Adelaide’s top 60 — the bars and cafes
WE’RE ready to toast the online launch of The Advertiser’s 2018 Food Guide, so we sent our team to find Adelaide’s essential bars and cafes — the very best places to drink beer, wine, cocktails or coffee.
WE’VE rounded up Adelaide’s essential bars and cafes — all-round great places to drink beer, wine, cocktails or coffee.
BEST CHEAP EATS
ABBOTS & KINNEY
Excellent coffee, drool-worthy pastries and great value lunches draw in city workers daily — so expect to hustle for a seat. Dine-in dishes range from the popular “silly sausage” — an oversized, fennel-spiked sausage roll served with housemade chutney and well-dressed seasonal salad ($13), to sourdough topped with roasted zucchini, fried zucchini flowers, goat’s curd and walnut paste ($16). Restaurant-worthy plates include chicken cotoletta and pork belly, complete with crackling, both $16. Don’t leave without grabbing one of pastry chef Jonny Pisanelli’s daily creations, from towering cronuts to delicate tarts.
78 Pirie St, city; 0412 550 336; abbotsandkinney.com
AL MINA
From the welcoming hospitality to the colourful plates, everything about this Prospect Rd diner will have you feeling a little brighter. There’s not a microwave or toaster in sight — even the spice-spiked zaatar bread comes straight out the oven, totally moreish with a little crunch from toasted sesame seeds, sumac and oregano in the 12-spice mix. Try it in a hefty falafel “zocaccia”, wrapped around herby falafel and salad, for $9.90. Golden, torpedo shaped kibbeh are filled with seasoned beef and lamb mince, and delicious with hummus. Other share-style dishes include Lebanese sausages and their version of pizza.
140 Prospect Rd, Prospect; 7226 0709; alminaonprospect.com.au
BLACK DOG GALLERY
The world of ramen can be overwhelming, but Japanese chef Jun Abe has simplified the process in this no-frills eastern suburbs cafe. The easiest route is to choose between the soy-based Tokyo Syo-yu, Sapporo Miso or sea-salt-based Hakodate Shio. They’re all topped with a hefty slice of tender, char-sui pork, half a salted egg (aji-tama) and spring onion, and cost $14. Other traditional dishes include a plate of fermented soybeans (natto), pickled cucumber and tangy pickled plums served with rice and a small bowl of miso soup.
4/455 Greenhill Rd, Tusmore; 0455 463 432
LE SOUK
Expect big hearty flavours and big hearty serves at Le Souk, the open Algerian diner in the Adelaide Central Market. Lunch comes with a bit of theatre, starting with the sweet date a staff member will offer as you approach the counter, and finishing with the traditional mint tea, poured from a height at the table. It’s restaurant quality food at half the price, from a hearty lentil soup ($12) to the signature twice-cooked couscous, piled with fall-apart lamb that’s cooked for six hours in the earthy North African spice mix, ras el hanout ($18).
Stall 10, Adelaide Central Market, Gouger St, city; 8410 5225; lesouk.com.au
KUTCHI DELI PARWANA
The little sister of Torrensville favourite restaurant Parwana, Kutchi Deli is a kaleidoscope of colour tucked into Ebenezer Place. The Ayubi family daughters bring the same beloved Afghani fare to city folk — think steamed vegetarian dumplings topped with a saucy lamb mince and yoghurt for $12, and their famous eggplant, simmered in tomato until silken and then draped over rice, $14. It’s super tasty, super comforting food that’s great for sharing. If the outdoor tables are full, they’ll tuck everything up in a box for you.
7 Ebenezer Pl, city; 7225 8586; kutchi.com.au
BEST LUNCH IN THE CBD
BALLABOOSTA
This breezy little cafe has some great ideas on where food might be heading right now. The little gems of meze dip starters, delicious and original $10 plates of lamb, haloumi and salads, and a hearty mix of pizzas and bigger courses give you every mealtime option. Combined with excellent coffee, it is a busy place that can spill out from its glass folding doors and fill the front yard and footpath with people socialising, grazing and eating.
289 Halifax St, city; 8232 1853
COMIDA
Comida is best-known for its huge pan of crowd-pleasing paella but there is a lot more on the menu at this popular Spanish-inspired stall in the heart of the Adelaide Central Market. Jamon legs hanging from the rafters and shelves lined with tins of paprika and preserved seafood will make you feel that you’ve spent lunchtime in a Barcelona bar. That paella is a visual treat of saffron-infused rice heaped with chicken, cockles, mussels, cauliflower and chorizo. Or try a classic tapas such as tomato-rubbed bread or larger raciones that might include a house-made morcilla blood sausage with Jerusalem artichoke and an almond and egg sauce.
Stall 11, Adelaide Central Market, Gouger St, city; 7230 4224; comidacateringco.com
JOLLEY’S BOATHOUSE
Escape the cares of the working day at this riverside restaurant in an old boathouse where you can eat lunch while watching the Popeye cruise along the Torrens. The food, however, is anything but old fashioned with plenty of innovation balanced by well-honed technique in generous dishes, many with Asian and Middle Eastern influences. Entrees may include spanking fresh kingfish sashimi, which sings with coconut, Thai basil, chilli and fingerlime. Tea-smoked duck combines the sourness of tamarind with sweet red dates and spicy warmth of ginger caramel. Not quite in the CBD but well worth the walk.
1 Jolleys Lane, city; 8223 2891; jolleysboathouse.com
PEEL ST
Big serves, big flavours, big herbage define the exuberant dishes at this perennially popular eatery where a busy open kitchen, shared plates and communal tables make for lively chatter and an amiable atmosphere. The chalkboard menu is a Middle Eastern, South-East Asian mashup; smaller plates come piled with salad whether it’s the delish caramelised pork belly encrusted with peanuts, served with fat prawns and Asian greens, or the Armenian lamb soldiers topped with fried almonds, yoghurt and pomegranate. “Mains” are huge so order sparingly; the crispy whole fried red snapper with chilli jam, betel leaf, mandarin, green mango and nam jim is fantastic. If this is lunch, you won’t need dinner.
9 Peel St, city; 8231 8887; peelst.com.au
2KW
With its stunning rooftop views and an extensive wine list that tops out at a $22,000 burgundy, this is a lunch where you can make an impression. A modern Australian menu is designed for sharing and has a variety of meat, seafood and vegetarian options. If you can’t decide, the chef is only too happy to do it for you, sending out a steady stream of innovative dishes. Blood sausage is complemented by a herb sauce and crispy fried cauliflower. Fried Coorong mullet is well matched with almond cream, beetroot and orange salad, and spiced almonds, while the slow-cooked octopus, kipfler potatoes and chorizo is delicious.
2 King William St, city; 82125511; 2kwbar.com.au
BEST CAFÉ
CAFE TROPPO
With bohemian interiors opening out to a leafy outdoor seating area, dining at Cafe Troppo brings the serenity of the Adelaide Hills to the edge of the CBD. Troppo’s menu is all about local and organic produce. Fair Trade coffee and simple, modern food make for a healthy and pleasant lunch choice with a difference. Daily pizza, pastry and salad specials are always bursting with flavour, and sharing plate options are best enjoyed with a glass of South Australian wine on weekends.
42 Whitmore Square, city; 8211 8812; cafetroppoadelaide.com
C.R.E.A.M.
Its name a playful twist on a Wu-Tang Clan classic (Coffee Rules Everything Around Me), Josh Hockey’s C.R.E.A.M. is a haven for brunch enthusiasts who have a penchant for bacon and more bacon. The edgy cafe is adorned with photos of tattooed skateboarders and boasts a bespoke coffee machine which pumps out its signature Crompton Rd blend. Brooklyn-inspired soul food including a “doughnut breakfast sandwich”, dominates the menu, but you will also find your standard fare of smashed avo on toast and muesli.
4/49 Jetty Rd, Brighton; 8298 3149
THE FLYING FIG
Food inspired by the Jewish delicatessens found on the gritty streets of New York comes to the heart of leafy North Adelaide. The old-cottage charm of the crumbling bluestone it inhabits makes the space instantly inviting, and the house-made bagels are perfectly glazed and not too chewy. If you prefer a meal to share, “nosh” plates include smoked fish and a selection of in-house pickles. Coffee is a serious business here — it’s all explained on the menu and by baristas who know their stuff.
161 Jeffcott St, North Adelaide; 7226 1788
KARMA AND CROW
No sleeping in if you want to dine here. Yes, this westside warehouse from twenty-somethings Janie Kammer and Alana Crowe has quite a bit of space as far as suburban cafes go, but it fills up quickly. The menu is Modern Australian, and dishes are beautifully presented to really give customers the urge to whip out the phone before fork.
249-251 Richmond Rd, Richmond; 8352 5104
MY KINGDOM FOR A HORSE
Light-filled with ’70s-inspired interiors, an open kitchen and long tables designed for communal dining, this west end cafe is all about atmosphere. Run by Emily Raven and Rachel Mead, the menu offers options for any style of brunch-goer — whether it’s a big breakfast you’re after, something sweet or on the healthy side. The coffee beans are expertly roasted in-house, and accommodating staff are happy to cater for all dietary requirements.
191 Wright St, city; 8410 7408; mykingdomforahorse.com.au
BEST BAR
BAR TORINO
Hankering for a proper European-style bar? Step into the polished world of Bar Torino with its handsome dark timber cabinets, exposed brickwork, golden-filament lights and two-tone tiling. Siblings Nick and Jess Favaro run this small vermouth, gin and tapas bar, right next to their parents’ Chianti restaurant. Take a stool and indulge in Spanish-meets-Italian treats including cured meats, tapas and cheeses. Saluti.
158 Hutt St, city; 8155 6010
CLEVER LITTLE TAILOR
When the handsomely decked out Clever Little Tailor opened in 2013 it was one of a handful of establishments setting the pace for Adelaide’s small bar explosion. The market may have grown since, but the knowledgeable and friendly Tailor team continue to set the benchmark with an impeccably crafted assembly of liquors to suit your every whim and mood, plus a short and sharp array of bar snacks. You’ll rarely see it empty.
19 Peel St, city; cleverlittletailor.com.au
MAYBE MAE
Classy yet comfortable, Maybe Mae is a basement bar with deep set, leather cushioned booths to sink into over a drink with friends. Beers are fairly similar to the rest of the Peel St/Leigh St scene but the cocktail menu is where things really stand out. Espresso Martinis are popular as ever, but there are plenty of more adventurous combinations to sample.
15 Peel St, city; maybemae.com
MOTHER VINE
Mother Vine is everything you could want from a relaxed afternoon or evening with a wine in hand at all times and plenty of gourmet produce to graze on. Open every day of the week, the menu includes small plates of roast pumpkin and spinach gnocchi, beef short ribs and a gin cured salmon. Or go big with the “Motherboard”. The wine list features local makers from the Adelaide Hills and a few from further afar. Enjoy them by the glass or 50ml tastings to let your palate cover as much distance as possible.
22-26 Vardon Ave, city; 8227 2273; mothervine.com.au
PINK MOON SALOON
Anyone who scoffs at the idea of turning a disused 4m-wide laneway into a boozy mountain cabin has clearly never entered Pink Moon Saloon. A sister venue to Clever Little Tailor, Pink Moon takes richly smoked meat dishes, a tight beer and wine selection, and the concept of “cosiness” to pleasing extremes. Throw in a few colourful cocktails, the odd Twin Peaks reference and an open-air midsection and you’ve got one of Adelaide’s most Instagram friendly hot spots.
21 Leigh St, city; pinkmoonsaloon.com.au
FOR THE COMPLETE ADVERTISER FOOD GUIDE, WITH MORE THAN 170 RESTAURANTS IN A NEW, SEARCHABLE PACKAGE, VISIT THESOURCESA.COM FROM TUESDAY.