1. Verity Lane Market

Tucked into the heritage-listed Sydney Building right in the CBD, Verity Lane Market is the kind of place that makes a good case for Canberra's food scene. It's a chef-driven food hall – think less food court, more curated collection of independent kitchens, with vendors rotating through cuisines from Vietnamese and Indonesian to Japanese-Korean fusion and wood-fired Italian.

The setup works well if you're eating with people who may all have different food tastes and vibes. Everyone orders from a different kitchen, drinks come from the bar and you end up sharing a table in a beautifully renovated 100-year-old building. It's casual enough for a weeknight but has enough going on that it doesn't feel like a compromise.

Our tip: Vendors do rotate, so check their website before you go if you've got your heart set on something specific.

2. Brodburger

Brodburger started as a red caravan parked by the lake, which speaks to the confidence level. The burgers earned the cult following first; the permanent locations came later. There are now four spots across Canberra, but the pick of the bunch is the Fyshwick location inside Capital Brewing Co – you order your burger, grab a craft beer and find a table. It's a solid plan.

There are beef, chicken, fish, lamb and vegan options, plus a "baby" size if you want something that won't require a nap afterwards.

Our tip: Weekends get busy. Order ahead if you don't want to spend your Saturday waiting.

3. Med Barton

Med sits at the base of the Burbury Hotel in the Realm Precinct in Barton, which sounds fancy, and honestly, it is a little. But the share plate format makes it work for a group, because everyone gets to try a bit of everything without committing to one dish and experiencing immediate order envy.

The menu draws on Greek, Lebanese and Turkish cuisine, with most of the cooking done on a Josper grill. There's also a solid range of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options woven through the menu, so it's a good pick for a group with mixed dietary needs. Save this one for the end-of-semester dinner or a visit from family who want somewhere that feels like a proper night out.

Our tip: Order the baklava sundae. It's on the dessert menu and worth saving room for.

4. Tokyo Canteen

Tokyo Canteen is tucked into Kingston and does Japanese home-style food well. The menu runs teishoku sets – rice, soup, pickles and a main – alongside things like udon carbonara, curry and a very solid chicken sando. More range than you'd expect for the size of the place.

And it is a small space. Minimal, steady flow of people in and out. Feels like a local spot rather than somewhere you need to plan around – except it's walk-ins only, so if you're bringing a group, timing matters.

Our tip: The matcha is reliably good and the portions are generous, so you won't leave hungry.

5. Messina

Messina has two Canberra locations – Braddon and Kingston – and the queues on a warm evening will tell you everything you need to know.

Every flavour is made from scratch using their own recipes and they run their own dairy farm that supplies milk to every store around the country. There are 35 classic flavours plus five weekly specials that rotate regularly, so there's always something new to try even if you've been before. The gelato cakes are also worth knowing about if a friend's birthday is coming up and you want to look like you planned ahead.

Our tip: Get a takeaway punnet and combine flavours together. When you mix and match, that’s when the real magic happens.

6. Tiger Lane

Tiger Lane is inside the Canberra Centre, but don't let that put you off – it doesn't feel like a food court. The space spans 2,000 square metres and is modelled on the hawker centres of Asia, with neon-lit stalls, a central bar and enough going on visually that you'll spend the first few minutes just looking around.

There are ten dining outlets across the precinct covering Japan, South Korea, China and Southeast Asia – sit-down restaurants alongside more casual hawker-style spots. Inari for Japanese, Mrs Wang for modern Chinese, Supalove for Thai, Sticky Beak for Asian fried chicken. You can grab something quick or make a whole night of it depending on what you're after.

Our tip: The central bar is worth knowing about. You can grab a drink and graze across multiple stalls rather than committing to one kitchen for the whole night.

7. Compa

On Bunda Street in the city, Compa is Australian chef Matt Moran's take on an Italian steakhouse. The name translates to "mate" in Italian, which tells you something about the vibe they're going for – not stiff or ceremonial, just really good food in a room that feels like somewhere you'd want to stay for a while.

The menu features fired cuts from producers like Westholme Wagyu alongside house-made pasta, seasonal produce from the ACT and a drinks list that leans heavily Italian.

Our tip: Head next door to their accompanying sandwich joint, ‘& Sando’ for a filling lunch and delicious coffee.

8. Recess Coffee

Recess is a retro-themed café in Griffith with vinyl records on the walls, booth seating and menus shaped like record sleeves. The vibe is relaxed, the coffee is good and the buttermilk pancake – a single plate-sized situation served with butter slowly melting on top – has developed something of a reputation. Breakfast burritos and a fried chicken sandwich round out the menu.

Our tip: It gets busy on weekends, so either get there early or accept that the wait is part of the deal. It usually doesn’t take too long for a table.

9. Under Bakery

Under Bakery started as a farmers' market stall built around two things: cardamom and cinnamon buns. Owner Lachlan Cutting spent time working and eating his way through Copenhagen before coming home to Canberra and slowly perfecting his recipe. Word got out, queues formed and the Mawson shopfront opened in 2020. There's now a second location at Dairy Road in Fyshwick.

The buns are the headline, but the sourdough loaves, three days in the making, are worth the trip on their own. Flour comes from a small family farm in Rutherglen, butter is churned by Pepe Saya. The whole operation takes ingredients seriously without making a big deal about it. Open Wednesday to Sunday.

Our tip: If you're torn between the bun and a loaf of bread, get both. You won't regret it.

10. Terra

Terra is on Marcus Clarke Street in the city – you line up, you order, you eat very well. The focus is BBQ meats with sides and salads that hold their own alongside them. Their house miso gravy and hot sauce are the kind of thing you end up putting on everything, and it all works together perfectly.

Lunch and dinner are both on, with dinner leaning into a different vibe if you want to make a night of it. There's also a solid wine list if you're in that headspace.

Our tip: Have a think about what you want to order before you line up. The queue moves fast!