Tables at Muse, 69 Canberra Ave, Kingston

©George Francis Dunford/Lonely Planet


This bibliophile restaurant-bookshop on the corner of the East Hotel effortlessly juggles its roles. Start with a drink from the Australian-only drinks list then move on to 'Chapter One’, including seasonal delights such as beetroot tartare. Larger 'Chapter Two' dishes, which come with a glass of local wine, include a ploughman's board, steak and kingfish. Downstairs, a well-curated bookshop makes for a charming post-meal browse. Book ahead for the popular weekend brunch.

Muse hosts a variety of events, including literary lunches and regular talks with the country’s biggest authors. Like any good page-turner, you’ll find it hard to tear yourself away.