Author Josh Hortinela's Guide to Romance in the Capital. 

Day 1:

Bar Rochford

Day 2:

Haig Park Markets

Local Press Cafe

Love Boats

The Book Cow

Lava Coffee

National Portrait Gallery

Lazy Su

Gelato Messina

Day 3:

High Road Cafe

Australian National Botanic Gardens

Palace Electric Cinema - New Acton

Akiba

I kicked off day two at the Haig Park Village Markets. Stalls lined the pathway in the middle of the park, full of fresh produce, handmade goods, flowers and pastries. I recommend grabbing yourself a pastry and a coffee, before settling onto a bench underneath the shade of the trees. I enjoyed a raspberry and cinnamon donut, along with an iced long black, sitting in the sunshine as a busker played an acoustic guitar rendition of “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac. It was a peaceful start to the morning.

Afterwards, I explored the Kingston Foreshore neighbourhood. This waterfront boardwalk has a wide selection of cafes, bars and restaurants directly underneath modern apartment buildings. It was hard to resist the beautiful interior of Local Press Café. A high ceiling, hanging plants and plenty of natural light created a welcoming environment that complimented the café’s focus on healthy wholefoods. I ordered the avocado toast, which was fresh with the sprinkle of balsamic giving it an irresistible bright flavour.

I spent a good hour on the water, before returning to the foreshore and heading into the heart of Kingston to see the shops they had to offer. Readers will enjoy The Book Cow, a local independent bookshop where you can spend ages on your own, browsing the shelves. There’s an extensive historical fiction and crime section, as well as a whole area dedicated to children’s books out the back. I finished browsing and needed an afternoon pick me up, so I crossed the road towards Lava Coffee, where there was a wide and open refined minimalist interior, allowing customers an opportunity to relax and breathe while enjoying their specialty coffee.

I couldn’t come to Canberra and pass on an opportunity to visit the National Portrait Gallery. The exhibition features a wide selection of portraits of figures that have made an impact on Australia history and culture. I found the Power Suits display particular interesting, as it uses portraits to analyse how suits have the ability to tell us about the power and authority of its subject. As a book lover, I also dropped by Andy Griffiths exhibition. This included items such as books, toys and music to showcase what inspired the author’s creative process over the years. Free to the public, the gallery was a wonderful place to spend an afternoon.

I started my final day at a local favourite: High Road Café and Restaurant. I was struck by how stunning the space was. Wood panelled table and chairs complimented the cream-coloured walls, creating a modern and aesthetically pleasing interior. If you are looking for a stunning café to impress a date, or would like to treat yourself to somewhere refined, this is the place for it. Ona Coffee provides the blend for in house drinks, with my iced long black featuring hints of chocolate and hazelnut. I ordered a bacon and egg roll, which was beautifully presented, and the inclusion of Swiss cheese added a tasty buttery tang to it that I’m still thinking about days later.

Following a satisfying breakfast, I made the most of the warm weather and blue skies with a visit to the Australian National Botanic Gardens. It’s hard to believe that such a peaceful oasis is located a stone’s throw away from centre of the city. There is so much of Australia’s native plants to be discovered here, and I found myself captivated by the tranquillity of Rainforest Gully. Plants native to Australia’s rainforests provide boardwalks with plenty of shade. As the soothing sound of trickling water passes along streams, it’s the ideal oasis to stretch one’s legs.

They specialise in Asian barbecue and Sake. All dishes are designed for sharing, so it’s certainly a great romantic spot. Since I was on my own, the staff were more than accommodating to ensure the dishes were suitable for one person. Everything I ordered came from my waiter’s recommendations. Their pork belly bun is a crowd favourite, and it was worth all the hype. The char siu pork had a mouth-watering sweet and sour zest to it, well balanced with the Asian slaw and pickles mixed together in a bao bun. I followed it up with some pork and chicken dumplings. Topped with truffled Szechuan and a crunchy chilli paste, the dumplings simmered in the broth. There was also the beef short rib as a larger plate. The beef was slow cooked for twelve hours in tamarind caramel and served with shiso chimichurri. I suggest having this dish with a side of rice, so that you’ll be able to enjoy every drop of the succulent broth.

With a satisfied stomach, and a smile on my face from all the exploring, I finished up at Akiba and prepared to board my bus ride back to Sydney. As sad as I was to leave the city, one thing was clear: Canberra is home to first-class hospitality venues and outdoor experiences that make it an exemplary place for a romantic date, catch-up with an old friend, or time just for yourself.