Woden is a large district of Canberra, located
15 minutes south of Canberra city. It is a popular area in Canberra to live, as it is close to the city and has
twelve leafy suburbs within its borders. Just like all areas of Canberra, locals appreciate a friendly café with good coffee to start the day - and everyone has a favourite. For people who work in Woden in particular, a good takeaway coffee outlet can mean the difference between a good day and a
great day!
Although there are many café options around the suburbs of Woden, the following cafes have become my personal favourites when visiting the area. Do you have a favourite cafe in Woden? If you live, work, or visit the Woden area and have a favourite locals spot that you keep returning to, please leave a comment at the top of this article and share your local's tip. Here are some to kick off the suggestions - why don't you check them out for yourself and see which ones you want to go back to? You may find you may want to go back to them
all!
Fresh and colourful at Fox and Bow. Image: Original photos from Fox and Bow Facebook
Fox and Bow is a colourful café which can be found at the
Farrer local shops, south of Woden Town Centre. This popular café is a tucked away local favourite with fresh and creative food, delicious coffee and a funky and relaxed vibe each weekend. They have also recently opened up a new café called
Manolo's in Phillip (where
Quizine used to be), to provide the Fox and Bow creative touch to the industrial suburb. See
here for details and
here for a full article.
Space Kitchen is one of my personal favourite cafes in the whole of Canberra. If you stand outside and just look at the façade (see photo below), you know that you are in for a unique experience. The cafe and restaurant is situated under an ornate car park, so when you walk inside you will find zebra crossings on the concrete floors, carpark pillars and roadway signage to keep with the theme. Combine this with an open kitchen, warm furnishings and even warmer staff, it is a café that you want to return to time and time again. The food is - excuse the pun - out of this world! See
here for details and
here for a full article.
Visit Space Kitchen for a unique experience in Woden
Creative, colourful and fun at Space Kitchen
is a popular cafe located inside Westfield shopping centre in Woden. They use local coffee company
Ona and have friendly service and a variety of toasties and cakes to enjoy with your coffee. The baristas behind the counter take the coffee very seriously, which may have something to do with the owner
Sasa Sestic being crowned the World Barista Champion in Seattle in 2015. See
here for details and
here for a full article.
The Shed is an open-style café on the first floor of the Woden Westfield shopping centre and it is always full of happy diners, relaxing and enjoying the food. The staff are friendly, the service is quick and the food is reasonably priced and exceptional every time. Ensure you allow some time to just relax, rest your feet after shopping and enjoy one of the best coffees in Woden. See
here for details and
here for a full article.
Ona coffee and passionate baristas at Espresso Room, Woden
The Shed - an easy place to rest your weary feet after shopping
in Curtin is one of the most popular cafes in the Woden area, with delicious food options and coffee which they roast and create themselves. Sit outside in the sunshine and watch the world go by - doggies are most welcome. See
here for details and
here for a full article.
Lava is a small café, located in the industrial suburb of Phillip. It is a popular coffee outlet and café for local workers and also for people who are waiting for their cars at local mechanics. There is a large communal table near the front door which captures the winter sun and is perfect for reading the paper with a cup of steaming hot coffee. They also have another outlet in Weston. See
here for details and
here for a full article.
As there are many government buildings in the Woden Town Centre, smaller coffee outlets can also be found in tucked-away positions to cater for their caffeine needs. When you find a good coffee outlet or café that is close to work, or where you frequent, it becomes the "go-to" place for birthday celebrations, meetings and lunchtime catch-ups with friends. It can end up feeling like an extension of your workplace. Where is your favourite café in Woden? Feel free to add your comment and share your discoveries. You can never try too many...
...especially when the coffee is this good! Red Brick Espresso, Curtin
Enjoy the winter sun at Lava, Phillip
