
Monster Kitchen and Bar
A trendy eatery in Ovolo Nishi Hotel offering diverse modern Australian dishes and share plates with a chic, contemporary vibe.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Monster Kitchen and Bar

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A trendy eatery in Ovolo Nishi Hotel offering diverse modern Australian dishes and share plates with a chic, contemporary vibe.
Book Ahead
Make reservations in advance to ensure you get a table at this popular spot.
Order at the Bar
Note that food and drinks are ordered at the bar, not at your table.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Modern Australian
Price
$$$
Phone
+61 2 6287 6192
Address
Ground/25 Edinburgh Ave, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Innovative Plant-Based Cuisine
Experience a boundary-pushing, all-vegetarian menu designed to delight vegans and carnivores alike with seasonal, modern Australian dishes.

Chic Ambiance & Design
Dine in a trendy, chic, and contemporary setting with unique decor, a fireplace, and a stylish vibe perfect for any occasion.

Creative Cocktails & Wine
Savor expertly crafted cocktails and an interesting wine list in a gorgeous setting, perfect for winding down.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Book Ahead
Make reservations in advance to ensure you get a table at this popular spot.
Order at the Bar
Note that food and drinks are ordered at the bar, not at your table.
Share Plates
Opt for sharing plates to sample a variety of their diverse modern Australian dishes.
Off-Peak Visits
Visit during off-peak hours for a potentially quieter and more relaxed dining experience.
Tips
from all over the internet
Book Ahead
Make reservations in advance to ensure you get a table at this popular spot.
Order at the Bar
Note that food and drinks are ordered at the bar, not at your table.
Share Plates
Opt for sharing plates to sample a variety of their diverse modern Australian dishes.
Off-Peak Visits
Visit during off-peak hours for a potentially quieter and more relaxed dining experience.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Monster Kitchen and Bar is praised for its unique, innovative plant-based menu and its chic, relaxed ambiance, making it a standout in Canberra. While many enjoy the creative dishes and cocktails, some reviews point to inconsistent service, a perceived decline from its former charm, and a menu that doesn't always meet expectations for its price point, particularly regarding share plates and cheese boards.
"Nice and hard-working staff.
Environment very unexpected. Food was regular. Dessert was out of this world.
Celebrated my birthday, staff and chefs were very kind.
Bathroom were beautiful and amazing for photo taking and general use."
Chenelle Gonsalves
"Hi Monster, I’m very disappointed with the service today. It’s been some time since I was here last and it doesn't have its old charm.
I’m all for restaurant trying new things but this is not the way to go. When I’m visiting a nice restaurant I hope that there is table service and not have to go to the bar to order food like a common pub, that’s not what I’m here for.
The new menu is also very disappointing, hardly any decent options. Food tasted decent but half of the meals came out half an hour apart.
Over all very disappointed with the overall experience, I really wish they go back to what they use to be, I miss the old monster."
Dishant Panwar
"I had high hopes for Monster Bar in Canberra, but unfortunately, their cheese board fell well below expectations, especially considering the premium $39 price.
For that price, I expected a thoughtfully curated selection with a balance of quality cheeses, fresh accompaniments, and attention to presentation. Instead, what was served looked like something hastily thrown together at home. The board featured a few basic cheeses, some tired grapes and raisins, a handful of mixed nuts, dry crackers, and a small piece of quince paste. One of the cheeses even looked like it had been sitting out too long. It was underwhelming and felt like an afterthought, not a premium experience.
When we politely raised this with the waiter, their only suggestion was to return the board. No attempt was made to offer a replacement, a better alternative. For a venue that charges premium prices and markets itself as high-end, this lack of customer service was very disappointing.
What makes this even more frustrating is that venues like Ambrosia provide cheese boards that are not only generous and beautifully presented but also far more reasonably priced. Ambrosia’s platters show real care, with artisan cheeses, fresh produce, and well-matched sides that make you feel the price is justified.
Monster Bar needs to seriously improve both the quality of their offering and their approach to customer service. At the moment, it feels like style over substance, and not worth the money.
OUTRAGEOUS"
Milan Pavkovic
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Monster Kitchen and Bar has fully embraced a plant-based, all-vegetarian menu aiming to appeal to all diners.
It is recommended to make reservations in advance, especially for popular times, to secure seating.
The restaurant has a chic, contemporary, and trendy vibe with a relaxed atmosphere, featuring a fireplace for added coziness.
You are required to order your food and drinks at the bar, not at your table.
Yes, the restaurant offers ever-changing seasonal cuisine, focusing on local produce.
The restaurant aims to cater to dietary needs and encourages guests to advise staff of any requirements.
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These culinary experts keep customers coming back for more with their beautifully presented dishes and extensive wine list. The elegant decor adds to the ambience of the restaurant.
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Plant-based eaters have been thrilled to find that innovative Monster Kitchen and Bar in NewActon is now firmly in their camp, providing an all-vegetarian menu that’s pushing boundaries and making their tummies happy. Located in the lobby of the thoroughly modern Ovolo Nishi Hotel, Monster is embracing the hotel group’s ‘Veg Pledge’, their bold move to serve up all plant-based menus across their restaurants and bars to be kinder to the planet. The menu aims to not only please vegetarians, but enlighten omnivores and even convert carnivores.
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When it comes to elegant resorts in Canberra, Ovolo Nishi takes the cake, and its in-house dining, Monster Kitchen and Bar, is no exception. Because of its superb contemporary Australian cuisine that changes with the seasons, from dawn to night, it’s a fantastic spot to dine with family or friends. Choose from one of the restaurant’s four stunning rooms, which range from the artistic Panorama room to the significant historical Salon and Dining rooms, and you’ll soon understand that it’s not just the food that makes a meal here so special.
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It’s one of those rare places that’s as comfortable for breakfast as it is for midnight cocktails, and you never EVER think you’re sitting in a hotel foyer. There are nooks to hide away in, a fire to warm yourself next to, and the elegant salon right next door, should you decide to head in for something more substantial. The great thing about Monster isn’t Sean McConnell’s inventive cuisine (although it’s amazing), or the carefully crafted cocktails and interesting wine list; it’s that this is a place that transcends generations.
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Tucked away in the heart of Canberra, Monster Kitchen and Bar is a culinary haunt that promises to transform your taste buds into joyously ravenous little monsters. With dishes that boast more flavor explosions than a squirrel on a rocket ship, this trendy joint effortlessly merges modern hipster vibes with a touch of industrial chic. Don't be surprised if you find yourself swapping travel stories with an inebriated gnome at the bar — because when you enter Monster, anything is possible, my friend.
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Within the four separate spaces—the lounge, mosaic room, the salon and dining rooms— of this industrial-chic restaurant in Hotel Hotel, the Modern Australian plates served are designed for sharing, showcasing local and seasonal produce through each one. Sharing plates such as clams, chorizo, samphire and cider, and pressed ham hock with celeriac, apple and mustard are followed by sweet plates such as poached quince with yogurt sorbet, barberry, rose and pistachio. monsterkitchen.com.au
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Located in the award-winning Hotel Hotel, the menu at Monster Kitchen and Bar is as innovative and quirky as the décor that surrounds it. Stand out share plates include the Black Angus Flat Iron with chimichurri and fried okra but the unexpected long-standing favourite with regulars is the Yabby Jaffle with crème fraiche and horseradish. Rumour has it the chef tried to remove this item from the menu but people just kept ordering it – there’s definitely something addictive about it.
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At hipper-than-hip hotel Ovolo Nishi, this all-day eatery and bar has become a compelling reason to visit – even when you’re not checking in. Terrazzo-crazy paving, quirky objects d’art and a soundtrack of pop classics are a worthy backdrop to a plant-based menu that showcases seasonal ACT produce, including ancient-grain ragu and the visually splendid purple cauliflower with shiitake and oyster mushrooms fried in miso butter. Ovolo Nishi, 25 Edinburgh Avenue, Canberra
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Without question there is no better dining set up in Canberra. Like the super-cool living space of an arts collective, Monster, which doubles as a hotel lobby, is divided into lounge seating, a collection of tables in an inconvenient parallelogram shape, and another room full of vintage furniture. The vibe is mixed up old and new, cheap and luxe, the lighting is a triumph with some very beautiful crazy chandelier lights in green and pink.
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Monster Kitchen and Bar is Canberra’s only fine-dining vegetarian restaurant. Featuring all in-house produce where possible, the team are committed to ethical eating and searching for the most creative and mouth-watering ways to showcase vegetables. With a groovy and sophisticated interior, spacious dining rooms and a private room to host large events, get the perfect party snap and enjoy a special evening.
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Dear Prudence stands out as a stylish bar providing a unique experience, while Monster Kitchen and Bar offers a sophisticated setting with a diverse menu and elegant decor. Joe's Bar, located inside East Hotel, features Italian cuisine and eclectic decor, including fuchsia walls and a marble bar. King O'Malley's, an Irish pub, is renowned for its cozy atmosphere, fresh Guinness, and lively events.
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Part of the trendy hotel, Ovolo Nishi, Monster Kitchen and Bar offers an eclectic dining experience that reflects Canberra’s progressive spirit. This venue is famed for its bold interior design, with an artistic approach that blurs the lines between a restaurant, a bar, and an exhibition space. The ambience crafted here is as much a draw as the food, inspiring a sense of wonder and curiosity.
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Monster Kitchen and Bar is located on the ground floor of Ovolo Nishi in the city, cooking delicious meals using local and seasonal produce. The restaurant is part of Ovolo’s veg pledge, meaning the menu is filled with vegan and vegetarian cuisine that has plenty of flavour. Monster Kitchen & Bar was recently awarded one chef hat by the Good Food Guide for 2023.
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CBD Inside Ovolo Nishi is Monster Kitchen & Bar, a stylish restaurant and bar focusing on sustainability. The interior design is chic and eclectic, with a laid-back vibe that’s popular with locals and visitors alike. The menu leans toward inventive vegan dishes, including a beetroot tartar and mushroom karaage that will always be remembered in my books.
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Menu: Local seasonal vegan and vegetarian food, view menu hereHours: Monday to Sunday, 7 am to 10:30 am, Thursday to Saturday, 6 pm to 10:30 pmWhere: 25 Edinburgh Ave, Canberra, book here. Monster Kitchen and Bar has taken what it calls a ‘Veg Pledge’. This means they have menus especially for vegans and vegetarians, using locally sourced ingredients.
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Ground/25 Edinburgh Ave, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia(02) 6287 6192 View Menu Open in Google Maps. Nestled in the heart of Canberra, Monster Kitchen and Bar is a culinary gem that offers a delightful Afternoon Tea experience. As I stepped into this trendy eatery on Edinburgh Avenue, I was instantly captivated by its chic and contemporary ambiance.
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For all the vegans out there wandering the streets of Canberra, this one is for you!. With a delicious modern Australian menu with plenty of plant-based options made to share, this is the perfect place to come with friends to enjoy delicious food and a quality drop. The vibe is just as chic and cool as the name of this Canberra bar suggests.
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Chances are, if you’re relatively across Canberra’s fine dining restaurants, you’ve heard of Monster. A cavernous, moody space underneath Ovolo Nishi in central Canberra, Monster has long been known for its intriguing dishes and creativity but more recently gained a new fanbase by going 100 per cent plant based. Pick your spot at Monster.
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Monster Kitchen and Bar is a high tea place located in Canberra, Australia. It is situated in the heart of the city and surrounded by various food and drink options. Themed around a monster-movie theme, the place offers a variety of teas, coffees, and other hot beverages, as well as light snacks such as sandwiches, pastries, and cakes.
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The menu at Monster is as eclectic has the furniture throughout the lobby of Ovolo Nishi. From comte gougeres, to miso-glazed eggplant, and a white chocolate namelaka dessert served with sansho strawberries, yuzu curd and nikka whisky ice cream. The spiced lamb ribs with curry leaf and chilli jam was a standout meal of the year.
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Occupying the ground floor of Hotel Hotel in NewActon, one of Canberra’s hippest hotels, Monster operates from 6.30am until late, serving seriously delicious seasonal fare-to-share with a dash of youthful irreverence. The yabby jaffle (a crayfish and horseradish toastie) is legendary. This place is perfect for brunch.
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Monster Kitchen and Bar‘s menu is almost entirely vego or boasts a vegetarian option. The venue takes a fine dining approach to vegetarian food, serving up dishes that are big on creativity, seasonality and deliciousness. Fermentation and pickling are also common techniques across much of the menu.
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It is within its funky fold that you’ll find Monster Kitchen & Bar which is captivating Canberran tastebuds with its inventive share-plate-based menu and outstanding wine list. Močan & Green Grout is another of the precinct’s standouts serving up shared dishes inspired by world cooking traditions.
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Monster Kitchen and Bar, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory © Zachary Griffith Photographer. Where: 25 Edinburgh Ave, Canberra. When it comes to trendy hotels in Canberra, Ovolo Nishi takes the cake, and its in-house restaurant, Monster Kitchen and Bar, follows in its footsteps.
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The Ovolo Nishi Hotel’s sleek bar and kitchen is a destination all its own. A boundary-pushing, all-veg menu is primed for casual snacks or a formal dining experience, in a contemporary space punctuated by eclectic lounges, roaring fireplaces and lakeside vistas.
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This makes it easy to get to and from, whether you’re coming from work or elsewhere. Second, Monster has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, which is ideal for meeting new people. There’s no pressure here – you can just come as you are and have a good time.
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Enter Monster Kitchen and Bar, a high-end, chic restaurant with a beautiful plant-based menu. It’s ideal for when you’re feeling elevated and want to treat yourself. The dishes here aren’t just vegan — they’re works of art.
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It offers dishes made with seasonal and local ingredients, including seafood, meat, and vegetarian options. The restaurant’s signature dish is the charcoal-grilled lamb ribs, served with spiced pumpkin and goat cheese.
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Alternatively you can enjoy dinner and atmosphere at Monster Kitchen and Bar nestled beautifully within the beating heart of the Ovolo Nishi hotel and pairing a love of wine and good food in one eclectic dining space.
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: Located within the Ovolo Nishi hotel, Monster Kitchen and Bar serves a fine-dining vegetarian menu that constantly evolves, providing exciting and creative plant-based dishes.
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Canberra’s one-hatted gems: Otis Dining Hall in Kingston, Chairman & Yip in Barton, Italian & Sons and eightysix in Braddon, and Monster Kitchen & Bar in New Acton!
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If you’re in Canberra and craving a breakfast buffet, don’t miss the one in Monster Salon’s dining room at the Ovolo Nishi Hotel.


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from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit