Canberra has a reputation for not being much of a pub town. But while it’s true that you won’t find the same wealth of historic front-bar-and-bistro institutions that are rife around other parts of the country, the capital has no shortage of convivial places to stop in for a parma and a pint, or something a little more refined. Canberra’s pubs, though you might have to look a little harder for them, range from the historic to the dazzlingly modern, but the one thing they all have in common is a good time. Whether you’re looking for a place to catch up with friends over a bistro meal, somewhere to watch the footy with a few beers, or a bench to settle into for a sprawling Sunday session, these are Canberra’s top pubs. Words by Tristan Lutze.

Public

Walls lined with subway tiles, sunshine beaming through skylights, planters overflowing with ferns, and a hedge-lined beer garden out front; Public feels as much like a garden party as it does a pub. Stationed on a corner of Manuka’s busy Franklin Street, the sunny mood is perfect for sharing a weekend round of margs and a plate of oysters. After something more substantial? The summery vibe is also reflected on the menu, where chunky chicken schnitzels and a ripper of a burger share billing with lobster sliders, house-made gnocchi and a killer nasi goreng.

Kingston Hotel

In a town with a shortage of historic pubs, the Kingston Hotel stands as an exception. Opened in 1936, the ‘kingo’ is the kind of dark-carpeted, brick-walled, timber-lined institution Australians have a deep, inherent love for. There’s plenty of old-world charm in the bookshelves, the pool tables, the two bistros and the choose-your-own-steak meat cabinet, but don’t mistake classic for dull; the Kingston’s all about a good time.

Assembly

Live music, DJ sets, huge sporting event viewing parties; Assembly calls itself ‘the people’s pub’, and it’s a moniker backed by the crowds assembled in its leafy courtyard every day of the week. While those looking for a feed will find the usual line-up of burgers, salads and pub classics on the menu of this popular hang on buzzy Braddon’s main drag, it’s the charry meats coming off the cherrywood-fuelled grill – like the Thai-inspired crying tiger beef – that turn this into a proper party. Assemble before midday and get stuck into the breakfast menu, paired perfectly with a bloody mary, espresso martini or a carafe of strawberry- spiked mimosas.

Fenway Public House

Though only three years old, Fenway Public House has quickly become a beacon to those that find themselves in Canberra’s southern suburbs. It might be inspired in name and green hue by Fenway Park in Boston (the baseball stadium’s left field wall is nicknamed the ‘green monster’, hence the Munsters-themed artworks lining the venue’s walls), but this is a playfully borderless experience. Sure, there are hints of Americana across the menu by way of Buffalo wings and ribs, but the reinvention of a classic cob loaf as a pizza, stuffed with garlic, bacon, spring onions and plenty of cheese, is pure Aussie innovation.