AKIBA is inspired by the informal and exciting atmosphere of the great food halls or dining rooms that you find throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The food falls somewhere between Asian barbecue, raw bar and modern day Dim Sum, the cocktails are contemporary and creative without any played out prohibition or Mad Men references.

AKIBA delivers a service style that is casual, relaxed and fun while still delivering an excellent product that is full of flavour. The design of the venue is very inviting with both the bar and the kitchen opened up to the floor so that the bartenders and chef can really be a part of every guest’s experience.

Owner operators, the brothers Pete and Mike Harrington, are keen on delivering a world-class level of service and ambience and their track record is good. Between them they have worked at Tetsuya’s, Aria, Forty One, Bel Mondo, Cadmus and Star Anise amongst others. With them will be GM Thomas Weis, who has managed Icebergs, Bambini Trust, Prospero Group and Pendolino.

The restaurant will also have access to its own farm along with the brothers’ other much-lauded Canberra restaurant, Sage. The team is excited about creating a space that is exciting not just for Canberra but all of Australia; it is an approachable social hub rather than just a restaurant or bar.