Burgers, booze and brunch: Nine new western Adelaide businesses to check out
These entrepreneurs are putting Adelaide’s west on the map – whether you prefer taste testing vegan treats or 99 bottles of whisky, there’s loads of new businesses to try.
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Adelaide’s western suburbs have turned into a haven of new opportunity full of exciting business ventures.
While the iconic and beloved Port Adelaide Fisherman’s Markets shut up shop in August, there are plenty of new spots to visit in the wild west.
Whether you’re into healthy eating, pottery, extreme burgers or trying 99 different whiskies — the west has it all.
If you’re looking for something new to do, here are our top nine picks.
EARTH CAFE
208 St Vincent Street, Port Adelaide
These best friends plan to serve up yoga, meditation and vintage clothing beside their secretly vegan menu.
New Zealander Ms Elford, was “absolutely hating her life as a commercial lawyer in Melbourne when she met yogi Guru Mash and followed his vision to open a health and yoga cafe in Adelaide.
“I was basically like ‘Please can I come with you? I’ll help you open the cafe if you just teach me everything you know about yoga and meditation because I want to take charge of my life’,” Ms Elford said.
Guru Mash’s niece, Ms Bryant was studying in London when she decided she wanted to be part of the cafe’s opening in Unley.
Focusing on wellness, nutrition and mindfulness, Earth Cafe moved to Port Adelaide in late August serving up a menu of hearty toasties, smoothies, juices, coffee and cake.
“We don’t advertise ourselves as being plant-based or vegan or any of those words because we want people to not really realise that there’s no meat,” MsElford said.
“We want people to get that sense that you can eat delicious, normal proper food, like a giant cheese toasty, that doesn’t have to be full of animal products.”
The duo has plans to turn thespace under the cafe into a yoga studio and meditation space for one-on-one classes and group sessions.
Ms Elford said she also hopes to start a whole foods and a vintage clothing store.
“The vision for Earth Cafe is that there will be Earth Cafe’s all over the world, with the same ethos and vibe,” she said.
COOK N CREATE
14A Ozone Ave, Semaphore Park
After a career in teaching in the UK, Jessica James landed in Adelaide in 2016 unsure what she wanted to do. Fostering her love of teaching kids to cook the mum of two decided to start Cook n Create. Now Ms James takes cooking classes for children with a focus on nutrition, food prep and cooking skills. After going into business at height of the pandemic in 2020, the 34-year-old has an empire at her feet and said every class she does “sells out in minutes”.
MUNCHIES BURGERS
13 College Street, Port Adelaide
What started as a wholesale spring roll business begrudgingly switched to flipping and constructing extreme burgers. Stefan Nestorovic, 30, is the proud owner of Munchies Burgers — even though he never want to get into the burger business. But after Mr Nestorovic’s mate suggested starting a good burger joint, the hidden gem opened in Port Adelaide in May. During Covid Mr Nestorovic said business was popping at its Prospect and Para Hills stores tripling its sales and even had to double its team. It’s true that you’ll never get a boring burger at Munchies — one burger even features a Maxi-Bon ice cream in the middle.
KOLLECTA WORLD
104 Commercial Road, Port Adelaide
This man’s love of retro movies and collectibles started a business. Peter Frisari, 43, launched Kollecta World at the Port Adelaide Fisherman’s Markets to create a community of collectors. After discovering the markets would be demolished, he relocated to a store in February so he could continue catering to the west’s collectable needs. Whether you’re a mega fan of Disney, Marvel and Star Wars or just like to take a look, there’s something for everyone. Spooky season is coming up and Mr Frisari is planning on hosting a Halloween night at his shops for horror movie fanatics.
SUNNYSIDE CAFE AND BAR
245 Esplanade, Henley Beach
This family business is bringing a whole lot of extra sunshine to the esplanade of Henley Beach. Sunnyside Cafe and Bar opened its doors in February specialising in everything brunch. Owner Mattis Vanzati, 33, and younger brother and qualified chef Liam’s vision was to create a casual venue to reflect the character of Henley Beach. Now diners can feast on their popular loaded bagels, bottomless mimosas, steak and fries, and pancakes. The family behind the new eatery have been in the hospitality industry for 15 years and also own a number of other cafes and restaurants.
POTTERING AROUND POTTERY STUDIO & CAFE
43 First Ave, Semaphore Park
Louise McGowan has proven a successful business can start from a midlife crisis. The former accountant moved Down Under from Scotland in 2010 to “fill her bucket”. Ms McGowan, 47, says she’s not an artist and doesn’t claim to be, but loves the mindful and relaxation side to painting ceramics and pottery. She started Pottering Around – a ceramics cafe and pottery studio in which patrons can sip, relax and create – in 2019. Visitors cannot only choose a pottery piece to paint and take home, but have a go at making their own pottery. Ms McGowan encourages people of all ages to come and try painting or pottery. “It’s messy, but it’s something that a lot of people have never had a chance to try before, it’s really good fun,” she said.
HIGH TIDE SEMAPHORE
35 Semaphore Road, Semaphore
A son has revamped his family’s cafe because as the new owner puts it Semaphore “deserved better”. Michael Cotton brought his parents cafe two years ago and has made it his own. The 38-year-old believes the western suburbs has changed and eatery needed to change with it saying Semaphore was “a criminally underrated beach and main drag”. Mr Cotton said he wanted High Tide to feel like summer all year round and with a large dog-friendly outdoor deck, described it as “a beautiful oasis full of plants and shade”. The menu is simple but well done with favourites such as corn fritters, avo toast and pancakes and the second-generation owner hopes to see it become a destination. “It’s not pretentious, it’s homely and hearty,” Mr Cotton said.
PUDDLE JUMPERS CHARITY OP SHOP
300 Port Road, Hindmarsh
Who doesn’t love a thrift store gem? Non-profit charity Puddle Jumpers opened its third store in August. Chief executive Melanie Tate, 43, said the new Hindmarsh op shop, plus established Melrose Park and Torrensville locations were completely volunteer run and for a good cause. Motivated by her experiences growing up, Ms Tate is committed to responding to the social needs of vulnerable children and young people. “I had to grow up really fast and had to deal with a lot of adult problems when I was a child,” she said. With a dream to provide all kids access to a happy, safe and healthy childhood, Ms Tate said all takings go back into the charity funding holiday camp, children’s Christmas party and food relief programs.
STUDIO 99 WHISKY BAR
99 Lipson Street, Port Adelaide
Donovan Christie has an appetite for showcasing local art while downing a whisky in the company of good people. What was a hardware foundry in the late 1800s was transformed into an art space years ago. But director and artist by trade Mr Christie, 32, recently took over Studio 99 Whisky Bar with plans to “lift the game a bit”. While he intends to shift the emphasis to gallery first, bar second, he will be serving up 99 whiskeys to choose from as well as local wine and spirits. Mr Christie said the idea behind business was to “have a peruse, have a drink, sit down and listen to the music and absorb the art”. It will officially relaunch with an event from September 16 to 18 starting at 3pm each day.
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