New city restaurant and bar 2KW opens on top of heritage building in Adelaide
THE revitalisation of Adelaide’s dining culture has reached new heights with the opening of a revolutionary new bar and restaurant 30m above street level.
THE revitalisation of Adelaide’s dining culture has reached new heights with the opening of a revolutionary new bar and restaurant 30m above street level on top of one of the city’s most prominent buildings.
2KW will begin trading on Friday on the newly-created eighth level of the heritage-listed former Bank of New South Wales building that also has Jamie’s Italian as a tenant on the ground floor.
Visitors will need to catch two lifts to reach the new venue, which has spectacular views across the CBD and as far as the coast and the Hills from its various vantage points.
2KW has five entertainment areas, including a restaurant, the indoor/outdoor Loggia Bar, The Terrace and The Cabanas, which can be booked for private gatherings.
Co-owner Martin Palmer said the $4.5m project began when the building owners approached him and said they had a good spot for a bar.
“When I went and saw it I could see it had unparalleled potential for this kind of development,” he said.
Construction work has taken six months and involved installation of a steel platform as a base for the structure. A new lift was installed to complete the journey to the top floor.
The project also had to overcome objections about trading hours and other conditions from the neighbouring Adelaide Club.
“We don’t think of this as a rooftop,” Mr Palmer said. “It’s a purpose-built space.
“The first thing people will see is the view. From The Terrace you can see west to the pine trees of Henley Beach all the way up the north, and then east to the Hills. That includes almost every iconic or historic building in Adelaide.”
Mr Palmer said he wanted the feel to be relaxed and accessible where diners enjoying pizza and a beer could be comfortable alongside those having crayfish and a fabulous bottle of wine.
“Hospitality is about being social and relaxing. I don’t think it should be too serious,” he said. “We really want the venue to be a fun place to be.”