Author Joshua 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 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. A busy morning market might not be the first place that comes to mind when looking for somewhere romantic, but Haig Park Village Markets proves otherwise. I recommend grabbing a pastry (two, so you can share) and a coffee, while settling onto a bench underneath the shade of the trees. Sometimes, romance isn’t about the grand gesture. There’s no airport chase or epic professions of love. Sometimes, romance is about the quieter moments. Like sharing a sweet treat in the sun with someone you care about.

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. There’s a casual flavour in the air here, setting the scene for a relaxed date. First dates can be daunting, especially when you want to find somewhere that will both impress someone while not being over the top. Local Press Café strikes that balance, taking the pressure off so you can focus on letting the conversation flow. 

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. Worried that a romantic conversation might run dry over a drink? There’s no need to fret. Let the romance of being in a bookshop take the heat off. Glance around the shelves and share your favourite books with one another. Perhaps you can take a recommendation each. If the heart-to-heart about books is going well, cross the road to Lava Coffee, where you can continue the discussion over their speciality coffee within the café’s wide and open minimalist interior. It’s a great place to breathe and have a relaxed chat.

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, these exhibitions spark curiosity, fitting for a romantic outing where you can share a connection about art with your date. Think of a visit to the gallery as a great ice breaker. There are countless portraits to admire and time seemed to fall away as I explored each of the halls.

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. It’s refined enough to feel special for a romantic breakfast, while not overwhelming you with fine dining or a fancy set up. 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.

Afterwards, 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. If you are someone that prefers to do an activity on a date, this attraction will sprinkle in a dash of adventure into your day. 

The tasty, shared dishes, kitschy interior and excellent cocktail will do most of the work in providing you with a charming first date. Start by ordering the pork belly bun, it’s a crowd favourite. 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. Your date will no doubt admire your knack for knowing where to find food that’s worth the hype. There’s also the 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. If the showstopping drinks and food at Akiba aren’t enough to secure you a second date, maybe the person you took there isn’t destined to be with you. Yes. Akiba is that good.  

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. I might have been travelling alone, but the romance of the city was not hard to miss. Love was most definitely in the air.