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 They’ve been replaced by boutique shops, busy bars and the irresistibly cool Midnight Hotel.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

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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)

More than just a stopover, Albury Wodonga is an elevated city escape immersed in nature.

Perhaps best known as a road trip stop between Sydney and Melbourne, Albury Wodonga offers a combination of natural beauty, cultural experiences and a vibrant food scene that make it well worth its own journey.

Nestled on the banks of the mighty Murray River and surrounded by famed wine and gold rush regions, this riverside town packs a broad punch. Discover how best to spend your days on the border.

Exploring the Murray River

1. The Crossing Place Trail

woman looking at sculpture along Crossing Place Trail loop — Admire sculptural works from local Indigenous artists.

Head to the original crossing places of the Murray River since 1848 – at the junctions of Bungambrawatha Creek and Oddies Creek. Today, these crossings are still used by cars and cattle, but the five-kilometre Crossing Place Trail loop connects the two bridges for bike riders and walkers.

Wander through gum trees, and maybe even spot local platypus and birdlife. Stop along the way to admire sculptural works from local Indigenous artists, see evidence of a scar tree and learn about the importance of this billabong environment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

2. Canoe The Murray

two people kayaking along the murray river at Noreuil Park — Hire canoes or kayaks and get out on the river.

What better way to get a feel for the Murray River than by getting out on its waters? Hire canoes or kayaks from Canoe the Murray, then explore solo or join one of the offered tours. Get up early for a Sunrise and coffee tour, watch the sun dip below the water on a sunset tour or choose one of several daytime trips.

Stand-up paddleboard hire and other water sports, fishing and swimming are also available to river explorers.

3. Noreuil Park Foreshore

aerial of Noreuil Park albury wodonga — Cool off at Noreuil Park Foreshore. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Just outside Albury’s CBD, the riverside Noreuil Park becomes a hub of activity as the weather heats up. Set up on picnic tables under shady trees, use the public barbecues (or pop into the nearby cafe) and cool off with a float down the river.

4. Mungabareena Reserve and Water Works

Mungabareena Reserve albury wodonga — Spend time at Mungabareena Reserve. (Image: Visit Albury Wodonga)

Delve into nature and culture at the beautiful Mungabareena Reserve. Recognised by state law as a ‘Declared Aboriginal Place’, it was once a historical meeting point for trade and journeys to Mount Bogong for the local Wiradjuri people and still holds deep significance.

It’s another popular spot for fishing, swimming and picnics, while the nearby Water Works area is a great place for spotting wildlife. Try your luck seeing platypuses, wood ducks or rainbow bee-eaters.

Adventuring on Lake Hume

1. Walk the dam wall

parent and child look at the view from the damn wall walk at lake hume — Enjoy the view from the dam wall. (Image: Visit Albury Wodonga)

The majestic Lake Hume – a massive man-made reservoir on the Murray River – was once the largest dam in the Southern Hemisphere.

A great way to get acquainted is by walking along the dam wall, taking in views of outflows, electricity turbines and the transmission plant from above. Not to mention vistas of the lake and the Murray. It’s a particularly gorgeous spot for sunsets and sunrises.

A wide sealed walkway gives easy access to the wall, and informative signs and displays along the way educate on the dam’s construction.

2. The High Country Rail Trail

This 44-kilometre trail hugs the shoreline. Stop along the way at the historic town of Tallangatta, relocated to its current position in the 1950s after its original location was flooded. Cross the lake over the bright red Sandy Creek Bridge. Enjoy a lakeside picnic or go for a swim at Ebden, Ludlow’s or Huon Reserve.

3. Water sports

two people watching SUP boarders and a boat our on the water at lake hume — Dive into water sports on Lake Hume.

Lake Hume is a popular local spot for boating, fishing, and swimming. Drop a line or dive right into the clear waters.

Sip and Savour

1. Dux Albury

two people sitting at counter drinking wine inside Dux Albury — Sit down to delicious meals and wine at Dux.

Those looking for a high-end dining experience need to book a table at Dux Albury in the heart of Albury Wodonga. Sit down for curated wine lists, cocktails and share plates. Think starters like burrata with beetroot, chervil, caper berry and sherry, mains like Wagyu sirloin with Café De Paris, red wine and caramelised onions and all manner of fresh seafood.

2. Murray Towns Brewing Co.

people being served lunch at Murray Brewing Co. — Recharge at Murray Brewing Co.

Perched on the banks of the river, Murray Towns Brewing Co. has come a long way since two mates started experimenting in their backyard chook shed. With all beer brewed onsite and a sun-drenched beer garden to drink them in, it’s a perfect stop along a bike ride or walk.

3. Temperance and General

Step into Albury’s original laneway bar, Temperance and General. Set inside a historic building, but offering a modern vibe, the bar is locally famous for its cocktail list. Stop in before or after dinner for a creative tipple.

4. BeanStation Cafe

two people drinking coffee at Bean Station albury wodonga — Dine on a modern Australian menu.

Dine on a modern Australian menu, inside the historic Wodonga train station building, dating back to 1873. Pop over in the morning and line up with the locals for great coffee and all-day brekkie, or head over after midday to swap the beans for local wines and Aussie boutique beers.

5. River Deck Cafe

waiter holding two dishes at Riverdeck Cafe albury wodonga — Soak in views and good food at Riverdeck Cafe. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Another dining destination next to the Murray, the award-winning River Deck Cafe provides a large deck covered in dappled sunlight that makes for the ideal long lunch spot. Here, menus focus on natural, native and local ingredients sourced from regional farmers and producers across Albury Wodonga and surrounds.

Museums, murals and more

1. Albury Wodonga Public Art Trail

Gain a sense of Albury Wodonga’s vibrant arts community while wandering the Public Art Trail. Works range from sculptures and murals to wrapped infrastructure. Be sure to check the council map before you head out, so you don’t miss a thing.

2. Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA)

couple admiring the art at Murray Art Gallery — Stop into one of the most visited galleries outside of Sydney. (Image: Visit Albury Wodonga)

MAMA forms the heart of art and culture in Albury Wodonga, some may say the entire Murray region. In fact, it’s one of the most visited galleries outside of Sydney. What makes it so lauded? The museum has earned a reputation for curating innovative, original exhibitions from some of the best contemporary Australian and international artists.

3. HotHouse Theatre

Originally built in 1928 as the Butter Factory Theatre, HotHouse Theatre has been a home of performance since 1997. Stop by to see the best of new Australian theatre. Continue to explore unique architecture on the Historic Building Walking Tour of Albury, the perfect way to round out your stay.

Start planning your Albury Wodonga getaway at visitalburywodonga.com.