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.