Diamant Hotel Canberra
Canberra, Australia
Worth getting out of bed for
After doing the rounds of the bars and restaurants in the hotel complex, detox in the Soma Day Spa (www.soma.net.au), which offers a tempting mix of massages, facials and more (you want to look your best when you hit those bars again...). For a culture hit, hightail it to the National Gallery of Australia (www.nga.gov.au), where you can scope an impressive mix of Australian, Asian and international art, including temporary exhibitions. If nature's more your speed, wander the shores of Lake Burley Griffin near the hotel; better still, reserve one of the Diamant's bikes when you book your stay, and swoosh along in style.
Local restaurants
Conveniently located within the ‘hotel complex’ is the
Parlour Wine Room (+61 (0)2 6162 3656; www.parlour.net.au), which looks like the sort of place you’d enjoy a cigar in – if smoking was allowed. Decor is vintage-retro with plenty of cosy corners. Relax and enjoy tasty tapas or desserts while sipping classic cocktails or a glass of one of the 120-odd wines from the house list. Convivial staff keep the place humming Tuesday to Sunday, 11.30pm till late.
Tosolini’s, on the corner of London Court and East Row, Civic (+61 (0)2 6247 4317;
www.tosolinis.com.au) has been dishing up traditional Italian cooking to Canberrans for 20 years. Pop in for a coffee and a slice of tiramisu or a more substantial pasta or risotto.
Lemon Grass (+61 (0)2 6247 2779;
www.lemongrassthai.com.au), in the Melbourne Building at 65 London Circuit, has an excellent menu of traditional Thai dishes using top quality ingredients (closed Sundays).
Local bars
Recently opened
Tongue and Groove (+61 (0)2 6230 4455;
www.tandg.com.au), is proving a hit with the locals. The vast industrial-styled space, on the corner of Genge and Bunda Streets, has plenty of plush seating and a menu designed for sharing. Try the Lime and Chilli Martini and finish with a Pizookie – a cookie dough pizza, covered in chocolate and ice-cream.
Local cafés
A light and airy place for breakfast or lunch in the New Acton Pavilion is
As Nature Intended, an organic café and wholefoods store on the corner of Edinburgh Avenue and Marcus Clarke Street (+61 (0)2 6162 3440;
www.asnatureintended.com.au), decorated with vintage lamps. Stop by for coffee, smoothies, fresh juices, home-baked muffins, sandwiches, soup, pizza and pasta of the day.
Diary
January Australia Day Live (www.australiaday.org.au), held on 25 January on the eve of Australia Day, is an annual music concert featuring top Aussie artists playing on the lawns of Parliament House. The party kicks off with the announcement of the Australian of the Year, and you’ve got a public holiday the next day to get over it all.
April The Easter weekend sees folk musicians flood into the city to play to huge audiences at the National Folk Festival (
www.folkfestival.asn.au). As well as bands, there’s storytelling, poetry, crafts stalls, workshops and a kids’ programme.
October–November The Canberra International Film Festival (www.canberrafilmfestival.com.au) runs for 12 days, showing hot Australian and global new releases and retrospectives.
