23 for 2023: Adelaide’s best brunch cafes, from old favourites to new openings
If you’ve just crawled out of bed and are feeling ravenous, we’ve got some delicious suggestions. From brunch by the beach to vineyard views, here are Adelaide’s 23 best brunch spots for 2023.
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It’s breakfast with a sleep-in.
It’s not too early for a cocktail, not too late for pancakes.
It’s brunch, and many an Adelaide cafe has cottoned onto the dining trend, serving up creative midmorning fare that extends well beyond bacon and eggs.
From perennial favourites to new cafes that are breaking convention (breakfast dumplings, anyone?), here are the top 23 brunch spots to visit in 2023:
BEST SUSTAINABLE: TOPIARY
1361 North East Road, Tea Tree Gully, topiary-dining.com
You may know Topiary as a delicious.100 top 10 SA restaurant, but did you know it’s a brunch destination in its own right? Sustainable-minded chef Kane Pollard and his kitchen team’s culinary skill can be seen with house-made haloumi – and whipped ricotta made with the leftover whey – sourdough baked in-house daily and vegies picked fresh from the market each week. “Our aim is to keep it super fresh, seasonal, veg-driven, nourishing and delicious,” Kane says. “Each dish as a twist on the classics, with our chilli scrambled eggs being the most popular one … we even had to do a DIY version during Covid to keep people going at home!” Breakfast cocktails and bubbles are also available.
MY GRANDMA BEN
5 Third St, Bowden, mygrandmaben.com
One that may slip under the radar; housed in Bowden’s industrial-chic Plant 4 cafe and workshop space, but my goodness is My Grandma Ben worthy of cafe hit list. Run by former MasterChef star Jessie Spiby, it’s a cafe with sustainability at its core and flavour and the fore. Crumpets are a favourite (why wouldn’t they be), but other highlights include scrambled eggs with an addictive housemade chilli jam (buy a jar if they’ve got some available), skitake mushroom XO sauce and crispy shallots; roo bolognese toasted sandwich and a satisfying build-your-own breakfast option, with additions including braised white beans, house kraut and haloumi, alongside eggs and The Lost Loaf sourdough.
LOCKWOOD GENERAL
35 High St, Burnside, lockwoodgeneral.com.au
A poached egg on soft, pillowy gnocchi with smoky lardons of Italian-style pork cheek and crunchy pangrattata, or a tumble of field mushrooms and toasty Brussels sprouts on good bread … These are examples of new-age dishes you’ll find at the likes of this very cool cafe in the back streets of Burnside.Savvy locals in the know have peak hours tied up, so time it right, later or earlier, to avoid the wait for a table because it’s walk-ins only. Mums and local walkers choose footpath tables where their dogs are welcomed with fresh water and there are plenty of cosy knee rugs. The menu is split into “Brunch” and “Shared” items, which all work regardless of the time of day. - Dianne Mattsson
BEST LUXE: MAGILL ESTATE KITCHEN
78 Penfold Rd, Rosslyn Park, penfolds.com
This is brunch for an occasion – a long overdue catch up with girlfriends, an anniversary or treat-your-parents day. Magill Estate Kitchen, the casual sister space of Magill Estate Restaurant, feels spesh but not stiff. Food is executed with class, overseen by the talented Scott Huggins, and is best enjoyed with the accompanying vineyard views. A cleverly designed menu covers all ground, from the delicate set oat cream with almond chia, granola and fruit, to the crumbed pork sausage with baked beans, scrambled egg and blood sausage. Enjoy it with a glass of champagne or a cocktail.
BLOOM
38 Winwood St, Thebarton, 38bloom.com.au/bloomcafe
The former tram barn has been transformed with cool natural tones, painted lofty ceilings and a cosmo sense of styling and food by the successful Peter Rabbit crew (Hindley St). The must-have is damper curled around a chunky “stick”, cooked over coals then laid on a bed of chicken-skin butter. Other dishes include cacao and malt sourdough crumpet with beautifully bruleed bananas, dulce de leche and mascarpone, and a roasted artichoke tortilla. They also love to help get a party started – their Bloomin’ Bottomless Breakfast, for example, comprises a breakfast dish and bottomless breakfast cocktails (or beers or mocktails) for $60pp.
-with Dianne Mattsson
THIRTY FIVE STIRLING
35 Stirling St, Thebarton, thirtyfivestirling.com.au
Swing sets as seating may sound a little kitsch, but it’s all part of the fun at new-ish cafe Thirty Five Stirling. The swings are one of a number of seating options, which also include high-backed banquettes and high tables, creating clever sections for group bookings. Service is attentive but not over-the-top, while menu twists include apple crumble hot cakes, zucchini and corn hush puppies (a southern American version of fritters) and a breakfast grazing board. There’s also a kids’ menu – think fluffy pancakes with Nutella and popcorn chicken.
BEST MIDDLE EASTERN: THE MIDDLE STORE
118 Winston Ave, Melrose Park, facebook.com/MiddleStore
It’s the breakfast of grazing champions – a Lebanese mezze plate of fried eggs, fresh tomato, cucumber, olives, house labne (the best) and Lebanese sausage, served with za’atar manoush flatbread. At this community favourite cafe, headed by former MasterChef favourite Rose Adam and her sister, Haefa, you’ll also find a range of folded manouche (the roast veg is a personal fave) and seasonal specials, such as zucchini fritters and an egg on pea hummus. Coffee is great, or try the refreshing pomegranate and jallab Lebanese iced tea, perfect for summer. Hot tip: Go early on a Saturday for one of Rose’s freshly baked treats, such as cinnamon scrolls and nostalgic slices.
BEST PARISIAN: HEY JUPITER
11 Ebenezer Pl, Adelaide, heyjupiter.com.au
Feel like a little Parisian breakfast without the hassle of flying? Hey Jupiter is a destination in its own right, serving up French brasserie favourites in Adelaide’s East End. From eggs your way to croque monsieur and a cassoulet of beans, pork belly, smoked ham hock, duck confit and goat’s curd, it will start your morning right. For a celebratory brunch, try the “Petiot Dejeuner au Champagne” for two – boiled free range eggs, pastries and toast, ham, Heidi Tilsit, Bonne Maman jam, Harris smoked salmon, fresh fruit, coffee or tea, juice, and 375mL bottle of Louis Roederer Champagne, for $135.
PICKLE IN THE MIDDLE
134 Unley Rd, Unley, pickleinthemiddle.com.au
An all-day menu covers favourites such as eggs Benedict and smashed avocado, as well as plant-centric bowls and plates. The satay bowl, for example, features grilled tofu, soyo grilled pineapple, pickled chilli and crisp shallots atop wild rice and quinoa. You’ll also find baked polenta with smashed peas and a house favourite cheese ‘n’ pickle toastie. The cleverly designed menu makes it easy to make additions to any dish, from poached eggs to beetroot cured salmon. A range of drinks, including cocktails, rounds out the experience.
DIRTY DORIS
6 Strathalbyn Rd, Aldgate, dirtydoris.com.au
Burger and fries for breakfast? How about a steak? Morning convention is thrown at the window at Stirling diner Dirty Doris, where an all-day menu reigns supreme. “It’s about fun,” says chef Denny Bradden, who opened the retro-look space little more than 12 months ago. “We do crazy bourbon milkshakes, Jack Daniel’s in Bloody Marys, fried chicken on fried chicken and more pancakes anyone could possibly eat.” Other menu items include breakfast ramen, the dirty croque (smoked ham fried chicken and schmaltz gravy) and miso carbonara.
NEW PICK: OUR BOY ROY
114 East Ave, Clarence Park, instagram.com/ourboyroy_adl
A brand newbie. With a great fit-out, approachable menu and handy providore section (need milk? Eggs? Flowers for mum?), Our Boy Roy is a welcome addition to the inner south. There’s a range of sandos (a meatball sub, perhaps) as well as hotcakes (sweet and savoury) and heartier dishes such as breakfast gnocchi, tossed with wild mushrooms, smoked bacon, warrigal greens and a poached egg.
BEST COASTAL: PIPI AT MIDDLETON
25 Goolwa Rd, Middleton, facebook.com/pipiatmiddleton
Summer calls for coastal day trips and if you find yourself heading south, don’t miss the chance for brunch at Fleuirieu favourite, Pipi at Middleton. Check out the specials board – it might include corn and capsicum fritters with beetroot tahini, avocado, tomato salsa and poached eggs, or a bruschetta with tomato, sticky balsamic, pickled red onion and whipped feta. Wash it down with a cold pressed juice or smoothie. When the weather’s right, a spot out the front under the palms oozes holiday calm, or enjoy the paved courtyard with a large budding fig tree.
BEST ASIAN: SEVEN GROUNDS
Unit 1/28a Hawker St, Brompton, sevengrounds.com.au
Dumplings for breakfast, and one Hong Kong egg waffle. They’re part of the all-day menu at Seven Grounds, a smart brunch-luncher in the backstreets of Brompton delivering Asian-inspired casual meals. The breakfast dumplings are six soft and chubby steamed morsels filled with pork and egg. They float in an excellent ginger soy and black vinegar broth. The waffle, meanwhile, boasts extra goodness in the dousing of red miso caramel, crumbled housemade honeycomb and enough mandarin to cut all the sweetness. Other dishes include a mushroom crepe and not-your-ordinary avocado toast, finished with miso tahini, cauliflower, lotus root and chilli oil.
-with Dianne Mattsson
WILLMOTT’S
36 Kensington Rd, Rose Park, willmotts.com.au
Not one for groups (it’s a tight space), but such a great option for when you want to catch up with a friend or even dine alone. Willmott’s Gastronomica is the deli section of Andre Ursini’s Orso restaurant, and lets excellent produce shine across a simple menu. Think Mylor toast with a selection of spreads; housemade granola; and a ploughman’s breakfast with housemade pickles, prosscuitto, cheese, avocado, boiled egg, tomato and chutney. Enjoy with coffee, a mimosa or bellini.
DEVOUR
52 Davenport Terrace, Richmond, facebook.com/devourcafepatisserie
A knowledgeable, brunch-loving friend of mine swears by Devour, an old favourite that is “still tops” in her view. Taste trumps all here, from the hangover-curing egg and bacon roll (a recent special included kimchi and three-cheese melt), to the more elegantly plated poached eggs with chargrilled broccoli, haloumi, roasted sesame aioli and toasted almond flavkes alongside Turkish bread. Keep an eye out for the doughnut specials, too. Walk-ins only.
C.R.A.C.K KITCHEN
13 Franklin St, Adelaide, crackkitchen.com.au
If you find yourself in the CBD at breakfast time (perhaps you stayed overnight – or haven’t yet been home …) C.R.A.C.K hits the spot. You can build-your-own egg dish, adding just about anything your heart desires, or choose from a wide selection of creative fare: elderflower whipped pannacotta with granola, perhaps, or gingerbread waffles; or savoury choices such as chicken katsu sando; beetroot cured gin king salmon with soft boiled egg and horseradish cream; and ramen noodles. It’s a coffee house, too, so expect your brew to be on-point, or opt for the hair of the dog with a cocktail, beer or wine.
BEST HEALTHY: ORGANIK STORE & CAFE
37 Broadway, Glenelg South, theorganik.com.au
With its “eat good, feel good” motto, The Organik Store & Cafe’s offering includes dishes with a health slant that taste as good as they sound. Like the housemade keto loaf, topped with poached eggs, cashew labneh and fresh greens. You’ll also find a “good gut burger”, comprising a cauliflower and quinoa pattie on ciabatta bread; and the Organik “power bowl” of chickpea natto (fermented soy bean), sesame cucumber salad, turmeric pickled daukon and other fresh bits. If that’s all a bit hippie for you, you can opt for a more standard egg dish, housemade muesli or a breakfast bruschetta. Once your belly is full, pop into the adjacent store for fresh produce, candles and flowers.
BEST VIEW: JOE’S KIOSK
Cnr South St & The Esplanade, Henley Beach, joeshenley.com.au
A beachside favourite, where food is consistent and coffee on point. A simple menu covers the basics – housemade Bircher muesli, eggs “your way” and classic buttermilk pancakes, finished with caramelised banana, dulce de leche, whipped mascarpone and cocoa crumble (crispy bacon optional). You’ll also find eggs Benedict, smashed avocado and Joe’s Breakfast Bun with hash browns. A few of these items run into the lunch menu, which kicks off at 11am.
FLYING FIG DELI
161 Jeffcott St, North Adelaide, theflyingfigdeli.com.au
In the kitchen, trays of bagels are ready to bake, before being filled with house-cured lox. Smoky pastrami, giant dill pickles, latke and schug (salsa verde with jalapeño, coriander and caraway seeds) are other items also made in-house. While many are content to smash avocados and flip breakfast burgers, The Flying Fig recreates the classic fare of New York’s Jewish delis, with no corners cut. Middle Eastern inspired dishes include a falafel bowl with poached egg; and sabich (pita filled with crispy eggplant, falafel and poached egg).
WHISTLE & FLUTE
136 Greenhill Rd, Unley, whistleandflute.com.au
On busy Greenhill Rd, at the base of a BusinessSA building, it’s not your typical spot for brunch. But step inside and feel transported to a space of calm: rafters adorned with trailing vines and an abundance of hanging greenery lend a courtyard feel, while a portion undercover surrounds a smart bar and open kitchen. Dishes range from a haloumi and egg burger, to sweet corn fritters and the house favourite blue swimmer scrambled eggs. You’ll also find chicken waffles with sriracha maple sauce and a breakfast bowl with poached eggs, hummus, sesame broccoli, pumpkin and haloumi.
BEST COFFEE: MY KINGDOM FOR A HORSE
191 Wright St, Adelaide, mykingdomforahorse.com.au/cafe
Attention to detail is a strength of restaurateur Emily Raven, who opened My Kingdom for a Horse in 2015 to rave review. It remains a city brunch favourite, loved equally for its excellent coffee and satisfying all-day meals. Highlights include the blueswimmer and chilli jam omelette, shakshouka, corn tacos with braised pork, and socca – crispy provencal style chickpea pancake toped with heirloom tomatoes and Adelaide Hills Persian cow’s feta.
CAFE TROPPO
42 Whitmore Square, Adelaide, cafetroppoadelaide.com
The longstanding city cafe is built on community, with organic and sustainable produce sourced locally and prepared with care. On a seasonally-changing menu, you might find chilli eggs, served with sweet ‘n’ spicy pickled carrot; a green pea and spinach savoury waffle with poached egg, bacon and haloumi; or a rainbow bowl of herby lentils, veggies, spiced yoghurt and purple kraut. As well as de Groot coffee, you’ll find cold pressed juices and kombucha on tap, as well as organic leaf teas.
PONY & COLE
6 Manton St, Hindmarsh, ponyandcole.com.au
A regular haunt for locals, which last year won the title of best cafe in Adelaide’s west, Pony and Cole serves up consistently good food in a welcoming environment. For something a little different from the usual breakfast fare, try the Japanese-inspired crispy vegetable pancake with poached egg, gochuchang glaze and kewpie, or the popular sweet potato rosti topped with avocado, pico de galo and housemade dukkha. Many items are made in-house, from the bread to the sausages, and coffee comes from local Patop Coffee Roasters.
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