848. Before the lighthouse was built, Cape Otway was one of the most treacherous points on the Victorian coast, with dozens of shipwrecks occurring in its surrounding waters. Pick the right day, and you may bump into a local willing to tell you about the wreck of Eric the Red .

While at the Cape Otway Lightstation, explore the keeper’s quarters, walk the coastal trails, and take in views that only stop short at the horizon.

And no, contrary to popular belief, the Round the Twist lighthouse is actually located in Split Point, just shy of two hours in the direction of Melbourne. Nothing’s stopping you from embarking on a lighthouse crawl, though.

Plan your next no-stone-unturned journey along this iconic Aussie road at visitgreatoceanroad.org.au.

Your guide to Braddon: Canberra’s coolest suburb