Canberra's best new bars and restaurants 2016

On top of Bar Rochford and Molto Italian, which made our 20 favourite restaurants for 2016 list, these are bars and restaurants that really caught our attention this year (in alphabetical order):

Betti Bravo's

This tropical-themed bar and restaurant opened in January in the spot where the Rum Bar used to be at the Kingston Foreshore, with a giant parrot mural on an outside wall, pink flamingo wallpaper and some lazily turning wooden fans. Drinks are focused on cocktails with a big splash of rum, and food tends towards share plates with a Caribbean/Spanish vibe. That chilled tropical vibe and the food focus give Betti a bit more interest and elevate it a notch or two beyond your usual drinking hole.

6/2 Trevillian Quay, Kingston, 6295 7000, bettibravos.com.au

Black Market

Bar extraordinaires Antony Arena, Lorenzo Focarile and Dean Brown, who also own Molly and Highball Express, added a third bar to their swag this year, taking over the space below A. Baker in NewActon. Entrance to the tiny bar – it seats only 60 – is via a hidden lift on the Nishi side of A. Baker. The bar shelves hold a wide range of harder to find mid- and higher-end spirits and the cocktails are all about fire, dry ice, exaggerated garnishes and theatrics – everything an Instagram shot is made of.

2 Phillip Law St, NewActon, bmbar.com.au

Casey Jones Gastropub

Popping up at the Casey shops in the middle of the year, Casey Jones Gastropub is a sleek but homely drinking hole, where you can be equally at home for Friday night drinks or a weekend brunch. The venue is modern and sleek, but casual and a bit playful – its name is a nod to the old train driver character from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as well as a nod to the suburb. Food is "Southern American and Spanish fusion" - there are bar snacks, burgers, pasta, pizzas and other mains, all with a generous approach and modern interpretation.

15 Kingsland Parade, Casey, 6253 8961, caseyjones.pub

Jones & Co.

It was goodbye Me and Mrs Jones and hello Jones & Co. in August. Unlike its predecessor – a brunch, casual lunch and dinner spot – Jones & Co. is NYC-inspired razzle and dazzle: a tall backlit bar, waiters in smart casual white and black, circular green leather booths down the middle of the dining room. The menu is everything from a raw bar and oysters to dishes "in a bun", small plates, steaks and lush desserts. The whole vibe is dressy in a fun way.

26 Giles St, Kingston, 6162 3355, jonesandco.com.au

Natural 9

Canberra's sparkling new casino has a rather sleek little restaurant hidden within. Food is a mix of contemporary Australian and a big section of Asian traditional dishes – the brainchild of chefs Chad Ogden and David Black, lately of the fine dining Artisan in Narrabundah. The food is classy and the service smart. The casino isn't somewhere that would have crossed the mind of the average Canberran as a venue for a fine-dining experience. This restaurant looks set to change that.

21 Binara St, Canberra, casinocanberra.com.au/natural-9

Otis

With its wood panelling, dark timber tables, lovely Moroccan-look floor tiles, old Bentwood-look embossed chairs and hanging lights, Otis manages to take you out of the late-20th-century look of the Kingston shops. Damian Brabender and Jamie Wilson opened the venue in September, and didn't take long to fill tables. It works on many levels – the feel, much of the food, and the sophistication it brings to its part of the city. It's modern dining, not stuffy nor formal dining; it's creative, adventurous and serious. And desserts are a standout – always leave room.

29 Jardine Street, Kingston, 02 6260 6066, thisisotis.com.au

Rye Cafe

On an increasingly busy strip at the lower end of Lonsdale Street, Rye is a breath of fresh air. Newcomers to the Canberra hospitality scene, Ben Pigram​ and Jacob Hoffmeyer​, opened the cafe in October, instantly drawing a huge weekend brunch crowd. They focus on seriously good coffee, plus a menu with a Danish touch, a nod to Hoffmeyer's heritage, with lots of dense rye bread, smorrebrod open sandwiches, salads and smallgoods. Rye also opens for after-work drinks, with the outdoor seating area a delightful way to end the week, perhaps with a glass of sparkling and a hearty cheese board.

9 Lonsdale St, Braddon, 6156 9694, ryecafe.com.au

Vincent

Vincent's fitout is not like anything Canberra has seen to date, and it works on many levels. The music is cruisy, the service is good, the feel is polished. The food is well pitched and enjoyable, and you get the sense that this is a kitchen and a team who are working hard to get things right. Someone has put much care into Vincent and it pays off in a fun, nicely pitched, very good place for a meal out.

48 Macquarie Street, Barton, 6273 7773, vincentrestaurant.com.au