LOCATION
Situated near Parliament, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and other large government departments on National Circuit.
DETAILS
The National Press Club is a Canberra institution, frequently hosting the country’s most influential speakers and providing an integral part of the social backdrop against which Australian politics unfold. Members and their guests can drink at the Club Lounge or dine at Column Restaurant, where the who’s who of ACT come to polish off a succulent steak and a glass of wine. The refurbished décor is clean, crisp and chic with a business-like ambience that is counteracted somewhat by the warm and friendly wait staff. The constantly changing menu is a creative blend of Asian, European and modern Australian influences. Helpful wine tips accompany each dish. Signature dishes and delicious seasonal favourites have made sure that the National Press Club has earned its longevity as Canberra’s apex of politics and gastronomy. One such dish is the Press Club dessert of strawberries macerated in Butterscotch
Schnapps with homemade vanilla bean ice cream, strawberry cream mousse and strawberry coulis finished with a crisp tuille.
FUNCTIONS
The National Press Club frequently plays host to political events and conferences. The Club also caters for weddings and other celebrations.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
The National Press Club in Barton has been a vital part of the political fabric of Canberra for years, its members select and its functions history-making. But with its renovations completed the club has stepped into a new era. As would be expected, the NPC is nestled between Parliament, DFAT and other large government departments on National Circuit. If from the street the unassuming facade of the NPC appears to blend into other office blocks, inside it is a completely different story. In the lobby members are greeted with pictures of a myriad of Australian and world leaders and figures who have been within the walls of the club – a selection ranging from Kevin Rudd to the Dalai Lama.
Stepping inside the club, there is both the Club Lounge and the more private Column restaurant, both immaculately decorated and dressed. As well as live music on Thursday and Friday nights, the Club Lounge offers everything that would be expected – coffee, wine, beer and light food, as well as a very tongue-in-cheek cocktail menu featuring creations such as “Fiscal Stimulus”, “Off Shore Account” and “Helen Clarke” (a kiwifruit and Midori homage to the former New Zealand leader). And while the menu at the Column restaurant may be less playful, it is most definitely worthy of your full attention. The food is modern Australian with notable influences from Asian and European cuisines and is updated bi-monthly. The NPC is famous for its char-grilled steaks, a perennial favourite, but dishes on offer when we visited also included duck confit, Miang-style scallops and Snowy Mountain trout fillet. Put simply, the quality and presentation of the food and the atmosphere at the NPC should please the most discerning of patrons, be they members or guests.
Elizabeth Hall