B-Side

B-Side is a daytime eatery, café and wine bar at the northern end of Lonsdale Street in Braddon, across from Haig Park. Opened in May 2023, it combines all-day food with coffee, a considered wine selection and a setting shaped by good music and an easygoing approach to service. It is a walk-in venue, with no reservations, making it suitable for an unplanned breakfast, lunch or coffee stop in Canberra’s inner north.

Coffee is a central part of the offering. B-Side uses beans roasted by local roaster Intra Specialty Coffee, with a rotating selection of single-origin coffees alongside espresso-based drinks, batch brew, cold brew and pour-over options. The venue specifically highlights its milk-based coffee, while the drinks menu also includes chai, matcha, hot chocolate, iced options and tea. For something beyond coffee, there are simple spritzes and other drinks, with a small but varied wine list covering local and international producers and different winemaking styles.

The food menu changes with the seasons and takes its cues from European bistro dining. The all-day selection includes familiar café choices as well as more substantial plates, with options such as yoghurt with mango, red kiwi and house granola; a breakfast roll with sausage or mushroom, egg and cheese; scrambled eggs with chives and sourdough; dumpling salad with tahini, radish and cucumber; pesto pasta with cavolo nero and stracciatella; and a grilled cheese toastie served with tomato soup. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free or gluten-free-optional choices are marked on the menu, although guests should check the current details with staff as dishes rotate.

B-Side suits solo coffee drinkers, casual catch-ups and relaxed daytime meals. It is wheelchair accessible, has bike racks outside and sits within walking distance of a tram stop on Northbourne Avenue, with parking available on Lonsdale and Girrahween streets as well as nearby Wilson car parks. On Sundays, the Braddon markets bring local producers and suppliers to the park opposite. Evening service is seasonal rather than standard daily trading, generally taking the form of pop-up events with local suppliers and venues, so social media is the best place to check for updates.