Akiba

Akiba is an Asian restaurant and cocktail bar in Civic, Canberra, drawing on the informal energy of food halls and dining rooms across East Asia. The room is presented as lively and eclectic, with neon lights and an electric atmosphere, making it a natural choice for a social meal rather than a quiet, formal dinner. The venue also hosts functions and events, giving groups another reason to consider it for a gathering.

The food centres on Asian barbecue, raw dishes and modern dim sum, with cooking over wood and charcoal bringing a smoky edge to local produce. The menu moves from raw bar plates such as kingfish with coconut, nam jim and coriander, and tuna tartare with ginger ponzu, jalapeño mayo and nori salt, to snacks, buns, dumplings and larger plates. Standouts include the miso dengaku eggplant, sweet and sticky squid, Cone Bay barramundi with miso lemon butter, and beef short rib with tamarind caramel and shiso chimichurri. There are also clearly marked vegan and vegetarian choices, alongside a broad range of dietary menus.

For groups, Akiba offers seasonal banquet-style set menus designed for sharing. The options bring together dishes such as kingfish sashimi, pork belly buns, dumplings, eggplant, fried rice and beef short rib, so they suit diners who want a coordinated meal rather than choosing every dish individually. The restaurant’s own group menus and functions offering make it particularly relevant for celebrations, work gatherings and meals with friends.

Drinks are a substantial part of the experience. Akiba lists sake, Japanese whisky, cocktails, beer and wine, with cocktails ranging from the sake-based Akiba Spritz to drinks featuring gin, rum, yuzu, lychee and passionfruit. The venue also offers a sake flight introducing four different styles, and says its sake selection is the largest in Australia. Overall, Akiba is best suited to diners looking for bold Asian flavours, shared plates and a fast-paced bar atmosphere in central Canberra, with enough dietary and banquet options to accommodate a varied group.