Via Dolce

Via Dolce is a long-established cafe on the corner of Bunda Street and Garema Place in Civic, Canberra, serving an all-day menu shaped by Italian and broader European cafe culture. Established in 2013, it offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and the simpler pleasure of coffee and cake, making it suitable for a relaxed catch-up, a meal at different times of day or a solo stop in the city centre.

The venue’s strongest point is its house-made sweet offering. Its display features handmade cakes, slices, tarts, biscotti and cannoli, prepared daily by the in-house dessert, gelato and pastry team. Whole cakes and custom cakes are also available to order, while gelato and sorbet provide another option for something sweet. The emphasis on preparing the range on site gives Via Dolce a clear point of difference from a cafe that simply buys in its desserts.

The savoury menu continues the Italian focus, with house-made specialities including ravioli, gnocchi, meatballs and lasagne. A distinctive option highlighted by the venue is its pizza bread bowl, where pasta is served inside a freshly baked bowl made from wood-fired pizza dough. The site also presents Via Dolce as a place for classic Italian food alongside coffee, desserts and gelato, so diners can keep things light or settle in for a more substantial meal.

There is a distinctly European feel to the experience, from the Italian cafe style to the attention given to presentation, service and packaging. Via Dolce describes itself as a family-run Canberra hospitality business, with a focus on warm, friendly and efficient service. Its central location and broad offering make it a practical choice for visitors and locals alike, whether you are meeting friends, sharing a cake, ordering a celebration dessert or looking for an Italian-style meal in Civic.