Australians love heading down to the pub to grab a good feed, some refreshing drinks and a have good time with mates in a friendly environment. If you’re looking for a great night out, Canberra has plenty of quality pubs on offer, right across the city. From sports bars to bustling pubs and more quiet local establishments, there’s something for everyone. In this article, we will discuss some of the best pubs in Canberra.
Skip to the list of Canberra's best pubs
- Assembly The People's Pub
- BentSpoke Brewing Co.
- Bleachers Sports Bar
- Edgar's Inn
- King O'Malley's
- Kingston Hotel
- PJ O'Reilly's
- Siren Bar & Restaurant
- The Alby
- The Civic Pub
- The Dock
What makes a great pub?
A great pub is more than just a place to get a drink. It’s a community gathering space where people can relax, socialise, and enjoy a delicious meal.
Warm atmosphere: The best pubs are welcoming and inviting, with a cosy atmosphere that makes everyone feel at home. Having great live music can add to the pub experience, while live sport can also enhance the experience. You can do a bit of research before you head in to find a pub's atmosphere that may suit you.
Quality pub grub: The food menu at a pub should offer something for everyone. However, most people head to the pub for a simple feed such as a parmi, burger or a steak. And of course, a side of chips. The best pubs take pride in making sure even the simplest dishes are done well and taste delicious.
Drink options: Most patrons heading to the pub are there to grab a couple of drinks with friends or family. That’s why it’s important for any great pub to have a top-notch selection of beers, wines and ciders for customers to choose from, and at a reasonable price. They should also offer a range of non-alcoholic drinks for those who aren’t having any alcohol.
Friendly and quality service: The staff at a pub play a role in making sure customers are well looked after and have a good time. People are there to have a good time so the staff should be friendly towards the patrons and make sure their orders are delivered on time as well.
Whether you’re looking for a place to watch catch up with old friends, a great pub is a perfect spot.
The best pubs in Canberra 2024
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The Dock
The Dock is the perfect place to catch up friends and family for any occasion, with the waterside pub offering live sport, live music, an outdoor beer garden, great food and drinks specials and four unique function spaces.
They have 14 beers on tap and a delicious pub menu, making it the ideal place to go with mates to watch the Raiders, Brumbies, State of Origin or any other major sporting event.
Atmosphere is important for any great pub and The Dock has it in spades. The warm environment, friendly staff and a certain buzz in the air makes it an enjoyable experience every time you step foot in the doors.
Shaun O’Keeffe wrote this five star review on Google; “The dock is a bit of an icon along the Kingston Foreshore. Great vibes, love music at times, a solid menu of the regular choices, and good drink selection. Id highly recommend. Flaws? It’s often packed so I’d recommend booking if you’re bringing a group.”
The Alby
The Alby is located on the ground floor of the Albemarle Building and spans close to 1,000 square metres, allowing for plenty of space to enjoy food and drinks with your friends.
Their ultimate sports bar, The Basement, is reminiscent of a traditional pub with timber ceilings and nostalgic warmth. It has something for everyone with pool tables, pinball machines, Australia’s first Duckpin bowling, three huge TVs for the footy and a delicious food menu.
Local guide Lumpy Cam left this five star review on Google; “What a great little place tucked away in Woden. Great food and service. Good selection of tap beers and fantastic cocktails. Live music and to top it all off, bowling and games. Had such a fun time, definitely going back for more.”
Siren Bar and Restaurant
Siren Bar and Restaurant has established itself as a landmark venue in Gungahlin where people come for a good time with friends and family.
Their menu features modern Australian cuisine with something for everyone, while they also have plenty of beers and spirits, an inspiring wine list and a diverse cocktail menu.
The Civic Pub
With delicious food and a variety of quality local and imported beers, The Civic Pub has delivered a great night out for many Canberrans.
The pub is ideally located in the heart of Canberra and offers a great atmosphere for customers to really enjoy their experience.
King O'Malley's
King O’Malley’s in the city is an old timey Irish tavern beloved by many Canberrans for its delicious bistro meals, quality range of drinks plus events & live music.
Sean “Crabman” Gladman wrote this five star review on Google; “Absolutely lovely meal with great service and super friendly staff! Drinks a little expensive but food is pretty reasonably priced with a number of tasty choices. Live music and great atmosphere with a goof feed to boot!”
PJ O'Reilly's
PJ O’Reilly’s is a Tuggeranong pub with a classic Irish menu where you will find all the usual suspects along with some delicious burgers and pizzas.
They offer true Irish culture and plenty of fun with their live music scene, blues, jazz, trivia bingo, other sports and meat raffles. They pride themselves on being a family friendly with a great kid’s menu, as well as being pokie machine free and 100% smoke free.
Edgar's Inn
Edgar’s Inn opens at 7am and is a great destination to grab some coffee and breakfast in the morning, a burger and beer over lunch, or watch some sport in the evening.
Located in Ainslie away from the busy Canberra CBD, Edgar’s has warm indoor seating and an outdoor beer garden for customers to enjoy their experience.
Bleachers Sports Bar
Bleachers Sports Bar is the perfect place for sports lovers to go and watch a variety of events such as NRL, AFL, State of Origin, NBA, UFC main events and plenty more.
So if you love watching sport in a great atmosphere, head on down to Bleachers and grab some of their delicious pub style food, a nice cold beer and enjoy live sport with mates.
Happy customer Alex wrote this five star review on Google; “Came here in July to watch UFC 264 and had an awesome time! The brisket poutine was great to snack on during the event, and the energy of the crowd while watching the huge screen really added to the experience. Everyone was polite and welcoming, and I’ll definitely be back again.”
Kingston Hotel
Assembly The People's Pub
The People’s Pub is perfectly located in the heart of Braddon and is the ideal place to go for a good time at anytime of the day.
Whether you are looking for a tasty breakfast and quality coffee, an afternoon catch up with mates over a drink while watching the footy, dinner with the family, or cocktails and a boogie, Assembly is the modern pub that ticks all the boxes.
BentSpoke Brewing Co.
After opening its doors in 2014, BentSpoke continues to trend upwards in Canberra’s beer and bar scene.
At their BrewPub in Braddon, you will find 26 varieties of beer and cider all brewed on premises by their award-winning head brewers.
They also have a great food menu that features dishes which incorporate beer, brewing ingredients and great local produce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch the footy at the pub?
Yes, most pubs will have the footy on during the season, especially Raiders and Brumbies matches. But you should still check with the pub first before heading in because some may not show sport.
What are Canberra's most famous beers?
The two most prominent beer companies in Canberra are Bentspoke Brewing Co. and Capital Brewing Co. Both breweries have a variety of beers that are hugely popular in Canberra.
Can I watch Main Event fights at the pub?
This comes down to which pub you visit but a lot of them in Canberra tend to show pay-per-view boxing or UFC fights. Just make sure to check with the pub before heading in to watch.
Do pubs serve a variety of drinks?
Yes. The best pubs will have plenty of options to drink including a range of different beers, ciders, wines and even cocktails.
Can I take my kids to the pub?
Pubs in Canberra are generally family-friendly environment’s and have options for them to eat and drink. Some pubs may even allow you to bring your dog if they have sufficient space outdoors and your pooch behaves themselves.
