Monster Kitchen and Bar

One of the best in Canberra. Delectable, intricately arranged share plates; Monster is contemporary dining at its finest.

Loved the interior decoration. Every corner and book managed to have its own style while still being a part of the whole. The desserts were expensive (expected) but tasty. Felt very comfortable here. Will absolutely go again.

We’ve dined at Monster for breakfasts, lunches, dinners and special occasions over the years. However, on our most recent visits we noticed the menu has changed (only slightly), yet the dishes lacked something...and the overall cost was more expensive. The cocktails are also very expensive and dated? in comparison to other restaurants & bars.

Today we went for breakfast. The changes to the dining layout are not very inviting. It’s changed the atmosphere and lost its appeal. The crowd were mostly guests of the hotel, which felt a bit strange.
The service was friendly, and whilst the food was more or less the same as usual...the presentation was lacking, and the coffee was burnt. Overall a very average experience. Sad to the see that since the change in ownership & head chef it’s no longer as great as it once was.

Ambience is key here at Monster, and is executed brilliantly. The large space feels cozy and busy even when early in the night. The kooky interior design will leave you almost too fascinated to order quickly.

The burratta has our table enthralled from the outset. The eggplant main followed through and felt like a dish made with a lot of love and intent. The muscles and lamb shoulder also performed brilliantly, leaving a picky set of diners very happy. Be sure to leave space for pudding; the chocolate, coffee and hazelnut makes for a genius little take on a well-known pallet combination.

The drinks list has strong game with interesting Japanese beers for the hop-and-barley connoisseur, while a well curated wine list will provide plenty of choice to fuel good chat.

Go here for a superbly curated dinner, enjoying every mouthful of delicious, and enjoy wondering at every aspect of the experience!

You can't argue with the atmosphere of this place. The ambience is definitely on point. The food has a very modern focus and the presentation of even the the most simple dishes they have on offer is sublime.

I went here multiple times over my stay in Canberra, and wasn't necessarily disappointed with any of the meals I had here. The toast on the breakfast menu was a little firm for my liking, but every other meal I had was sensational. I will say though, you certainly pay the premium price for it. I'd say it's worth it, in most cases.

As a side note the coffee was very good, a little different every time I had it, but never in a negative way. There was always a baristas charm with it. The service was good, despite what I saw in other reviews. They were generally very helpful, and friendly. I'll be sure to return in the future!