Verity Ln Market

Looking for a new place to eat? Want a food court variety of choices that aren’t the generic chains? What if I told you that Canberra snuck a cosmopolitan style food court right into our little city while we were Netflixing during COVID.

Because that’s exactly what former Australian Rolling Stones Publisher and entrepreneur Phillip Keir has done. Where though!?

Well, just like us, parts of Canberra is growing up too. I’m sure many of us remember nights out at Meche, ICBM, Insomnia, North Bar or Private Bin. Or maybe just picking up a staggering friend at an ungodly hour. The Sydney building, which used to house raucous nights out has now morphed, so much so that I didn’t realise where I was until I googled Verity Lane Market and it’s placement.

Source: Google Maps. Circa 2007.

Source: Google Maps. Circa 2020.

The venue(and laneway) gets its name in honour of Verity Hewitt, who owned Canberra’s very first bookshop there in the 1930’s

Source: Unknown

Phillip had owned the venue since the early 90’s, but in late 2020, decided it was time to pounce and bring a taste of what he had experienced from larger, more vibrant cities that he’d lived in such as New York.

Source: Lean Timms.

Aside from the surprise history, of the space, it’s what’s inside and the difference in how it’s run that gives it the cool vibes.

On the ground floor, you’ll find around 4-5 different gourmet restaurants such as; Pizza Artigiana, Ramen Daddy, My Sabor & Super Bao.

As well as Dear Prudence, a complete bar that can hold it’s own even without the food (recommend trying their Old Fashioned)


Head on upstairs and you’ll find more seating as well as a neat little wine bar.


High ceilings, exposed brick, unfinished surfaces and laneway access give it a lot of character.

Source: Lean Timms

Source: Lean Timms

Words: Adam Vlahos