GIANNI'S ITALIAN

Gianni's Italian is a neighbourhood Italian restaurant at 1/59 Cameron Avenue in the Belconnen town centre, serving wood-fired pizza, pasta and gnocchi with a sister gelato bar next door. Dogs are permitted on the outdoor terrace, which makes this a rare sit-down dinner option in Canberra where the dog is genuinely part of the plan.

The dog setup

Book an outdoor terrace table and your leashed dog settles beside your chair; the main dining room inside stays people only. The terrace is heated, which carries cold Canberra evenings, and staff often bring water out and occasionally a treat, though it is still worth packing a bowl. The terrace sits on the Cameron Avenue footpath near the bus interchange, so it suits a dog comfortable with passing foot traffic and buses.

On the plate

Lunch runs 11:30am to 2:30pm daily, with dinner service Sunday to Thursday from 5pm to 8:30pm and until 9pm on Friday and Saturday. The kitchen covers oven-fired pizzas, rich risottos and traditional pasta, and the linguini and gnocchi get the regular nods, along with garlic bread and a banquet option for the table. Dietary needs are handled without fuss. When you book, ask for the terrace and mention the dog so staff can seat you at a suitable table.

Getting there and parking

The restaurant is on Cameron Avenue right by the Belconnen bus interchange, so arriving by bus is easy. Parking is paid street parking on Cameron Avenue and surrounding streets, with paid carparks and garages a short walk away in the town centre.

Close by with the dogs

It is a short walk to the Belconnen Arts Centre end of the Lake Ginninderra foreshore, and the Lake Ginninderra Loop Trail circles the whole lake on lead if you want to earn the pasta first. For an off-lead run another day, the Lake Ginninderra Dog Park is on the eastern shore. Lighthouse Pub nearby is another terrace-friendly option with the dog. More options are on the Belconnen guide and the ACT restaurants list.