Canberra's restaurants have recorded the strongest growth in turnover in the nation, as new ventures inject vibrancy into the city's heart.
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The ACT's eateries turned over $70.5 million in August, an increase of almost 20 per cent, according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
That placed the territory's hospitality scene as the fastest-growing in Australia, Restaurant & Catering Australia chief executive John Hart said.
"The ACT [has] been doing it tough with consecutive declines in industry turnover over the past year. August results are a positive sign consumer sentiment is improving. The test will be whether these numbers hold true through the warmer months and Christmas trading period," Mr Hart said.
Nick Smith originally wanted to open a bar in Melbourne but fell in love with the architecture of the Melbourne Building in Canberra.
He opened Bar Rochford, which serves wine, cocktails and light meals, in the iconic building earlier this year and said there were a lot more opportunities for young operators to gain a foothold in Canberra's hospitality sector.
"Compared to Melbourne definitely, Melbourne was flooded. There were a lot of bars that were great but at the same time I'd walk past and there were minimal people inside," Mr Smith said.
"Although Canberra is not an easy market to get into, Canberra people want to experience what the bigger cities have. Canberra people know what they want. Everyone's very passionate about Canberra and everybody supports Canberra businesses."
Benjamin Ilic, formerly of Suke Suke, is set to open a new late-night Asian bar and restaurant where Vitis Eatery in Braddon once was.
He said people were fast realising the Canberra hospitality scene had a lot to offer.
"I think in the last five years a lot of businesses have popped up and excelled in different products that five, 10 years ago Canberra didn't have and I think people are embracing it," Mr Ilic said.
Elena Williams opened board games restaurant Guild with her siblings in January and received a " far stronger positive response than we could have ever expected".
"We've been so well received by the Canberra community. It's just blown our minds. Every day the place is full of laughter, all the time and people just having such a great time. You'd have to be made of stone for that not to make you feel really good," she said.
The blooming hospitality scene has injected a vibrancy into Canberra Ms Williams said was missing during her formative years here.
"Growing up here in the 80s and 90s Canberra got a bad wrap as being very sterile and cold and that's gone now. It is absolutely beautiful to see it turning into a real-life city," she said.