June 19

Hello Canberra,

Hello Canberra,

📆 Today: A new gluten-free cafe + a pet photo contest.

☁️ Weather: 11° and cloudy. A low of -4° tonight.

🌮 Canberra Eats

This week’s foodie news:

Illuka: Illuka is a new restaurant in Narrabundah specialising in Mexican and Spanish fusion. They’re open Monday to Sunday for breakfast and lunch, and for dinner Wednesday to Saturday. Details here.

New Gluten-Free Cafe: Eighty/Twenty has opened a new 100% gluten-free cafe in Phillip. The menu includes burgers, pizza, sourdough toast, and more—giving coeliacs plenty of choice. Details here.

Vincent is Closing: Vincent in Barton has announced its closure, but the Korean team behind it will return with something “completely new”—think modern anju (Korean sharing plates designed for drinking). Vincent’s last service will be July 19.

Cool Jazz, Warm Soup: Enjoy a toe-tapping evening of live jazz and the cosy comfort of warm soup at the Mercure in Canberra. Details here.

Truffle Demonstration: Join Chef Christophe for a truffle demonstration and tasting, where he’ll share his love of French cuisine and culture. Learn how to prepare fresh black truffles, then enjoy them with cauliflower velouté and chocolate truffled chouquettes for dessert. Details here.

Rutherglen in the City: Explore Victoria’s Rutherglen Wine Region in the relaxed surrounds of the Members’ Dining Room at Old Parliament House. There’ll be live music, gourmet food, and Rutherglen wines to taste. Winemakers and experts will also host pop-up chats on topics like sustainable viticulture, food pairings, and winemaking innovation. Details here.

Tequila for the Devil: The Baso is hosting a special three-hour tequila-tasting experience. Sample a curated selection of blanco, reposado and añejo tequilas—including classics, rare finds, tequila liqueurs, Australian agave spirit, and some very special margaritas. Details here.

Cause: 🐶 Paws Calendar Contest

The Canberra Paws Calendar Contest is back for 2026! Pet parents can submit their favourite photo for a chance to have their pet featured in the calendar. All funds raised go to ACT Pet Crisis Support. Details here.

Something to do: 🌲 Christmas in July Fire Pit

The Christmas in July Festival is coming to Canberra next month. Book a fire pit at the event to warm up with mulled wine, unlimited marshmallows, and live music. Details here.

Coming Up: 🇵🇪 Día de San Juan

Cypher Brewing Co. is bringing the spirit of Día de San Juan to Canberra with a vibrant three-day celebration of Peruvian and Amazonian culture. This community-focused event will feature live music, traditional cuisine, dance, storytelling, family activities, market stalls, and festivities that honour both the roots of Peruvian culture and the rich heritage of the Amazon. Details here.

Something to do: ✂️ Cut & Paste Collage Workshop

Join a fun and hands-on evening of cutting, pasting, and creating! In this relaxed three-hour session, artist Greta Cooper will guide you through the joyful messiness of collage — ripping, layering, and composing with colour and texture — all while enjoying light refreshments of wine, cheese, and snacks. The workshop is open to all experience levels. Details here.

Tidbits

MyWay+ Transition Period: The transition period for seniors to switch to MyWay+ has been extended until the end of August. From September 1, seniors will need to create a MyWay+ account or use a MyWay+ travel card. Details here.

If you’re unsure how to use MyWay+, you can attend one of the information sessions at ACT libraries. Details here.

Flight Height: A safety report has been released into the troubled first Batik Air flight into Canberra. The inaugural flight, on June 14 last year, arrived much earlier than expected due to strong tailwinds—before air traffic controllers were on duty at Canberra Airport. Still under the control of Melbourne Tower, the crew changed their flight plan without clearance and descended too low into Canberra airspace. I might need a pilot to interpret the ATSB report, but it does seem the crew were quite confused flying into Canberra for the first time! More.

Batik Air hasn’t operated flights to Canberra since the January holidays, and it’s unclear whether they plan to return.