Sweet Bones at Scullin Shops. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Canberra is full of excellent cafes, with the boom of Lonsdale Street often figuring at the heart of the local brunch renaissance. But if you venture further out of the city, there’s a whole host of excellent brekky spots, with a surprising number in Belconnen. These cafes are doing way more than smashed avo on toast.
Here are some of our favourite Belco faves.
Sweet Bones, Scullin
Sweet Bones began its journey in Braddon, and the family behind this iconic vegan cafe and bakery opened their second (and now sole) location at Scullin shops in 2022. The following years have proven beyond a doubt that a suburban cafe can do as well as an inner-city spot, and it’s much easier to find a park!
The menu is made from scratch, using as much local and organic produce as possible. Crispy fried oyster mushrooms, pickled onion and remoulade sauce fill a New Orleans po boy sandwich, and scrambled tofu with coconut bacon replaces the ‘E & B’ of a classic big breakfast. And I defy any diner to resist a sweet treat from the sweets cabinet (the Cinnabuns have something of a cult following) to have with their coffee, or you can also order impressive cakes.
Jiwoo Kim’s fine-dining training is on display in the prawn omelette, which is as pretty as it is delicious. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Cafe Mamé, Melba
Small but mighty, Cafe Mamé packs a punch. Jiwoo and Amy Kim left their fine-dining restaurant jobs for a better work-life balance and opened Cafe Mamé amidst the chaos of 2020. Their enduring success is a testament to their excellent food and to the locals who have embraced this cafe as a cornerstone of the community.
The kitchen plates up beautiful dishes like the prawn omelette with fennel or the caramelised banana waffle with coconut ice cream, which are as delicious as they are Instagram-worthy. The team also hosts occasional wine nights and dinners at Mamé and runs the neighbouring casual Asian takeaway, Drunken Tiger.
Hannah Costello and Vanessa Brettell are the co-founders of Cafe Stepping Stone. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Cafe Stepping Stone, Strathnairn
Out in West Belconnen lies Strathnairn Arts Centre, located on a beautiful old property overlooking the Brindabella Ranges. Cafe Stepping Stone is a social enterprise run by Hannah Costello and Vanessa Brettell, who train and employ migrant, refugee and culturally diverse women. The all-vegetarian menu is inspired by the cultures of their employees: try Nan’s laphat thoke (a pickled tea leaf dish from Myanmar). Their potato masala toastie is another favourite (they served over 4500 of them in 2025!)
In fine weather, the gardens are a beautiful place to sit, or cosy up in the 1920s homestead and enjoy the artwork hanging on the walls in winter. Their carrot-and-cardamom cake is god-tier, and the service is always exceptionally friendly.
The Irvine is the sister-cafe of The Knox in Watson. Photo: Kazuri Photography.
The Irvine, Florey
The Irvine is Belconnen’s sister cafe to Watson local The Knox. Building on the same cosy local cafe serving fresh-baked goods (delivered daily from The Knox), The Irvine has also expanded its opening hours to include dinner and bar service three nights a week. The dinner menu focuses on steaks, burgers, schnittys and pasta, and brunch focuses on all the classics, plus a few inventive extras.
Sure, you can get a classic eggs Benny, but you could also have pea and halloumi fritters or Mexican eggs! And there’s also a selection of sourdough pastries from The Knox to go with your coffee.
The ‘Wild Boar’ big breakfast. Photo: Ben Calvert.
Little Oink, Cook
Now over 10 years old, Little Oink is well-embedded in the local Cook community. The cafe – and neighbouring pub To All My Friends – has become a real community hub, with plenty of regular locals who staff know by name. The menu is littered with tongue-in-cheek names like the ‘Got Beef?’ burger and wild boar big breakfast (complete with bacon, chorizo and hash browns).
A colourful interior and kitschy ornaments complete the pig-themed aesthetic. Keep an eye on socials for ‘find the pig’ specials. Little Oink is the perfect place to bump into a neighbour, catch up with an old friend or even make a new one.
Stella’s by the Lake is popular with both humans and their four-legged friends. Photos: Bec Grintell from RMG Photography.
Stella’s by the Lake, Belconnen
If you’re a dog lover, then Stella’s by the Lake is the place to be. Father and daughter owners, David and Ashlinn Reid, take their pups seriously: Stella’s goes above and beyond to be a dog-friendly location (and is even named after a dog, what else?)
Located right beside the lake (aka prime dog-walking territory), the cafe offers dog beds, water bowls, and an entire menu just for dogs: puppachinos, doughnuts topped with peanut butter and chicken, and even dog beer!
Of course, the humans are also well catered for with an extensive menu covering breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks. Popular dishes include Stella’s potato stack and breakfast tacos. Wolf that down!
Two Before Ten has an urban farm and roastery, and over 10 locations around town. Photo: Two Before Ten.
Two Before Ten, Aranda
Transforming the derelict Aranda shops into a humming cafe, bar and retail precinct, this Two Before Ten location (while not the original site) is easily the patriarch of the many TBT branded cafes around town (we’ve lost count). An urban farm surrounds the building and provides fresh produce to the cafe and for preserving, and an on-site commercial composter returns nutrients to the soil. Circular economy, local produce and fresh coffee: what’s not to love?
Do you agree that Belconnen’s cafes are some of the best in town? Shout out your favourite cafe in the comments.
