By day, Canberra is a whirring hub of politics, commerce, industry and culture, drawing a diverse collection of people from around Australia and the world. You’ll find the same buzzingly eclectic crowd gathered come evening too, trading their office chairs, tools and back-benches for a stool, chair or booth at one of the city’s many incredible bars.

No one bar can appeal to everyone, but Bar Rochford must come pretty close. The bright, white-walled space is dotted with vintage accents, from the gold-rimmed booth tables to those ambient lamps hanging over the bar, all soundtracked by an appropriate blend of beats and classic jazz. You’ll find the same mix of old-world and new in the drinks list, the razor-sharp bar team enthusiastic about talking up (and pouring) their favourite wines and cocktails. And while Rochford – largely responsible for Canberra’s current bar boom – has become an institution for either a pre or post-dinner tipple, locals know to stick around; co-chefs Belinda Barrett and Josh Lundy are pushing some of the most delicious plates in town.

The address tells you almost everything you need to know about this beloved-but-secretive speakeasy and jazz bar (other than where to find it…); in place of a street number, Google sends you simply to ‘Wooden door’. Look to the website for further clues and you’ll find only coordinates. Persist with the hunt and you’ll be rewarded with a killer drink from some of the ACT’s finest mixologists, a wealth of rare and intriguing inebriants backlit on the bar behind them. Park yourself at a table for an evening of jazz while you sip, or take your liquor knowledge up a notch with one of Molly’s regular boozy masterclasses.

Canberra might be considered a ‘cool climate’ city, but that’s news to this bright bar that shares a laneway with Rochford and Molly. Named for the flight that would transport wealthy, thirsty Americans to Cuba during prohibition, Highball Express’s sunny disposition is manifested both in the South American-inspired fit-out and in the summery cocktail list that boasts mai tais, daiquiris, punch bowls and other warm weather delights. Drop by on a Tuesday night when things heat up even more with Latin dancing classes. The Highball Express will be closing for renovations from February 20.

Canberra has quietly become one of the country’s most celebrated wine-making regions, so it makes sense that the city also boasts some top-notch wine bars. Parlour is the favourite among locals, filling a beautifully historic building in inner-city Acton with an effusive mix of local and international wines complimented by some stunning Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-inspired share plates. If you’re wined-out, Parlour’s tidy cocktail list is an ode to the classics, offering their take on a paloma, negroni and an olive leaf gin martini with French vermouth spritz.

Marble-walled, leather-boothed and candle-lit, High Jinks’ name might imply a touch of cheekiness, but the experience is all class. Cocktails are the main event here, taking their inspiration from sources both classic (the Ella Fitzgerald) and the more contemporary (the Yuzoolander), but the all-local wine list is just as worthy a reason to make your way down the stairs to this subterranean boozer. Charcuterie boards and pizzas are on offer throughout the week, but it’s Wednesday to Saturday nights that the kitchen fires up properly, dispensing a concise but punchy selection of tapas to help the medicine go down.