Les Bistronomes, one of Canberra’s most recommended fine dining restaurants. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
Canberra is lucky enough to have a thriving fine dining scene, with plenty of regional cuisines all across the city to choose from. The only difficulty comes with picking which one is best for a special outing, be it a lunch with a friend, an outing with your partner or a date.
Choosing a fine dining restaurant can be hard, especially if it’s a type of cuisine you know little about but there are always signs that indicate an eating establishment’s quality. We’ve checked across Canberra to find the best fine dining restaurants and in this article we will outline the qualities to consider when picking a place to eat out.
What makes a great fine dining restaurant?
The perfect restaurant can start a journey of appreciation for a particular culinary culture, turn you into a regular or become part of a cherished memory. Here are some attributes to look for:
- Great ingredients. Often what sets apart a fine dining restaurant from a standard joint is the quality of the produce and ingredients. Many restaurants place a premium on local, seasonal or sustainably sourced ingredients, which add to the flavour of the food. Some cuisines even specialise in certain rare or expensive ingredients such as Japanese wagyu.
- Attentive service. The food could be out of this world but it’s not worth much if you don’t get it on time. A quality restaurant will respect you and the money that you are spending there by going above the normal expectations for restaurant staff. Waiters at fine dining establishments are often more knowledgeable about their food as well as being more accommodating to the needs of customers.
- Authenticity. It goes without saying that if one goes to a particular restaurant that specialises in a regional cuisine, the dishes should be a genuine expression of that culture. Part of the premium in fine dining is the authenticity of experiencing a culture through flavour. Canberra has a broad range of cuisines on offer and restauranters in the city often pride themselves on creating food faithful to the palettes of their culture.
- Reasonable pricing. When eating out it’s assumed that you’ll be paying a bit extra for something special but it’s important that you don’t get taken advantage of. A fine dining restaurant is like any eating establishment in that you should get what you pay for. If you pay a premium, you expect the food to be well-above the average.
The best fine dining restaurants in Canberra
Region Canberra's editorial team has combed through 20 years of on-site comments to compile a list of the most recommended businesses according to you.
To be listed in our Best of Canberra series, each business needs to have consistently received positive feedback on Region Canberra and Facebook as well as maintaining a minimum average of 4/5 stars on Google.
Les Bistronomes
Les Bistronomes is a dream for local lovers of French cuisine. A restaurant that prides itself on delivering food, wine and service of the highest quality, this is one of Canberra's finest dining destinations.
Combining true French flavour with a homely atmosphere that's slightly more relaxed than your average fine dining restaurant, Les Bistronomes views food as something to be experienced with all five senses.
Owner and executive chef Clément has curated a diverse team with more than 80 years of experienced between them. He describes staff as a mix of skilled experts and dymanic youth, proudly confirming the team puts love, dedication and care into everything they do.
Les Bistronomes has been named ACT Restaurant of the Year, also landing Best European Restaurant in Australia at the 2024 Restaurant and Catering Association awards.
An adults only venue, Les Bistronomes serves lunch and dinner from Tuesday through to Saturday.
There are multiple ways to dine - pick your favourites from the à la carte menu, which offers a range of seasonal dishes and traditional classics, or go with Chef's choice and enjoy a six or eight course degustation. You might even get to sample a brand new creation!
With over 600 positive reviews online, it's evident patrons can tell the difference.
"A vote for Les Bistronomes at Campbell Shops. Excellent fine dining, expertly selected wines and wonderful service" Lily Mullholland says on Riotact.
RAKU
Home to the region’s finest Japanese, RAKU combines the precision and artfulness of their culinary history with the vibrancy of modern Australian dining. Lead by Executive Chef Hao, the team produces an array of delectable morsels from sushi and sashimi, through to rolls, and a myriad of dishes from the robata grill.
Known for its sleek and contemporary setting, RAKU offers a unique fine dining experience. For a truly memorable meal that will have you yearning for more look to RAKU.
Peter Douglas shared his experience with Raku on Google, “A delightful dining experience. Delicious food, beautifully presented with excellent service. The sake recommendation was particularly good. Strongly recommended.”
Louis Dining
Louis offers a French fine-dining experience. At this classic European bistro, Culinary Director Ben Willis has made the food the star. Dine indoors, in elegant surrounds, or outdoors on the fully enclosed terrace with its large central fireplace, lounge seating and lush greenery. Louis presents a tantalising wine and beverage list. Service is attentive and professional. Read more about Louis in the Riot Act.
On Google, Lucas Mandotti wrote, “My recent dinner experience at Louis Dining was absolutely exceptional from start to finish.”
Chairman & Yip
As one of the Canberra's iconic dining institutions, Chairman & Yip have been serving modern Pan-Asian cuisine for over twenty years. Centrally located in the Hotel Realm precinct in Barton, their elegant surrounds offer glorious spaces including a private dining room and balcony garden.
Well regarded for pioneering Asian cuisine in Australia, the team are known to introducing new tastes and elevating traditional fare to fine dining cuisine. For delectable, flavour packed Asian led dining, look no further than Chairman & Yip.
As Peter McLoughlin shared on RiotACT, "...Chairman and Yip has always been an excellent dining experience..."
Waters Edge Restaurant
Multiple award-winning Waters Edge Restaurant, on Lake Burley Griffin, has breathtaking views, outstanding food, exceptional wines and attentive service. The restaurant offers fine modern Australian cuisine created with the best regional produce Waters Edge Restaurant is perfect for special occasions and can seat up to 107 guests. Climate controlled outdoor dining domes offer an exclusive and memorable experience.
On Google, Gennene Driver wrote, “We attended this fantastic restaurant on a Saturday night. It was beyond amazing, excellent service and food, staff are extremely friendly and are great at their jobs …”
Courgette
This modern French fine dining gem has collected a string of impressive accolades over the last ten years. Owned by celebrated chef James Mussillon, Courgette offers fine dining with the utmost finesse making it an ideal choice for a special occasion.
Featuring impressive a la carte and degustation menus Courgette is home to some seriously delightful food. With intimate and luxurious spaces and the best wines from around the globe each dining experience is one to remember. For contemporary classics look to Courgette.
As Claire Walters shared on Google, “Delicious food and wonderful staff. Very attentive and friendly.
A great dining experience in Canberra.”
Pilot.
A unique dining experience, Pilot in Ainslie takes diners on a journey by offering them one of three set menus, with an assortment of smaller seasonal dishes that focus on quality and purity of flavour.
For an even more elevated dining experience, they also have a curated selection of drinks to accompany their fine food.
“It was an absolutely amazing meal! Great service. Really delicious courses. The drink pairings were fantastic. Felt like royalty!” Aditi says on Google.
Perhaps you’re looking for something other than fine dining? If so, check out our articles on the best seafood restaurants in Canberra, the best pizza in Canberra, the best takeaways in Canberra, the best bistros in Canberra, the best restaurants in Woden and the best casual dining restaurants in Canberra.
Your experience with fine dining in Canberra
Thanks to our commenters who have provided insightful feedback. If you believe we have got it wrong, please let us know.
Have you had experience with any of the restaurants listed above? If so, share your feedback in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of restaurants does Canberra have?
Canberra is lucky enough to have a broad range of cuisines represented. Some of those in this list include Japanese, South East Asian, Turkish, Australia, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern. But there are plenty of restaurants beyond that, for a savvy gourmand looking to explore.
Are there any fine dining restaurants in Canberra with a view or unique setting?
There are a variety of restaurants in Canberra which have great views, some of which are listed above. The Boat House, for example, provides lake views for a calm, serene dining experience. While Koto Japanese Restaurant in Parkes offers a sophisticated, suave setting for a special dinner, with a Japanese influenced design and beautifully tended grounds.
What is the average cost of a fine dining experience in Canberra?
Fine dining has a reputation for being quite expensive but many restaurants are very reasonably priced, ensuring that diners can enjoy great cuisine without having to break the bank. A great restaurant will have a menu available online so that you can compare prices and figure out what is best for your budget. We recommend budgeting around $150 to $200 per person.
Do I need to book in advance for fine dining in Canberra?
While many fine dining restaurants will accept walk-ins, it's always best to call ahead or book online. Most fine dining restaurants place a greater focus on service and devote resources to developing a good booking system. Many fine dining restaurants have limited seating or even set tasting schedules which necessitate booking. If you have set plans to accommodate, it's best to book.
Do fine dining restaurants in Canberra offer vegetarian or vegan options?
A lot of fine dining restaurants in Canberra do offer vegetarian or vegan options. Given the large demand for vegan and vegetarian cuisine in Canberra, most fine dining restaurants will offer some options that cater to that need. Other restaurants even specialise in vegan friendly food, such as Rebel Rebel in Acton.
