The 12 biggest SA and Adelaide restaurants and cafes closures of 2023
Times are tough in hospitality as the impacts of Covid-19 collide with a cost-of-living crisis. These are restaurants and cafes that haven’t survived.
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South Australia is home to many top class restaurant and cafes, serving everything from fine fining to decadent desserts.
But Adelaide has had to say some tough goodbyes this year, losing some unique eateries as they permanently shut their doors.
In 2023 we’ve lost beloved wedding venues, award-winning restaurants and cozy little cafes.
Here the full list of all SA’s restaurant closures.
Maximilian’s Adelaide Hills
15 Onkaparinga Valley Rd, Verdun
One of Adelaide favourite wedding destinations and restaurants abruptly closed its doors in May.
Business owner Andrew Friebe said the decision was born out of a necessity due to a finances and Covid’s lasting impacts.
The sudden closure also forced Mr Friebe to write to several soon-to-wed couples, cancelling their reservations and promising a full refund on their deposits.
The restaurant’s former owners Maximilian (Max) Hruska and wife Louise Hruska had opened the restaurant more than four decades earlier.
Hortas Restaurant
2 Saltfleet St, Port Noarlunga
Filipe and Paula Horta decided to close their award-winning restaurant after 12-years of service in July.
Just a year earlier, Hortas Restaurant had earned the title of Best Seafood Restaurant for its outstanding Mediterranean seafood as well as Portuguese tapas.
It was also a favourite among locals with the Hortas’ owners telling The Advertiser, customers were “coming in to say goodbye … like they’re mourning the loss of something”.
But for the Hortas it was time to “take a break” from the demanding industry and spend time with family.
“There just comes a point where you go, ‘I don’t think I can do it anymore’,” Mrs Horta said at the time
“We can’t complain about anything, we absolutely love what we’ve created and we’ve loved the ride.”
Karen’s Diner
6 East Terrace, Adelaide
The truly infamous Karen’s Diner, known for its rude staff and great burgers shut its doors suddenly on a Sunday night in June.
During its opening just a few months earlier Adelaide had welcomed the retro American-style restaurant served by Karen staff who were deliberately rude to the customers.
But its sudden closure was due to “financial difficulties”, a Karen’s Diner spokesperson confirmed at the time.
They said the difficulty of running a business as people dined out less because of the cost-of-living crisis had added to the decision.
Meanwhile, an ex-employee said they were told the store was a pop-up and was never supposed to be a long-term business.
Crack Kitchen
13 Franklin St, Adelaide
Popular city cafe Crack Kitchen is Adelaide’s most recent closure – shutting its doors just this week after going into liquidation.
Liquidator Anthony Phillips from Heard Phillips Lieberenz confirmed the building’s landlords terminated the lease on Wednesday and locked out director-owner Chris Robinson and staff.
It’s understood the business had fallen behind on its rent.
The owners of the CBD brunch spot, named Adelaide’s best in a 2021 local Delicious poll, took to social media on Thursday morning to share the sad news.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of our restaurant, effective immediately,” the post’s caption said.
“Please know that this closure is in no way a reflection of our team or the incredible experience we’ve provided but a decision made by the landlords to end our lease.
“While we say goodbye to this chapter, we remain hopeful and excited for what the future holds. We are eternally grateful for the memories we shared, and we encourage you to continue supporting local businesses and restaurants in our community.”
The cafe, in an old bank building on Franklin St offered all-day brunches across seven days, making it popular with city workers, particularly on weekends.
Badger & Bones
20 Canterbury Dr, Salisbury Heights
Badger & Bones launched in the post-pandemic period and managed to do the impossible, reinvigorating the Salisbury Heights hospitality scene.
The family-run cafe catered to a local community with a plethora of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options.
But it took to Facebook to announce its closure in August with the owners putting the decision down to the increasing cost-of-living crisis.
“Our reason for closing is not from lack of support from you, but rather with the increasing cost of food and expenses,” they wrote at the time.
“We would have had to increase our prices to a place that would quite literally price the love out of the cafe.”
Five Regions Restaurant
The Oval Hotel, King William Rd, North Adelaide
It hasn’t shut its doors yet but time is running out to try the Adelaide Oval hotel’s fine dining restaurant.
The Oval Hotel has announced it will shut its 40-seat Five Regions Restaurant, with degustation style menu, on January 13 in favour of a “new private dining offering”.
It will be replaced with a new private dining area that expands on the adjoining Bespoke Wine Bar Kitchen, which is a more casual eatery.
Executive chef Daniel Simpson will remain and continue to oversee Bespoke and the hotel’s food and events menu.
“Three years ago, we launched Five Regions Restaurant with the intention of showcasing our South Australian wine regions to visitors from near and far, while also plating up some of the best degustation dining in the state,” said a post on Five Regions’ social media account.
Cocina Comida
16 Ebenezer Place, Adelaide
The Cocina Comida, an all-vegan Mexican joint closed its doors in March.
Owner Reuben Williamson took to Facebook to say his goodbye, hanging up his “skimpy red apron” after working on the business for three-and-a-half years.
Although many were saddened to lose their favourite vegan cafe which handcrafted Mexican ‘meats’ in creative dishes – it wasn’t a shock.
Back in September, 2022 Mr Williamson posted a candid statement saying: “For months now I keep telling myself next month will be better, next month, OK next month”.
“The truth is they are not. I’m spending WAY too many days sitting here staring out the window serving no one, or maybe one person in a service, and I’m OVER IT.”
In the end, Mr Williamson thanked his loyal customers for the support and said he was looking forward to his new future.
CRUX
5/292 Military Rd, Semaphore Park
A one of a kind cafe CRUX – famed for developing Australia’s first vegan eggs Benedict – closed in February.
The cafe was established in 2018 as a humble coffee shop but over the years had transformed into a completely vegan, gluten-free kitchen.
It quickly became the go-to place among vegans after going viral for its vegan eggs in 2019. But CRUX did not stop at reinventing eggs, the eatery regularly revamped their menu by adding vegan fried chicken, vegan buffalo wings and streaky bacon.
But in February, the Semaphore cafe owners announced it had come to an end on Instagram. The owners said it was too difficult to maintain the small business.
“Unfortunately, things are tough out there for small businesses, and it’s been especially difficult over the last couple of years,” they wrote at the time.
Kopi Tim Restaurant
168 Gouger St, Adelaide
Kopi Tim’s closure triggered a wave of sadness as Adelaide had to say farewell to one of its favourite Malaysian restaurants.
Since it opened in 2018 it had become renowned for its delicious laksa, Hainanese chicken rice, and roti canai and the beloved the tarik drinks.
The Kopi Tim’s owner said farewell on Instagram saying “thank you for all the support at all times. Much appreciated!!”
Zenhouse Vegetarian Yum Cha
17-19 Bent St, Adelaide
After sitting on a quaint block near Rundle Mall since 2006, Zenhouse Vegetarian Yum Cha’s closure came as a surprise.
It served up Asian-Western fusion dishes with yum cha available all day
But owners Dixon Wong and Queenie Tan have relaunched a similar restaurant on Port Rd simply called Zenhouse ditching the weekday lunchtime service and starting dinner service at 5pm.
The new location is still open for lunch on weekend.
Urban Desserts Glenelg
6/59 Jetty Rd, Nile St, Glenelg
The popular beachside cafe closed its doors but left a note in the window to explain the decision and say farewell.
Owner Jeremy Allan, who was a competitor on The Great Australian Bake Off in 2016, announced the closure of one of his dessert bars in August.
And with that, Glenelg lost a delightful store that sold an assortment of cakes and other treats.
Mr Allan said the decision was based on the increased cost-of-living and lack of support.
“We gave it our best shot,” the note read.
“Unfortunately due to lack of support – Urbans in Glenelg will no longer open. We want to thank the lovely people who came in when we were open, we know you tried to spread the word but it simply costs us more to be here then we could make.”
Semaphore Pantry
97 Semaphore Rd, Semaphore
The Semaphore Pantry closed on December 1, after 15 years of business.
The co-owners, Dave and Andrea Matthews, set out with a plan to create a unique business that exclusively sold takeaways, maintaining restaurant-quality meals in stylish, single-serve boxes.
The cafe’s mission was to help time-poor people enjoy quality food in the comfort of their own home.
The owners wrote on Facebook expressing their thanks.
“It’s been an absolute blast with so many friendly customers who love to chat and share their lives, we have seen love and loss, children growing up, so many friendships that we cherish,” their post read.
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