A negroni, live jazz and a speakeasy vibe: what more could you want in a bar? Photo: Molly/Instagram.
There was a hot minute in the late twenty-teens when speakeasys were all the rage. While we’ve moved on from our Great Gatsby themes, there are still plenty of killer Canberra bars tucked out of plain sight. Here are a handful of our favourites.
Molly
I vividly remember the excitement of Molly’s opening; the directions merely a set of co-ordinates, the buzz around a real-life speakeasy, the coterie of male bartenders mixing, shaking and serving cocktails with a flourish.
It felt grown up, exciting and was definitely out of my price range but I still loved heading down the stairs for just one negroni. These days Molly is upstairs, not down, but the speakeasy fun continues with weekly jazz and whisky cocktails. Over a decade later the novelty has worn off a little, but it continues to be exciting (and, thankfully, my price range has improved so I can have two negronis!)
And rumour has it there’s a hidden poker room …
11e Cave is underground, uber cool and a little bit Parisian. Photo: John Coleman.
11e Cave
Marked only by a bright red door in a black tiled wall, 11e Cave is the downstairs bar of mod-Aus darling Onzieme.
Housed in a former bank vault, this dark, narrow space feels more Paris than Kingston. Run by award-winning bartender Brett Nebauer, you’ll find inventive cocktails made with in-house syrups, sodas and whatever is left over from the kitchen.
For example, during stone fruit season, the presentable “cheeks” of Gollion Farm’s blood plums make it onto plates and the stones with leftover flesh are macerated into wine or neutral spirits to make digestif style drinks. You can also order a snack from upstairs to accompany whatever you’re drinking.
Lesser known wines like Picpoul de Pinet are just one of the treats you’ll discover at Romanée. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Romaneé
Recessed into Lonsdale Street, Romanee is hiding in plain sight but once you’ve been clued into what owner Chester Mok calls his “midlife crisis”, you’ll keep coming back for more.
This is the place to come for rare, unusual and exciting wines. Pulled from his carefully curated cellar, Chester can artfully guide you through rarified museum wines, buzzy up-and-comers or whatever you think might take your fancy.
Far from being stuffy, the tasting notes aim to give you a sense of the vibe, rather than old-school jargon. Sink into a booth, or perch at the bar and grab a few snacks.
Sunset vibes at That Other Place are a T.O.P way to experience fine dining flavours without the price tag. Photo: That Other Place/Instagram.
That Other Place
The courtyard in front of award-winning fine diner Pilot was something of an under-utilised space. Expansion from neighbours Edgar, Mama Dough and The Inn had turned that particular outdoor stretch of Ainslie shops into a casual vibe that didn’t really work for fine-diners.
So innovative owners Dash Rumble, Mal Hanslow and Ross McQuinn came up with a casual ideal of their own: That Other Place. A pop-up bar for warm-weather drinks, casual snacks and a fun way to add a bit of affordable buzz to their outdoor space. Snack on a gilda (skewer of pickles and anchovies) while you sip on a martini, or dive into a jamon, hot honey, stracciatella chip tower with a glass of wine.
Squeaky Clean owner Jonathan Murphy has created a casual, friendly, bar culture. Photo: Squeaky Clean.
Squeaky Clean
Now that Verity Lane has been upgraded, the back entrance to Squeaky Clean is looking far less grungy than it used to, but there’s still plenty of dive-bar energy once you get up the stairs.
But this dive bar is pure of heart: there’s a wholesome self-deprecating energy which makes me look fondly upon the graffiti, loud music and the buck hunter arcade game.
Squeaky is low-key, a hospo hang out due to their late opening hours: after midnight you might see the chefs and bartenders from venues all over town propping up the bar and hoeing into the excellent burgers they flip down the end of the bar.
Braddon whisky bar Volstead Repeal has a very impressive drinks list. Photo: Volstead Repeal/Instagram.
Volstead Repeal
Harking back to the joyful abundance of post-prohibition America, Volstead has a fabulously creative cocktail list and a whisky list as long as your arm.
There’s a guide to building your own martini, along with staff favourites and even a cocktail compass which maps out where each drink sits on the axis of sweet to dry and light and refreshing to stiff and boozy.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the list, choose a whisky flight to sample a curated range or book into a guided whisky tasting session. There are pizzas and snacks available if you need to line your stomach, but this place is really all about the booze. Volstead is tucked into the back of an arcade on Mort Street.
A wine bar, yes, but also sneakily one of Canberra’s best menus. Photo: Lean Timms.
Bar Rochford
At a decade old and one of Canberra’s most highly awarded venues, it’s probably a stretch to suggest that Bar Rochford is a hidden gem, or not widely known.
But the entrance on London Circuit has the kind of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it energy of a venue that is secure in its success: they don’t need to put out an a-frame or flashing lights. Vinyl spins while some of Canberra’s (Australia’s? The world’s?) finest martinis are poured. For wine, get whatever they’ve put on the specials board: it’s bound to be excellent.
Since the departure of long-term chef Josh Lundy in 2025, London-trained Alistair Brooke-Taylor has been lighting up the kitchen with a dynamic menu. It might bill itself as a wine bar, but don’t be fooled: Rochford has some of Canberra’s best food too.
Are there more sneaky Canberra bars that even we don’t know about? Tell us in the comments!
