Australian Capital Territory

Busy, lively bars in Australian Capital Territory

Full rooms, loud music and a queue at the bar — the places with an actual atmosphere.

How this list is built: Bars, wine bars and cocktail bars whose reviews describe a lively room. Ranked by how well each venue fits, not by payment — MenuMap does not sell placement.

43 venues

Bar Rochford

CanberraPrice level 2 of 4

Bar, with bbq, ice cream and oysters on the menu.

BarLively

Orecchiette, Pumpkin, Ricotta, Chilli, Amaretti$34

Hippo Co

CanberraPrice level 4 of 4

Cocktail bar, with wine and whisky behind the counter.

Cocktail barLively

Sparkling$12

Midnight Bar

BraddonPrice level 4 of 4

Bakery bar, with small plates, oysters and salad on the menu and most dishes $6 to $28.

BarLively

Beetroot & pomelo tartare with horseradish cream (V)$18

The Duxton

O'ConnorPrice level 3 of 4

Cocktail bar, with salad, seafood and chips on the menu and most dishes $13 to $30.

Cocktail barCasualLively

& Walnut salad (V)$24

Canberra Bar & Grill

GreenwayPrice level 2 of 4

Seafood cocktail bar, with breakfast, eggs and seafood on the menu and most dishes $4 to $5.50.

Cocktail barLively

Smoked Salmon$5.50

Akiba

CanberraPrice level 4 of 4

Seafood cocktail bar, with small plates, bbq and dumplings on the menu.

Cocktail barLively

Charcoal Roasted Edamame$9

Highball

CanberraPrice level 2 of 4

Cocktail bar. Open five days a week, until 3am on Friday nights.

Cocktail barLively

Contentious Character

Kingston

Wine bar. Open four days a week, until 10pm on Sundays.

Wine barCosyLively

Joe's Bar

GriffithPrice level 4 of 4

Italian bar, with pizza, chips and pasta on the menu and most dishes $12 to $25.

BarLivelyRomantic

Margherita$25

The Howling Moon

BraddonPrice level 3 of 4

Bar. Open seven days, until 11pm on Fridays. Reviewers mention big groups, birthdays and functions.

BarGood for groupsLively

Chop Chop Dining Japanese Restaurant

CanberraPrice level 4 of 4

Japanese bar. Open seven days.

BarLively

Loquita

CanberraPrice level 2 of 4

Bar, with bbq, chips and seafood on the menu.

Bar

0% Tommy’s Margarita$16

Amici Wine Bar & Deli

CanberraPrice level 4 of 4

Cafe wine bar, with pizza, chips and salad on the menu and most dishes $4 to $26. Reviewers mention coming for brunch or breakfast.

Wine bar

Margherita (V)$22

Public

GriffithPrice level 2 of 4

Cocktail bar, with burgers, pasta and rice bowls on the menu.

Cocktail bar

Public Burger$18

Mul Chowk Kitchen, Canberra

MawsonPrice level 2 of 4

Bar, with curry, dumplings and noodles on the menu.

Bar

Goat CurryNot listed

Cornerstone Pub

GungahlinPrice level 2 of 4

Cocktail bar, with pizza and bbq on the menu.

Cocktail bar

Hartogs Cabernet Merlot$5

No.10 Restaurant + Bar Belconnen

BelconnenPrice level 3 of 4

Bar, with beer and wine behind the counter.

Bar

James Boag Light /$9

Wilma

CanberraPrice level 4 of 4

Cocktail bar. Open seven days, until 1am on Saturday nights.

Cocktail bar

Naadam Mongolian Restaurant

PhillipPrice level 4 of 4

Bar. Open six days a week.

Bar

Onzieme

KingstonPrice level 4 of 4

Wine bar

Wine Room

BraddonPrice level 4 of 4

Wine bar. Open six days a week, until 10pm on Tuesdays.

Wine bar

White Rabbit Cocktail Room

CanberraPrice level 4 of 4

Cocktail bar, with chips, dessert and sandwiches on the menu.

Cocktail bar

W/ Aioli$14

Capital Brewing Co - Airport Taproom

MajuraPrice level 2 of 4

Bar. Open seven days.

Bar

Kivotos

BraddonPrice level 4 of 4

Greek wine bar, with seafood, salad and small plates on the menu.

Wine bar

Taramosalata$14

Clover Dining

CanberraPrice level 4 of 4

Cocktail bar. Open seven days.

Cocktail bar

Lunetta Trattoria

Red HillPrice level 4 of 4

Italian cocktail bar. Open five days a week, until 10pm on Sundays.

Cocktail bar

Kokomo's

Canberra

Cocktail bar

Sideway

Canberra

Bar

Casey Jones Pub

CaseyPrice level 2 of 4

Cocktail bar, with small plates on the menu.

Cocktail bar

Join Our TeamNot listed

Two Before Ten Greenway

GreenwayPrice level 2 of 4

Wine bar. Open seven days.

Wine bar

88mph

CanberraPrice level 2 of 4

Cocktail bar. Open four days a week, until 4am on Wednesday nights.

Cocktail bar

Luna

CanberraPrice level 3 of 4

Bar. Open four days a week, until 3am on Sunday nights.

Bar

The Muesli Bar

Braddon

Bar. Open five days a week.

Bar

Blackbird bar

CanberraPrice level 2 of 4

Cocktail bar. Open three days a week, until 3am on Friday nights.

Cocktail bar

Home Brew Cafe & Bar

Wright

Bar

Chalisa Indian Restaurant

GreenwayPrice level 2 of 4

Indian bar. Open seven days.

Bar

Mezzalira Italian Restaurant

CanberraPrice level 4 of 4

Italian wine bar. Open five days a week, until 10pm on Saturdays.

Wine bar

Leyla Bar

BartonPrice level 4 of 4

Bar. Open five days a week, until 11pm on Fridays.

Bar

CURIOSA Wine Bar

CanberraPrice level 4 of 4

Wine bar. Open five days a week, until 10pm on Sundays.

Wine bar

Speaker's Corner Bar

YarralumlaPrice level 4 of 4

Bar. Open seven days, until midnight on Friday nights.

Bar

Brew Nation

CanberraPrice level 1 of 4

Bar. Open six days a week, until midnight on Friday nights.

Bar

Capital Wines

Hall

Wine bar

Trevino's Restaurant Gold Creek

NichollsPrice level 2 of 4

Bar, with salad, chips and burgers on the menu and most dishes $3 to $45. Reviewers mention the view.

Bar

From the 19th Grill$45