Canberra Nightlife: The Best Bars & Live Music

Canberra's after-dark scene is more compact and more interesting than its reputation suggests. The drinking and live music venues cluster across a handful of walkable pockets — Civic in the centre, the bar-lined strip of Braddon, the brewery warehouses out at Fyshwick, and the lake-adjacent precincts of Kingston and Dickson. Whether you're after a quiet cocktail, a pint poured at the source, or a night of live performance, the options span small hidden bars through to large concert venues.

Why Canberra delivers

For a night out, the appeal is the variety packed into short distances. Civic and Braddon put bars like Loquita, The Pearl Hotel, Molly, Paloma's, Hippo Co, Devil You Don't, Rizla and Volstead Repeal within easy walking range of each other, so you can move between venues without much fuss. Beer drinkers can head to Fyshwick for breweries BentSpoke Brewing Co. and Capital Brewing Co, while live music ranges from intimate to grand across Canberra Theatre Centre, Llewellyn Hall and The Baso. Classic pub nights are covered by The Old Canberra Inn in Dickson and Caribou Kingston.

Highlights

• Bar hopping in Braddon, with Rizla and Volstead Repeal a short stroll apart
• Cocktails and small bars in Civic, including Molly, Paloma's, Hippo Co and Devil You Don't
• Brewery sessions in Fyshwick at BentSpoke Brewing Co. and Capital Brewing Co
• Live music across a spread of venues — Canberra Theatre Centre, Llewellyn Hall and The Baso
• A traditional pub night at The Old Canberra Inn in Dickson or Caribou Kingston

Our top picks

Hand-picked from our highest-scoring listings:

• Loquita — Civic
• The Pearl Hotel — Civic
• BentSpoke Brewing Co. — Fyshwick
• The Old Canberra Inn — Dickson
• Caribou Kingston — Kingston
• Rizla — Braddon
• Volstead Repeal — Braddon
• Canberra Theatre Centre — Civic
• Capital Brewing Co — Fyshwick
• The Baso Canberra — Belconnen

Explore more

Browse all bars, pubs, live music, breweries in Canberra.

Frequently asked questions

Where are Canberra's bars concentrated?

Many of the listed bars sit in Civic and Braddon. Civic venues include Loquita, The Pearl Hotel, Molly, Paloma's, Hippo Co and Devil You Don't, while Braddon has Rizla and Volstead Repeal.

Where can I find breweries in Canberra?

Both BentSpoke Brewing Co. and Capital Brewing Co are located in Fyshwick.

What are the options for live music?

The guide lists three live music venues: Canberra Theatre Centre in Civic, Llewellyn Hall in Woden and The Baso in Belconnen.

Are there traditional pubs for a night out?

Yes. The Old Canberra Inn is in Dickson and Caribou Kingston is in Kingston.

Can I walk between venues on a night out?

The clustering of bars in Civic and Braddon makes it practical to move between several venues on foot in those areas. Brewery and live music venues are spread across other suburbs, so plan transport for those.