It’s a loaded question. Where is the best coffee in Canberra?
That might depend on how you like your coffee. I like a soy flat white with an extra shot, preferably in a quiet, dark, artisanal and intimate room. But that’s just me.
Regardless of personal taste, Canberra’s excellent café industry has options for everyone. Here’s where to find the best coffee in Canberra, the City and Inner-North.
Campbell
Intra Specialty Coffee. I love this place. It’s little, it’s dark, it’s cute, it has great music, and the coffee is creamy and delish.
It only has one review on Trip Advisor, but it was a perfect score. This little coffee shop that could ranks high with Google reviews: 4.5 from 124 reviews.
Ruby Becker: “My new go-to. Amazing coffee (Barrio). Don’t expect your breakfast standards – the food is different to anywhere else in Canberra, but you can still get some simple options which for me the granola is perfect. Relaxing vibe and good people. ?”
Note: Not great for large or loud groups.
Civic
Coffee Lab in the Canberra Centre has Trip Advisor’s top vote. Rather than insider information, Trip Advisor reviews usually come from travellers. Meaning they are less likely to hold bias and reviewers may have consumed coffee in many parts of the globe.
From 198 Trip Advisor reviews Coffee Lab has an impressive 4.5 rating.
The latest is from JohnC200. “Guys great menu and probably the best coffee I’ve had in Canberra. Service is a bit hit and miss, but food and coffee are great.”
Google reviews back up this up with a 4.3/5 rating from 641 reviews.
The Cupping Room is a personal favourite city option of mine, although I haven’t been everywhere. It’s always busy, but if you can handle a wait, it’ll be worth it.
I like the takeaway side window option. It makes the waiting super chill, and in winter that becomes literal.
It’s Trip Advisor’s #3 Café in Canberra and has 4.5/5 from a whooping 849 reviews.
From 1797 Google reviews it also achieves 4.5. The number of reviews gives you an idea of how busy this place gets.
Google reviewer fabmoonsun agrees with me: “The coffee is top-notch, let’s get that out of the way. If there’s one thing this place stands out for, it’s consistency. The food and service is consistently great. And that’s why I keep coming back. Recommendation: the avo. The vegan option is also good. The only downside is the relatively higher prices, compared to other good cafés in Canberra.”
Braddon
We’re talking coffee, so we might as well vibe with Braddon’s soulmate city Melbourne and be a bit picky.
Barrio Collective Coffee comes recommended from the CW staff, Google users and Trip Advisor reviewers alike, with a strong 4.5 average across the platforms.
“My wife and I haven’t been to Barrio for at least 2 years. This morning was a welcome return. The food was great, and the coffee was excellent. It can get very busy and it is a small space. It is however one of Braddon’s best in our opinion.”
Dickson
Highroad is the pick of the multitude of options in Dickson.
4.5 on Google, 4.0 on Trip Advisor.
Local Guide Jarrod Holst says, “The service is super nice and the coffee is great on the plus side. The food is decent but serving sizes feel a bit small. The big detractor from though is the acoustics, between all the hard surfaces and the background music it can be hard to hear people you are sitting with with detracts from the experience. Outside tables are better but there are only a couple of these.”
Turner
If you’re in Turner, Clay is a great option, part of the Redbrick family and highly rated on Google with 4.7.
Local Guide Charlene Kim says, “Small but nice coffee and quick bites food. Good for quick and easy hangout with friends or family. Staffs are all friendly:)”
O’Connor
Canberra-based pop-up coffee shop with organic food and locally sourced coffee, Sly Fox has a regular space in O’Connor and a strong reputation, pleasing 4.6 out of 5 Google users and a community garden day.
Local Guide Steffany Harris says: “Great coffee, really nice vibes/ambiance and the pancake are super yummy. Highly recommend you check this place out! Plus pudding the pug is adorable.”
Ainslie
Breizh Café at the Ainslie Shops feels very Moulin Rouge, with cute lighting and bric-a-brac.
The 4.6 rated French style café has a string of strong recent reviews on Google.
Queyn Lisl says it’s an absolute gem. “They were so accommodating of us. Booking and sign in was a breeze. Service was top notch; friendly, efficient and no fuss! Everyone was happy, even the Melbourne out-of-towners, who know their French cuisine! There’s a reason why this cafe is so popular. We’re fast becoming regulars!”
New Acton
The very pretty Močan & Green Grout in New Acton has a good reputation and a 4.3 rating on Google from 584 reviews.
Watson
The Knox comes recommended for families, although its recent reviews on Trip Advisor are a little underwhelming.
It is #8 in Canberra for quick bites on Trip Advisor and has 4.3 from 805 Google reviews.
“Relaxed family friendly atmosphere, tasty food and great service.”
Did I miss your favourite place to get the best coffee in Canberra? Feel free to comment and let me in on your secret happy coffee place.
