This natural wine bar and shop might seem more at home in an inner city locale rather than one of Canberra’s oldest suburbs,but it draws in drinkers across a spectrum,from conservative tasters to lovers of lo-fi funk.

Reese Inkpen’s smart share plates,meanwhile,are a drawcard unto themselves. Recently returned from a stint in London,the chef sends out panisse (the fried chickpea-flour soldiers) tweaked each week with different toppings,such as mortadella and tapenade,and potatoes fried in rice flour with house mayonnaise are a revelation.

Larger plates include a mightily flavoured pork and ’nduja crepinette with lentils,and a wonderfully crisp salad championing celeriac,apple and walnut. Given you can open any bottle from the retail shelves with a small fee,Paranormal is also home to one of the best wine lists in town.

Continue thisseries

Canberra and ACT

Up next

Peonee

Accessible fine dining with edge.

Pilot

Degustation dining delivered with youthful energy.

Previous

Onzieme

Confident,smart wine bar-style dining.

See all stories