1. Poachers Pantry
Hearty, well-executed food in a pleasant rural setting. Stacks of potato rosti, thick omelettes and a “breakfast pie” with smoked lamb sausage will get you out of bed. Or go the whole hog with generous platters of smoked meats, kangaroo prosciutto and duck breasts. But make a booking - it’s a 40 minute drive out of Canberra and walk-ins often get short shrift. And the brunch menu lasts a rather measly 1.5 hours until 11.30am.
Nanima Road, Hall, (02) 6230 2487, www.poacherspantry.com.au
Open Sat-Sun. Brunch 10-11.30am, lunch 12-3pm.
2. Artespresso
Since winning back a star in the Australian Good Food Guide awards this year, Artespresso has been consistent and a little more adventurous than the run-of-the-mill Kingston cafes. A kimchi omelette with shreds of duck and soy sauce is tender and savoury while a croque monsieur with jamon is good but not amazing. The french toast features brioche with pear and quince. There are standard burgers, pasta and risotto from the lunch menu for something bigger.
31 Giles St, Kingston, (02) 6295 8055, www.artespresso.com.au. Open Sat-Sun, 9am-2.30pm
3. Beess and Co
Good food options decently put together in a posh inner south neighbourhood. A rosti with layers of bacon, chilli jam and egg is filling while Moroccan baked eggs are smoky and sprinkled with spices. It can be a bit crowded.
29 Bentham St, Yarralumla, (02) 6285 0116. Open Sat only, 10am-5pm
4. HaHa Bar
Right on the waterfront at Lake Ginninderra. There are American-style hotcakes studded with corn and capsicum and huevos rancheros with braised beans, fried eggs and sour cream. There’s a shared breakfast for two with smoked trout, scrambled eggs and fruit salad. Even dieters have an option with scrambled egg whites (no neither).
102-104 Emu Bank, Belconnen, (02) 6251 6110, www.hahabar.com.au. Open Sat-Sun, 8am-late
5. Urban Food Store+ Cafe
One for the hippies and hipsters in equal measure. Good for taking vego friends for brunch - the list includes a vegan rosti stack, scrambled tofu on toast and a spinach and feta omelette. The bread is all organic quinoa sourdough and the coffee is fairtrade. Be prepared for an overload of cool kids.Corner Edinburgh Avenue and Marcus Clarke St, Civic, (02) 6247 9044, www.urbanfoodstore.com.au. Open Sat-Sun, 8.30am-2.30pm
6. Old Bus Depot Markets
The world food stalls are pricey (the Lao-Thai offering is particularly exxy for what you get). But go for the crepes and baked potatoes filled with bolognese and cheese. Or pick up a slice or two of Ethiopian kita bread, which is dusted with just the right amount of grease and magic red spices.
21 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston, www.obdm.com.au. Open Sun only, 10am-3pm
7. Urban Pantry
If you can overlook the competitive brunchers and the local luvvies this isn’t a bad choice for brunch - as Manuka goes. Brekkie ranges from vegetarian omelettes and vanilla-and-white-chocolate pancakes to the standard big breakfast platter. The usual suspects - burgers, pasta, risotto - fill the lunch menu, but beware, some of the bigger mains are over $30. Random note: the frappes are enormous.
5 Bougainville St, Manuka, (02) 6162 3556, www.urban-pantry.com.au. Open Sat 8am-late, Sun 8am-4pm
8. Bookplate
Go for a walk on the lakefront before stopping into Bookplate for a coffee on the terrace overlooking the water. The dishes are reasonably priced though nothing too adventurous - a ploughman’s lunch, a hot pasta, a lamb curry. There’s a lovely view and the food’s excellent for a cultural institution cafe. Always have the cake and pastries.
National Library of Australia, Parkes Place, (02) 6262 1154, www.bookplate.com.au. Open Sat-Sun, 11am-2.30pm
9. Noble Palace
The search for decent yum cha in Canberra is ongoing but Noble Palace does the best of a rather poor bunch. There’s a wide spread of dishes, though none really rock the boat - varieties of dumplings, well-stuffed shau mai and plates of leafy greens. Sesame balls and mango puddings finish off a leisurely meal.
28 Corinna Street, Phillip, (02) 6282 8915, www.noblepalace.com.au. Open Sat-Sun, 10.30am-3pm
Great list - love Poacher's Pantry, Urban Pantry and Beess and Co... Haven't tried Artespresso lately though. I think Beess and Co are open on a Sunday too now :)
Aw thanks. Definitely check out Artespresso, it seems pretty consistent these days. Good to know Beess is open on Sundays too!