A Local’s Perfect Day in Canberra: Hany Ezzat

Year round, my perfect day starts outdoors, under Canberra’s wide-open sky. Even in winter, I’ll throw on a jacket and soak up the crisp air – just as long as it’s not raining. There’s something grounding about starting slow, letting the day breathe before it rushes in. For me, it’s all about balance: equal love for coffee and the outdoors. Canberrans have an extreme demand for really good coffee. People here drink two or three cups a day, and they want it quick, they want it excellent, and they want it at a high level. That pressure keeps us sharp and makes this city a coffee capital in its own right. Start at ONA Coffee House in Fyshwick – I’d show you how we roast and source coffee. ONA coffee is well renowned for winning many different coffee championships, bringing new techniques, and being at the forefront of pioneering all things in coffee so it’s the perfect place to start. Then head to The Cupping Room to try raspberry candy – a world barista championship winning milk coffee and brunch. After that, Redbrick Coffee City for Redbrick, another specialty coffee roasted in Canberra with natural light and amazing atmosphere. Then, Bedst – my current obsession – to experience black coffee brought in from around the globe, and read some interesting books, and Barrio in Braddon to round it out. Barrio is perfect for a cozy moment – I would recommend trying a batch brew there with a warm meal.has

You can touch every major roaster in Canberra in one morning. That’s the beauty of this city: everything’s close, and everything’s done at a high level. What excites me about the café scene in Canberra is the rise of signature drinks and matcha. We’re seeing cafés experiment with bold, creative flavours – Good Neighbour, Nichi, Highroad. There’s everything from floral infusions, crunchy nut shakes, different takes on matcha. It’s fun, it’s fresh, and I’d say it’s the next big thing for Canberra cafés.

As the sun dips, the evening is all about indulgence. If I had just one day left in Canberra, I’d chase a sunset at Mount Ainslie. That’s magic. Raku in the city centre is my go-to for dinner: flawless, consistent dishes, and impeccable service. They really look after you there. And no night is complete without a boogie and cocktail at Highball in the historic Melbourne building.