Checking in
Breakfast
Leaveyourslippersonandenjoy
a relaxedcomplimentarybreakfast
atthehotel,ortakea shortstroll
toMorningGlory– a contemporary
cafésetina warehouse-stylespace.
Here,you’llfindunexpectedAsian
twistsonbreakfastclassics,such
asa baconandeggrollfeaturing
charsiu-glazedbaconandkewpie
mayo,andsoft-boiledeggswith
kaya toast.morning-glory.com.auLunch
SundaylunchatPilot.inAinslie
is elevatedtonewheightswithits
$70setmenu.Youmightexpectto
seea cold-smokedchookexpertly
stuffedwithmushroomduxelles,
accompaniedbyglossygravyand
steamedwhitebread,similarto
a baobun.Thediningroomis bright
yetintimate,andthewinelistputs
a focusontheregionwitha drinks
pairing available.pilotrestaurant.comDinner
GoodvibesflowatBarRochford. Hiddenaway
intheiconicMelbourneBuilding,thisnaturalwine
andcocktailbaris morethanjustthat.Startwith
a plateofcharredpadronpeppers,labneand
a generoussprinklingofchickensalt,orliverparfait
withplumjamandwaffles,thenmovetosomething
moresubstantial,suchasbraisedshort-ribwith
onionandbeermustard,orhouse-madepasta.
Perchatthebarandwatchcocktailmakingin
actionorcosyupin a candle-litboothandletthe
sounds of vinyl sooth your soul.barrochford.com●EXPERIENCE
Forpicture-perfectviewsofCanberra
anditsnationalattractions,walk,cycle
ordrivetotheMountAinslieLookout
andsoakuppanoramicviewsacross
LakeBurleyGriffintoParliamentHouse
andtheexpansiveBrindabellamountain
range.WalterBurleyGriffin,whowon
theinternationaldesigncompetitionfor
thecapitalin 1912,describedthesite
asan“irregularamphitheatre”.Byfoot,
theround-triponlytakesanhour,but
willgiveyoutheopportunitytoseean
abundanceofwildflowersandnative
animals.Mount Ainslie is open daily.EAT
Popyourartglassesonandmeanderthroughthe
impressivehallsattheNationalGalleryofAustralia.
SeethefamousBluePolesabstractexpressionistpainting
byJacksonPollock,SidneyNolan’sNedKellyseries,and
thevastAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandercollection,which
comprisesmorethan7,500worksandis thelargestin the
world.Stepoutsideandexplorethemanicuredgardens
tofindAmericanartistJamesTurrell’sWithinWithout
Skyspace– a viewingchamberthataffectsthewayyou
perceivethesky.It’smostdramaticandcomplexatdawn
MUST-DOand dusk, marking the transition between night and day.Clockwisefromtopleft:
A cosyspotinOvoloNishi’s
foyer;Pilot’sroastchicken;
a modernensuitedesignat
OvoloNishi;BarRochford’s
parfaitandedgyinteriors.
Opposite: Ovolo Nishi.DRINK
CapitalBrewing
CoinFyshwick
is equalparts
productionand
hospitality,with
a breweryout
thebackandbar
upfront.Find
a sunnyspotin
thebeergarden
andsamplethe
craft-beerrange
orbooka tour
ofthebrewery.
capitalbrewing.coGOURMET TRAVELLER 119WORDS KARLIE VERKERK. PHOTOGRAPHY ANTHONY BASHEER (OVOLO NISHI), MARK ROPER (BAR ROCHFORD) & ASHLEY ST GEORGE (PILOT).