Canberra's Top Ten

1

 

Former winner of Best Bar in Canberra, the owners have kept the mix of live jazz music, tune spinning DJ's and drinking discoveries expertly balanced like a perfectly poured cocktail. The Hippo Lounge Bar is for the hipsters - slide into the sea of red leather ottomans, surrounded by low lit Buddha's to join the cool crowd.

2

 

Smack in the middle of campus, this place is not just a bar - although, depending on the night you visit you may think you've stepped into a toga party - but a living, breathing testament to all things music related.
Almost any night of the week you'll see live music, and hold out for when the big national international names gets the crowd and the coins. Nirvana and Beastie Boys have long gone, Cat Empire and Gyroscope are on their way. In between sharking around a pool table, catch the 4 6pm Mon-Fri happy hour and if you re not still a student, remember the good times when you were.

3

 

Pretty young things and politicians. Sounds like an odd mix, but it works, just ask Bill Clinton. The plugged-in set have made this their choice du jour for the Kingston area; b bar is slick as it is popular. Grab some funky house beats Thursday through Saturday or mid week just soak up the atmosphere. If the surrounds don't intoxicate you, the heavy-on-vodka drinks list will.

4

 

Forget just keeping your finger on the pulse, your entire body will be on the pulse when you hit the reverberating dance floor at lot 33. This is a destination for Canberra barflies who want house, house and more house.

Expect electro tunes and dirty house on Friday, funky house and dance beats on Saturday and smoother lounge house on Sundays. There's even snacks such as tacos and nachos for the dancing packs who have worked up the munchies.

5

 

Tongue and Groove could be a Sydney or Melbourne bar, sporting industrial-style chic with a laid back vibe. Unveiled last year, it's proved popular with the patrons out for some subtle beats and tasty treats. Start with a signature lime and chilli martini, but don't stop at the alcohol list, the food, such as French inspired slow cooked lamb, isn't shabby either.
If you have a thirst for calories as much as for a post-work ale, then try the Pizookie., a pizza sized warm cookie with vanilla bean ice cream covered in white chocolate with peanut butter drizzles. Ouch.

6

 

Many a patron has been attracted by the blinking lights of the Lighthouse on the shores of Lake Ginnindera, lured in to take shelter at its bar. A student haunt on cheap nights, packed with locals on others, people flow on in for the drink specials, views and the fish'n'chips (of course).
When the summer weather blisters, crowds throng the beer garden, in the cooler months, work up a sweat on the mechanical bull or dancing to DJ's tunes. Anytime of year, take part in what the management say are the "biggest Wednesday nights in Canberra".

7

 

With five levels, cheap drinks and basement bargained price food, university students in this town are living well. It is, without doubt, the largest pub in Canberra. Choose from the downstairs bar, a pool bar, a lounge, a grill floor and the top level dance floor. And it's not just uni students getting into the mix, all walks of life are finding their favourite floor.

8

 

"The Moose is loose!" used to be the catch cry of the day in 1990 when The Moose was filled with cut-loose uni students and young ADFA cadets. A 2002 fire stopped the fun, but it was just a pause between dance tunes, the Moose rose from the ashes literally.
Now spanning four levels, it's back bigger and better than ever and lads with military haircuts and undergrads still reign supreme here, particularly during Thursday's 'Hour of Power' when drinks cost only $3 between 9-2am.