Your guide to Braddon: Canberra’s coolest suburb

Lucy Cousins Lucy Cousins
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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 They’ve been replaced by boutique shops, busy bars and the irresistibly cool Midnight Hotel.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)

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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)

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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)
Lucy Cousins
Lucy is an experienced travel and lifestyle writer who loves exploring Australia and further afield any chance she gets. Whether it's on the water, in the air, by car or on foot, she’s always planning her next new adventure with her family and rescue dog, Stella.
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From coast to bush: these are Gippsland’s best hikes

    Michael Turtle Michael Turtle
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    Video credit: Tourism Australia

    From coast to mountains, hiking in Gippsland offers a stunning array of landscapes, with trails that take you deep into the region’s heritage.

    I step out onto the sand and it cries out underfoot. Kweek! I take another step and there’s another little yelp. Screet! Picking up the pace, the sounds follow me like my shadow, all the way down to the water. It’s obvious how this spot got its name – Squeaky Beach – from the rounded grains of quartz that make the distinctive sounds under pressure.

    For many, Wilsons Promontory National Park is the gateway to Gippsland, and the best way to explore it is by walking its network of hiking trails, from coastal gems such as Squeaky Beach through to the bushland, among the wildlife. But it’s still just a taste of what you’ll find on foot in the region.

    Venture a bit further into Gippsland and you’ll discover the lakes, the rainforest, and the alpine peaks, each changing with the season and offering summer strolls or winter walks. Just like that squeaky sand, each step along these trails has something to tell you: perhaps a story about an ancient spirit or a pioneering search for fortune.

    The best coastal hikes in Gippsland

    sunset at Wilsons Promontory National Park
    Wilsons Promontory National Park is a sprawling wilderness with many coastal bushland trails. (Image: Mark Watson)

    Wilsons Promontory National Park (or ‘The Prom’, as you’ll end up calling it) is an easy three-hour drive from Melbourne, but you might ditch the car when you arrive, with much of the park’s 50,000 hectares accessible only by foot. From the inky water of Tidal River (dyed dark purple by abundant tea trees), I like the easy walks along the coast, among lichen-laden granite boulders, to golden beaches and bays.

    a couple on Mount Oberon
    Panoramic views from the summit of Mount Oberon. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

    The trail to the panoramic views at the summit of Mount Oberon is a bit harder, up steep timber and granite steps, but it’s a popular 6.8-kilometre return. The more remote hikes are found through the open banksia and stringybark woodland of the park’s north, or along the multi-day Southern Circuit, which ranges from about 35 to 52 kilometres, with sunrises and sunsets, kangaroos and cockatoos, and maybe even whales.

    a golden sand beach at Wilsons Promontory National Park
    Walk ‘The Prom’s’ golden sand beaches. (Image: Tourism Australia/Time Out Australia)

    You might also see whales on the George Bass Coastal Walk, even closer to Melbourne on the western edge of Gippsland. This dramatic seven-kilometre trail along the clifftops takes in sweeping views of the wild ocean, occasionally dipping down from grassy green hills to coastal gullies and a secluded beach. It also now links into the Bass Coast Rail Trail for an extra 14 kilometres.

    the George Bass Coastal Walk
    George Bass Coastal Walk trails for seven kilometres along clifftops. (Image: Visit Victoria/Time Out Australia)

    Over at the eastern edge of Gippsland, in Croajingolong National Park, you can wander along the lakeshores beneath koalas and around goannas (I keep my distance since one chased me here!). For those who are even more adventurous, the park is also the starting point for the 100-kilometre Wilderness Coast Walk, usually done over seven days.

    the Croajingolong National Park, Gippsland
    Wander along the lakeshores in Croajingolong National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    The best bush hikes in Gippsland

    the Baw Baw National Park
    The alpine heath of Baw Baw National Park. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

    Deep in the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine at Walhalla, mining guide Richard tells me how this small town in the mountains east of Melbourne boomed when prospectors found gold here in 1862. These days, you’ll find most of the town’s treasure – its heritage – above ground, with the Walhalla Tramline Walk a wonderful way to explore it.

    Just seven kilometres long, the walk takes you through decades of Gold Rush history, following the original rail trail from lush bushland to the mining sites, and through the charming village of just 20 residents with its wooden cottages and old shopfronts adorned with turn-of-the-century advertising posters. Blazing a trail where trailblazers once opened up the region, this is also the starting point for the 650-kilometre Australian Alps Walking Track.

    Nearby, Baw Baw National Park has walks through gnarled snow gums and alpine heaths that show off the colourful wildflowers in summer and the pristine carpet of white in winter. Several trails are perfect for snowshoes, including a 45-minute route from St Gwinear up to vast views across the Latrobe Valley.

    Further up into the mountains, the Toorongo and Amphitheatre Falls Loop Walk is an easy 2.2-kilometre path that serenades you with the sound of flowing water as you pass mossy rocks and tree ferns en route to two sets of waterfalls cascading over boulders in the remote wilderness.

    The best cultural hikes in Gippsland

    the Mitchell River National Park, Gippsland
    Hike the Mitchell River National Park. (Image: Parks Victoria/Grace Lewis)

    Across a pool in a natural sandstone amphitheatre, deep within a cave behind a waterfall, it’s said the Nargun has its lair. A fierce creature, half human and half stone, that abducts children and can’t be harmed by boomerangs or spears, the story of the Nargun has been told around the campfires of the local Gunaikurnai people for generations.

    As a culturally significant place for women, hikers are asked not to go into the Den of Nargun, but a 3.4-kilometre loop walk leads you through a rainforest gully to the entrance where you can feel the powerful atmosphere here in Mitchell River National Park, along Victoria’s largest remaining wild and free-flowing waterway.

    the bee-eaters at Mitchell River National Park
    Bee-eaters at Mitchell River National Park. (Image: Parks Victoria/Grace Lewis)

    The Den of Nargun is part of the Bataluk Cultural Trail, a series of important traditional Gunaikurnai sites through central Gippsland. Another location is Victoria’s largest cave system, Buchan Caves Reserve, with trails to important archaeological sites of human artefacts up to 18,000 years old. The FJ Wilson Interpreted Walk includes the naturally sculpted white limestone steps of the 400-metre-long Federal Cave, while the Granite Pools Walk goes among tall timber and moss-covered gullies.

    the ancient rainforest of Tarra-Bulga National Park
    The ancient rainforest of Tarra-Bulga National Park. (Image: Josie Withers)

    Also important to the Gunaikurnai people is Tarra-Bulga National Park, known for its ancient myrtle beeches and enormous mountain ash trees. Just 40 minutes return, the Tarra Valley Rainforest Walk offers a taste of this verdant landscape, while the Grand Strzelecki Track takes you deep into the lost world of forest giants on an epic 100-kilometre trail rich with tradition.

    A traveller’s checklist

    Staying there

    the WildernessRetreats in The Prom
    Wilderness Retreats in The Prom. (Image: Christian Pearson)

    Wilderness Retreats in Wilsons Promontory offers glamping-style tents with luxurious queen beds. Star Hotel is a reconstruction of a Gold Rush-era hotel from 1863 in the heart of heritage Walhalla. Caves House is a historic three-bedroom house with views over the Buchan River.

    Eating there

    the Carrajung Estate, Gippsland
    Enjoy a post-hike lunch at Carrajung Estate. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

    Kilcunda General Store serves great coffee and meals of local produce at the George Bass Coastal Walk. Alpine Trout Farm is located near Toorongo Falls in Noojee. Fish for your own lunch and barbecue it with the provided cookware.

    Carrajung Estate is a short drive from Tarra-Bulga National Park. The winery’s restaurant offers a seasonal menu of regional ingredients and you can stay at The Lodge.

    a seafood feast at Carrajung Estate, Gippsland
    The table is set for a seafood feast at the estate.

    Video credit: Tourism Australia