Top Shopping Spots in Canberra

By Jemma Mrdak…

Believe it or not, Canberra’s fashion scene has grown dramatically over the years. Canberrans now have their own style (somewhere in between Melbourne hipster, and Sydney socialite), AND we even have our own Zara! Whether you’re visiting the Nation’s Capital for a week, or even just for the day – we think you should squeeze some time in to shop till you drop… or at least shop till your legs hurt, your credit card is maxed and the cocktails are calling your name.

Whether you’re a fan of unique boutiques, local designers and products, or chain stores – we have it all within Canberra’s city centre and surrounding suburbs.

For those of you that are into sustainable local fashion, then Lonsdale Street in Braddon will be your go-to. This street is a mix between Sydney’s Oxford Street, and Melbourne’s laneways with both high-end style stores, as well as a variety of coffee shops, cafes, and street food. We recommend you hit up Designer Op Shop, Itrip Iskip and Rebel Muse for fashion you haven’t seen before, as well as Lonsdale Street Rosters or Sweet Bones, for when you need to rest those feet of yours.

If you’re looking for a more ‘up-market’ shopping experience, then you must head over to Manuka. This is one of Canberra’s premiere shopping districts (think Double Bay in Sydney), and is filled with elegant, designer boutiques. Take a trip to Momento Dezigns for high end, Australia designers, or to Gertrude Boutique for the well travelled, fashion conscious woman.

The Canberra Centre is Canberra’s shopping epicentre, where you will find big name brands such as Zara, David Jones and Myer, as well as other large signature stores. For the gentlemen, there are plenty of stores offering dapper threads, such as M.J.Bale and Hugo Boss. A short walk from QT Canberra, The Canberra Centre offers a large variety of retailers – you could easily spend an entire day browsing around, getting your fashion fix.

Finally, if it’s discount shopping you’re after (who doesn’t love a bargain?), then head out to the Canberra Outlet Centre. Here you will find racks and racks of Australia’s top fashion and homemaker retailers, with significant discounts of up to 70% off… sorry if that sounded like one of those infuriating infomercials, but we thought you should know.

So pop on your comfy shoes on, and prepare yourself for a day (or a few), to shop around at Canberra’s hot spots.