The Shaking Hand

Positives: decent range of beer at fair prices, pool table, high tables and seats at the bar. There was, however, a reason nearly everyone was sitting outside rather than inside the venue - the music was so loud that you couldn’t have a conversation without shouting. Sure, crank it up later at night or on weekends etc but it’s hardly the place anyone would want to come for a quiet after uni/work drink. Canberra is in desperate need of more decent dive bars but unfortunately this place is currently missing the mark. A generous three stars but probably won’t be back unless they fix the music.

I recently visited the newly opened Shaking Hand pub in Canberra and was thoroughly impressed. The pub had a great selection of beers and the service was excellent. The atmosphere was lively and fun, with 80s and 90s heavy rock music setting the mood and a pull table providing a great opportunity for socializing. In addition to the drinks, the pizza at the Shaking Hand was also delicious. It was a great surprise to find such high-quality food at a pub, and it added to the overall experience. Despite not being well known yet, the Shaking Hand is definitely worth checking out if you're in the area. The combination of good drinks, food, and fun atmosphere make this pub a standout and a must-visit for anyone looking for a new and exciting place to enjoy a night out.

Really lovely bar staff, awesome vibes and great music. Looking forward to watching the venue grow and flourish in Canberra.

Absolutely ridiculous that they don't serve pints, but charge the same price as a pint for schooners. This place only exists because it's above a backpackers, taking advantage of tourists that don't know better.

Really nice atmosphere, nice staff and great live music every Thursday. Will be visiting regularly for sure!