Pretty cool and trendy pub in Canberra. Came here for the weekend with some friends, two of which…read morehad been and raved about the cocktails. The cocktail menu was pretty extensive and every drink sounded amazing. They all cost $15 which isn't bad compared to drinks in Sydney. For my first round, I got the So Ho Lychee flavored drink - YUMMO! And the thing with the cocktails are, you can actually taste the alcohol, they don't skip. I tried my friend's Cherry Blossom drink, very yum and very strong! My next drink with the Japanese Geisha Drink which had midori and sparkling champagne - very tasty as well. Later in the evening, an R&B singer started performing and she was really talented. This is a very cool place to hang out and have a cocktail!

A true gem in Canberra. Great whiskey selection, friendly staff, I love the warm atmosphere of this…read moresmall upstairs speakeasy. I spent an evening drinking whisky, eating cheese and listening to jazz. Hard to beat. If you like whiskey or mixed drinks, this is the place to go. I'm an American and I arrived in Canberra on a Wednesday afternoon. The first thing I did when I got to my hotel was Google "Canberra jazz" and Hippo Bar was the top hit. It's located right in the heart of the city center, but its vibe is very different than the touristy stuff around it. It was dark and cozy with a film noir atmosphere. If a complex murder mystery had erupted in front of me, I would not have been surprised. They are skilled mixologists too. One bartender made a drink where he filled a rocks glass to the brim with water. Then half-filled a small brandy glass with some brown liquor, lit it on fire, began spinning the brandy glass on top of the water glass, then started shaking in something from what looked like a pepper shaker, causing sparks to fly within the brandy glass. He did this for a lot longer than I expected. It was quite a show. He finished by pouring the singed brown liquor into a new glass and grating what smelled like cinnamon on top. I was impressed. The only disappointments were the wine. I had two glasses to start and both choices were mediocre. They are clearly focused on mixed drinks and whiskey. The food choices were minimal as well. I enjoyed a cheese platter, but it wasn't a meal.

Great place to have a beer on a Friday night! The beer range is broad and changing every week,…read moreencouraging you to have a try and break out of your comfort zone. The live music is always easy listening and there is room to have a dance if you so feel the need. Also great range of meals and share plater options!

Beer is great, lots to choose from. Nice setting. Great…read moreatmosphere and music. Will go there again.

We made reservations on NYE for 5:00pm for 7 people. Our table was ready when we arrived. This was…read moreour first time here and we really enjoyed it! The decor inside was very cool & unique. There were heaps of beers to choose from. We ordered the fish tacos. They were DELICIOUS & full of flavor.

Ordered a pizza. Never got my pizza. Not sure what else to say. The beer was beer but I'd like to…read moreget the food I paid for, since the menu literally has one item.

No pictures please... Jeez... this place is an institution but I guess we are trying to keep it…read moreunderground. HA! That's a joke boy! Ranges from quiet place to tell stories with buddies and get smashed --to-- live band, rowdy, random girls kissing me, and pick up joint --to--Karokee --to-- Trivia. Not sure what Transit Bar is going to be when it grows up but I like it just the way it is.

Stopped in to Cicada Bar on our way home from a show at the Canberra Theatre Centre and SO glad we…read moredid. Peeking in through the windows, I was already obsessed with the stunning but somehow calming decor - lots of muted tones with metallic touches and towering floor to ceiling windows. Staff was so sweet and made some great recommendations. We started with classic cocktails - I had the Cicada Negroni made with strawberry infused gin, bitter aperitivo, and rosso vermouth, served perfectly over one of those massive square cubes that make any drink an experience. My partner had his standby of a dirty gin martini, and the bartender had a great suggestion for a new gin for him to try. Everything was so lovely. After lingering over the first round, we definitely wanted to stay longer so we ordered a bottle from their carefully curated sake menu. The "Soft & Heavenly" 2021 Asamai Shuzo from Akita lived up to its description, and came in the most gorgeous little carafe and cups. We lingered over that bottle for ages, but after the last sip we still didn't want to go home, so our awesome server and bartender recommended something a little different for our last round. The 2019 Kinoshita Shuzo from Kyoto was totally different and again "Massive & Mushroomy" was a perfect description. And again in an adorable and unique carafe! Service, drinks, and atmosphere were all fantastic - what a top notch spot in Canberra. So obsessed with Cicada Bar and keen to return!

Delicious drinks!! thank you to Bradley and Fraser making my fabulous drinks!! we will be back for…read morethe kind and funny bartenders!!`

The most vibrant and bustling restaurant and bar in Canberra. Atmosphere was not welcoming or a…read moreplace that you could take friends and enjoy. The staff were so incredibly busy, it took 30 minutes to order a simple soft drink and 20 minutes to get there. Food wasn't that great, but again the kitchen would have been under so much pressure. Which explains why the chefs over-cooked most of the dishes. The meat was dry when it came to our table. Interior decoration was nice and the staff were so kind and polite but again, understaffed and horrendously busy, especially on Friday night which was when we went there. Wouldn't recommend but if you love a loud and bustling atmosphere where there are lots of people, you would have a great night.

Good pizza except parm cheese shaker filled with salt ruined pie! Why would anyone, the…read morebartender, fill a shaker for cheese w salt!!!

We visited this establishment and were instantly greeted with exceptional service! We placed our…read moreorder at the bar and found a table out on the patio. Our service was fast and the food was great! Good atmosphere with several TVs hung to watch sports.

Finally made it to High Jinks after a few false starts when they were closed during their posted…read morehours. Frustrating but turned out to be worth the wait! We came just after 5pm on a Friday and it was already fairly busy. We got a table immediately with the caveat that there was a reservation 90 minutes later, which was fine with us. Most of the folks who stopped in after us either had reservations or were offered seats at the bar, so booking in advance is probably a good idea, looks like you can do it easily right on their website. The bar itself is located below ground, but decor is cute, typical speakeasy feel, warm and intimate. Service was friendly and professional. My partner had his typical dirty gin martini, and I tried the Nouveau Noir, a twist on an espresso martini with Grey Goose vodka, walnut extract, Cherry Heering, Mr Black amaro, and cold drip coffee. We also tried their cheeseboard which featured brie, manchego, goat cheese, dried figs, muscatel, crackers, and quince paste. Everything was lovely and by the time we left the bar was pretty much full. Looking at the website they also offer cocktail classes (with snacks) so would love to try that out as well sometime.